Leader Guide
For Father's Day, we looked at what it means to know God as our Heavenly Father. While our experiences with earthly fathers may vary, God is the perfect Father; He is faithful, loving, and always present. In Galatians 4 and Romans 8, Paul reminds us that through a relationship with Jesus we have been freed from slavery to sin and fear and adopted into God's family. Because of Christ, we are no longer defined by our past or our failures. We are God's children, secure in His love, empowered by His Spirit, and heirs to His promises. Understanding who our Father is helps us understand who we are in Him.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
Leader: This section is designed to get discussions started, examine God’s truth, and apply it to our week. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in their group is a Christ follower. Because they are taking part in a Life Group, they must have some openness to know more and explore. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work and let Him lead you as well.
1. Have you ever received something you didn't earn or weren't expecting? What made that gift meaningful to you?
2. Read Galatians 4:3-7. Why do you think God chose adoption, not just forgiveness, as the picture of our relationship with Him? How does our relationship with God change after we are redeemed through Christ?
Leader: Paul explains that apart from Christ, we were in bondage to the values, rules, and ways of the world. But God sent Jesus to redeem us—to set us free from that slavery and bring us into His family. Through the Holy Spirit, we are no longer slaves living in fear or trying to earn God's approval. We are God's children who can call Him "Abba, Father," and heirs who share in the blessings and promises of His family.
3. Read Romans 8:15-17. As we read Paul contrast a spirit of slavery with the Spirit of adoption, what are some ways people can unknowingly live with a “slave mentality” in their relationship with God? How does knowing you are God’s child bring freedom, confidence, or security?
Leader: Paul moves beyond our adoption and focuses on the confidence that comes from it. The Holy Spirit continually reminds believers that they are God's children, not strangers or servants. Because we belong to God's family, we are also heirs with Christ, sharing in God's promises and the hope of eternal life. Our identity and future are secure because they rest on God's work, not our performance.
4. Read Romans 8:38-39. Paul lists many things that cannot separate us from God’s love. Why do you think believers sometimes struggle to live as though that is true? How could fully trusting God’s unchanging love affect the way we handle fear, failure, disappointment, or suffering?
Leader: After reminding believers that they are God's children and heirs, Paul offers one final assurance: God's love is secure. Our relationship with Him does not depend on our circumstances, our feelings, or our performance. Nothing in all creation has the power to separate those who are in Christ from the love of God. Because we belong to Him, we can live with confidence, hope, and security no matter what challenges we face.
Action Step: This week, spend a few minutes each day reminding yourself of who you are in Christ. Begin your prayer time by simply addressing God as "Father," and reflect on what it means to be His child. When fear, failure, shame, or insecurity arise, choose to run to God rather than away from Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of your identity and help you walk with the confidence of someone who is chosen, loved, adopted, and secure in God's family.
Optional - Deeper Dive: Read Luke 15:17-24. What does this story reveal about God’s heart toward His children? Why can it be so difficult for us to believe God welcomes us with that same grace when we fail?
Leader: The prodigal son expected to return as a servant, believing he had lost his place in the family. Instead, his father welcomed him as a son. The robe, ring, and sandals were symbols of restoration, identity, and belonging. This story beautifully illustrates the truths Paul teaches in Romans 8 and Galatians 4: through Christ, we are not slaves trying to earn God's acceptance. We are His children, fully loved, fully welcomed, and secure in His family.