Orphan Sunday – Deuteronomy 10; Ephesians 1
WARM UP:
Is anyone in your family adopted? If not, who do you know that is adopted? How much or little has your life been affected by adoption?
1. God's Heart for the Orphan – Deut 10:17-22
God all throughout the OT demonstrates a special heart for the vulnerable (orphan, widow, and sojourner). In this passage, we understand why and how. It starts by explaining that he is not partial; therefore, God doesn't neglect the needs of the orphan because of their lowly estate. Instead, he goes towards them. It says that he "executes justice" for the vulnerable. He then commands Israel to care for the vulnerable and explains that they were once vulnerable; therefore, they should care the vulnerable.
Q. What do you think it would be like to be an orphan or widow in ancient times? Why does God have such great concern and love for the orphan?
Q. In our interview with Doug and Dani, they mentioned the brokenness that causes adoptons to be necessary and that God intended at creation for families to be whole. What ways have you seen sin impact your family (either current immediate or the family you grew up in)?
2. Our Spiritual Orphanery – Eph 1:5-12
God calls those whom he has brought to himself "adopted". This means that before our adoption, we were spiritual orphans. Not only does God have a heart for literal orphans, he has also, in his perfect redemptive plan decided to relate to us as orphans who've been adopted. In that, God does not just look at us with care, instead he comes towards us with action and becomes our Father.
Q. We often think of ourselves as children of God, but have you considered the fact that before you knew Jesus you were a spiritual orphan?
Q. What things do you often feel bad for but don't necessarily feel motivated to act?
Q. We read Rom 8:17. Have you thought of yourself as "co-heirs" with Jesus? How does this impact the way you view yourself before God?
3. Our Care for Orphans
We move from God's care of orphans, to our own spiritual orphanery, and finally to the fact that we, then, should care about orphans. If God so clearly shows his heart for the vulnerable, and then if God relates to us as orphans / adopted, we in our looking more and more like him should have that same heart. We tell our church that believers need to be in 1 of 3 lanes if we are going to honor God's commands and heart towards orphans. 1. Adopt. 2. Foster. 3. Support those who do.
Note: We know that not every family is called to adoption or foster care, but before we jump to that answer, we want our families to consider the possibility that God could use them in one of those ways.
Consider the questions below, just to get you thinking, even if they are just hypothetical.
Adoption
Q. If you decided to, when would be the most ideal time in your life to adopt? (examples: if you have kids would you wait till their older? / if you don't have you considered the idea of adopting before having bio kids?)
Q. If you decided to, would you feel most inclined to adopt domestically or internationally?
Foster Care
Q. Foster Care is a much lower commitment than adoption but is still a very heart heavy ministry. Consider the common objection, "I would get too attached". How can we respond to that? (Here is an answer to this after your group has discussed it: "Of course we will get attached. We are human. It is a part of the sacrifice that this ministry would require of us. The goal of foster care is reunification. Also, consider that attachment is exactly what children need as they develop.")
Q. What things that we take for granted could you or your family offer to a foster child while they were in your care? (example: Security, playtime, toys, etc)
Supporting Those Who Do
Q. How can you support those in our church, or community, that foster or adopt?