Joining the family of God

We are in Christ

Gym

We want children to know the story and plant the seeds of faith

We want adults to see in children - the need for Christ and the identity in Christ

Children wait

Children know whose they are

Children call out to their parents

Joining the family of God

Galatians 3:25–4:7 ESV

But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Gingerbread man

1. Recognize our protection

The law “protected” us by enslaving us under death

Children need protection

2. Believe in our adoption

God’s Son makes us sons of God John 1:12-13

By faith in God’s promise

Not coercion - Not religion - Girl going to DisneyWorld

Lawrence of Arabia participated in the Paris peace talks after World War I. Several Arab leaders came with him to Paris and stayed in the same hotel. When they went into their bathrooms they were amazed to find unlimited running water. By simply turning the handle on a faucet, they had an unlimited supply of water. When they got ready to leave Paris, they stole the faucets and hid them in their luggage. They thought the faucets magically created the running water. When they told Lawrence of Arabia what they had done, he laughed. He explained that the faucets were useless without pipes to a source of water. In the same way, a person who’s not connected to Christ is not connected to the Father. God has no spiritual sons who are not sons by faith in Christ Jesus. No one comes to the Father except through Christ ().

3. Hope in our destiny

Heir - Sons of God inherit

Promises of blessings aren’t given to rebels

Believe in our belonging

- not like the gingerbread man

My next step today is...

Rejoice in hope

Hope in our destiny

Trust in Jesus

Children need protection

Children need belonging

Children need hope in a destiny.

Christmas story tells us why we need protection.

Christmas story help us know we belong.

Christmas story tells us about hope.