The Gift of Adoption

Story

Series - Distortion of Season

time

celebrate, contemplate, reorient our lives;

we shape the holiday, now it shapes us

Sermon Intro - Washington Post - DC’s Annual Adoption Day

Adoption Day - home, stability

45 children adopted at a ceremony co-hosted by the D.C. Superior Court and the city’s Child and Family Services Agency, an annual event to celebrate the families and encourage others to consider helping.

Of the nearly 800 children in foster care in the city, child-welfare officials are seeking permanent adoptive homes for 60. “Call 202-671-LOVE if you’re interested,” officials kept saying to the hundreds of people who packed the courthouse for D.C. Adoption Day.

ages 2-14

a sad story behind adoptions

what impressed me was where they celebrated - they transformed the space, from one with negative memories (long, exhausting, stressful meetings to a place where good news was proclaimed,

there was an official, legal declaration that forever changed them

Officials had transformed the drab brick-and-stone atrium of the courthouse — which has been a place of exhausting or stressful meetings for some of the children — into a celebratory place. Judges sat under a garland of fat red, orange and blue balloons while girls in long white dresses danced.

garland, lights, dancers in white dresses; foster aged out of sang whitney houston’s greatest love of all

if you described the true meaning of a gift, they would tell you they are experiencing one that day.

fact and celebration

Point:

Adoption is a fact. (explains it to us; wants us to know)

review of ancient world adoption - death rates - limited life span (50 years; 12 years betrothed

legally declared by a judge; someone with authority to make something legal - to protect

John 1:12–13 NIV

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 1:

difference it makes to us: it is set in stone; it is firmly written; binding; power, rights; defined by what God has done for us, not others, self,

God wants us to know: let others know; remind them of their value

God wants to take us out of that situation: broken; grief; depression; health; relationships fill that void;

transition: adoption is not just legal

Adoption - born out of love

(I said there is a sad story behind them, but there is a love story as well).

1 John 3:1 NIV

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

what does love mean in practical terms: unconditional acceptance;

not the result of window shopping - economic value; performance

God knew what He was getting himself up to - delightful; personality; behavior in foster kids?

difference it makes:

Adoption is to be celebrated.

Adoption is to be celebrated.

difference between observance and celebration?

Psalm 27:10 NIV

Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.

Psalms are songs used in worship.

observe - because of tradition; legal, government holiday; practical (break); opportunity (family, vacation)

celebrate - recognize the benefits and blessings adoption; recognize these gifts from God;

celebrate through song - O Holy Night

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

‘Til He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth

God takes the bad and turns to good. Takes helpless situations and works his miraculous plans;