TOPIC: Child Adoption [RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual 29 March 2020]
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MEMORY VERSE: “And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.” – Esther 2:7
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BIBLE PASSAGE: Exodus 2:1-10 KJV (RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual 29 March 2020)
1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.
2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.
4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.
7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.
9 And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.
10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
INTRODUCTION:
Child adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another person’s child. It is also the act of leaving one’s natural family and entering into the privileges and responsibilities of another family. Adoption process usually goes through the law court, in order to be made legal. Moreover, as in all parent/child relationships, it is a relationship of promise and an acceptance of an unconditional gift. God Cares for orphan, the poor, the abandoned, the abused and the displaced people (through war, natural disaster, etc.)-James 1:27. Hence, the need for child adoption.
OUTLINES:
- BIBLICAL INSTANCES OF CHILD ADOPTION
- REASONS FOR CHILD ADOPTION AND ITS BENEFITS
1. BIBLICAL INSTANCES OF CHILD ADOPTION
Obviously, child adoption is a biblical concept and there are quite a number of such instances documented in the scripture.
- Pharaoh’s daughter adopted Moses (Exodus 2:5-10). Moses, eventually, grew to be an important leader, a prophet and a faithful savant of God (Exodus 3:9-10; 7:1, 6).
- Mordecai adopted Esther (Esther 2:5-7) Esther later became a queen and influenced the deliverance of the Jewish people from their captors (Esther 7:6-10; 8:11).
- Eli took custody of Samuel whom the mother had pledged to God and raised him (1Samuel 1:24-28). Samuel became a great prophet and kingmaker in Israel (1Samuel 16:11-13).
- Abraham raised Eliezer; the child born of a servant became Abraham’s most trusted steward (Genesis 15:1-3).
2. REASONS FOR CHILD ADOPTION AND ITS BENEFITS
Child adoption should not be seen as an option only meant for couples coping with infertility or a means of solving an immediate problem. Rather, it is a privilege to raise a child for God in the family/home (1King 11:20, Ex. 2:10) in order to receive proper training and discipline (Proverb 22:6; Acts 7:20-22). Child adoption is for some, a calling to multiply their impact as parent by expanding their family with children who are not biologically their own. It helps a child fulfil his purpose for living (Jer. 29:11; Esth. 2:17-20). It can also be an opportunity for waiting couples to have their own children.
Those who adopt and take good care of children will definitely enjoy divine blessings. (Matthew 10:42, Matthew 18:5). Hence, full status and benefits of a biological child should be conferred on an adopted child. This is symbolic of how we also became adopted children of God and joint – heirs with Christ (Romans. 8:17). Those who are not willing and prepared to treat adopted children like their biological ones should not venture into child adoption (Proverbs 21:13).
CONCLUSION:
As God adopts those who receive Christ as Saviour into His spiritual family, so should we all, prayerfully, consider adopting children into our own physical families.
QUESTIONS:
- What are the reasons for child adoption?
- Is child adoption the will of God?
ASSIGNMENT: Give five reasons child adoption is uncommon in some societies?
RCCG Sunday School HYMN
- O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?