Pastor Andrew Banker delivered a deeply personal and theologically rich message rooted in Romans 8:1–17, emphasizing our identity in Christ as adopted sons and daughters of God. Sharing from his family’s journey through foster care and adoption, Andrew illustrated the transforming power of God's love and how it redefines us.

He began by recounting how his family, including five biological and foster children, embraced the call to foster care. Their decision to adopt a Guatemalan baby boy, Elias, was framed not just as an act of love, but as a spiritual metaphor for how God adopts us. Andrew described the day in court when Elias’s legal documents were changed—his name, identity, and parental records now fully under Andrew and his wife, Savannah. This experience mirrored what happens spiritually when we accept Christ: we receive a new name, a new identity, and full inheritance as God's children.

Andrew taught that this adoption means we are no longer slaves to sin or fear, but children and heirs of God. He noted that in Roman culture, adoption was a powerful legal act—more binding and honorable than even biological inheritance. Paul’s use of adoption language in Romans would have had immense significance to his audience.

The second point focused on transformation. Once adopted, our desires begin to shift. Citing Romans 8:5, Andrew explained that those who live by the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. This change is not manufactured by effort but occurs naturally as we spend time with our heavenly Father. He used the analogy of coffee—how deeper understanding leads to new appreciation—to show how knowledge and relationship with God lead to changed desires.

Andrew then illustrated how trauma and brokenness are not disqualifiers from God's love. Quoting testimonies and referencing stories of abuse and sin, he stressed that God says “I’ll take that one”—the wounded, the addicted, the insecure. No past sin or present struggle can separate us from God’s love. In Christ, our old record is erased, and a new life begins.

Finally, Andrew emphasized that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead now lives in believers. This power equips us for a new life filled with hope, identity, and joy. He likened this to giving a child a bicycle—while there may be falls and pain, the ride is worth it, and the Father is always there to guide, protect, and lift us.

1. Adoption Identity

   • What does it mean to be spiritually adopted by God?

   • How might your life look different if you truly lived out of that identity?

2. Changed Desires

   • What old desires do you struggle with that reflect the “flesh” instead of the Spirit?

   • How can time with God reshape those desires?

3. New Life in Christ

   • Where in your life have you experienced the “new life” Jesus offers?

   • What are some areas where you still need to trust in that transformation?

4. Living Like Sons and Daughters

   • Do you relate to God more like a child or like a worker trying to earn approval?

   • What can you do this week to rest more fully in being God’s beloved child?

5. Engagement with Others

   • How might understanding your spiritual adoption empower you to engage with others who feel unworthy or unloved?