Opening Prayers/Prayers of Adoration on Adoption

Sermon Illustrations on Adoption

Adapted from Ephesians 1

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing
in the heavenly places,
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and blameless before him.
In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as children
through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.
In him we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of his grace,
which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
making known to us the mystery of his will,
according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the guarantee of our inheritance
to the praise of his glory.

Selections from Ephesians 1:3-14 (adapted with minor wording changes from ESV)


Faithful God, our Father, Lord and Counselor:

By your grace you know our names before we are even born.

By your grace you call us your own sons and daughters.

By your grace you give us an eternal purpose.  And,

By your grace give us everything necessary to fulfill that calling:

Your very own self before us, beside us, inside us, with us.

You invite us to open our hearts to your love and power;

And so we do.

Richard Herman