Inheriting It All

GETTING STARTED

When my grandmother passed away several years ago, she left each of her grandchildren an unexpected gift. The gift put a smile on each of our faces, and it turned our thoughts quickly back to the amazing woman she was to each one of us.

  • Have you ever received an inheritance?
  • What emotions did you feel when you received this gift?

READ THE WORD: ACTS 13:13-22 (ESV)

13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, 14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said:

“Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. 17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19 And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. 21 Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. Where was Paul speaking (vs. 14), and to whom was his message directed (vs. 16)?
  2. In verses 17-22, Paul reminded the audience that God had been the giver of amazing gifts to the children of Israel. Reread this section and list the blessings God gave to the children of Israel.
  3. In verse 19, Paul reminded the audience that the land was a gift from God (an inheritance). What are some thoughts that come to mind when you think of the word inheritance?
  4. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we receive an eternal In what ways has the truth of this inheritance changed the way you live?

RESPOND TO GOD

Paul’s word of encouragement for the people was that God had given the Israelites an amazing gift of long-promised land as their inheritance. The encouragement for us is that this was a picture of a greater inheritance to come in Christ. As a believer in Jesus, you are able to receive the ultimate gift: a restored relationship with God and the right to be called a child of God. What is true of Christ is now true of you! In what ways would embracing this truth more and more change your relationship with God?

  • Take a moment to thank God for giving you the amazing gift of being his adopted child. Ask him to give you the strength to believe this truth and to reject the lies thrown at you by the world.