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Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches Kindle Edition

4.7 out of 5 stars 292 ratings

The doctrine of adoption—God’s decision to adopt sinful men and women into his family—stands at the heart of Christianity. In light of this, Christians’ efforts to adopt beautifully illustrate the truth of the gospel. In this popular-level and practical manifesto, Russell Moore encourages Christians to adopt children and to help other Christian families to do the same. He shows that adoption is not just about couples who have struggled to have children. Rather, it’s about an entire culture within evangelicalism—a culture that sees adoption as part of the Great Commission mandate and as a sign of the gospel itself.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Russell Moore has given the church a God-centered, gospel-saturated, culturally-sensitive, mission-focused, desperately needed exploration of the priority and privilege of adoption. Readers will find themselves laughing on one page, crying on the next, and ultimately bowing before God thanking him for adopting them into his heavenly family and considering how to show his love to the fatherless on earth.”
David Platt, Pastor, McLean Bible Church, McLean, Virginia; Founder, Radical; author, Don’t Hold Back

Adopted for Life is one of the most compelling books I have ever read―both deeply touching and richly theological. You will never look at adoption or the gospel in quite the same way after reading this book. How could the church have been missing this for so long?”
R. Albert Mohler Jr., President and Centennial Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Personal, practical, and rich in theology, this book is a ‘must-read’ for anyone interested in adoption. Dr. Moore reveals the love of God through the redemptive beauty of adoption. Whether your interest is personal or church related, this book is for you.”
Kelly Rosati, Vice President for Community Outreach, Focus on the Family

“Anyone who has adopted, who is considering adoption, or who has been adopted should read Adopted for Life. And anyone who wants to a get a glimpse of the greatness of the Father’s love for him or her should read it as well.”
Thom S. Rainer, President and CEO, LifeWay Christian Resources

“This book is for all who have been adopted by God. Moore illumines the beauty and wonder of our adoption in Christ and its profound implications for orphan care. If you want to deepen your worship of the God who adopts, Adopted for Life will serve you exceptionally well.”
Dan Cruver, Director, Together for Adoption; author, Reclaiming Adoption: Missional Living Through the Rediscovery of Abba Father

“This book offers both practical advice and courage to every couple considering adoption. For all readers, it shows how the act of adoption actually reveals core truths about the gospel of Christ.”
Allan C. Carlson, President, The Howard Center for Family, Religion, & Society; Founder and International Secretary, the World Congress of Families; Distinguished Visiting Professor of History, Hillsdale College

“Dr. Moore draws on his family’s own experience with adoption to help others understand that by adopting orphaned children we can grow in love of God and neighbor and come to appreciate more deeply our own adoption into the family of God.”
Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, Princeton University

“I know of no other book so biblically rich, so very practical, and so authentic and heart-felt about the beautiful gift of adoption as this one. It’s a powerfully insightful book of how adoption is a beautiful act of love and mission for the gospel. I pray that God uses it to encourage and impact many, many lives.”
Dan Kimball, Pastor, Vintage Faith Church; author, They Like Jesus but Not the Church

“Russell Moore has out of personal experience and with biblical accuracy produced in this work an understanding of God’s purposes in adoption and its connection with gospel compassion. Every pastor should consider the responsibility he has in making adoption a priority for the church as a viable representation of the gospel doctrine of adoption.”
John MacArthur, Pastor, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California; Chancellor, The Master’s University and Seminary

“Russell Moore invites readers to learn to think of adoption in the light of Christian faith. This is a book not only for those who have adopted, those who may adopt, or those who have been adopted, but for all who know themselves to have been freely adopted by God’s grace.”
Gilbert Meilaender, Duesenberg Professor in Christian Ethics, Valparaiso University

Adopted for Life is a well-written rooting of adoption in biblical theology. Moore shows how churches should view adoption as part of their mission and the difference it would make if Christians were known as the people who take in orphans and make them sons and daughters.”
Marvin Olasky

“The care and honesty Russell Moore demonstrates throughout Adopted for Life should inspire every believer to consider God’s heart for children without a family. Just like a parable of Christ, adoption provides a lost world the powerful picture of God’s personal love for his children. The church must take the lead in caring for orphans and at-risk children, so that adoption is once again united with the gospel.”
Mark A. Tatlock, Provost and Senior Vice President, The Master's College

“God is working to bring revival and revolution to his church through orphan ministry, and this book is a must for those who will receive his invitation to consider a fatherless child or simply love them through missions.”
Paul Pennington, Executive Director, Hope for Orphans

“Russell Moore’s life has validated every word he has written. In this book he speaks from his heart, mind, and life to ours about the possibility of incarnating adoption as a fleshed out reality in the world of our own families.”
Michael Card, musician; Bible teacher; author, A Better Freedom

“Russell Moore challenges Christians to an aspect of Christ’s lordship that many have never considered. His remarkable way of putting our salvation into the context of being adopted into God’s family brings a new perspective on being the recipient of undeserved mercy and grace.”
Jerry Rankin, President Emeritus, Southern Baptist International Mission Board

“James offers this injunction to the early church: ‘Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world’ (James 1:27 KJV). Russell Moore offers a compelling account of these and other lessons of Scripture so that our communities of faith may put them into practice and become more like that ‘shining city on a hill.’”
Francis J. Beckwith, Professor of Philosophy and Church-State Studies and Associate Director of the Graduate Program in Philosophy, Baylor University

About the Author

Russell Moore (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is public theologian at Christianity Today and director of Christianity Today’s Public Theology Project. He is a widely-sought commentator and the author of several books, including The Kingdom of Christ; Adopted for Life; and Tempted and Tried. Moore blogs regularly at RussellMoore.com and tweets at @drmoore. He and his wife, Maria, have five sons.

President, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B010R0KPFC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Crossway; Enlarged edition (October 14, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 14, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 501 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 292 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
292 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a biblically-based overview of adoption that deepens their understanding of God's love. Moreover, the writing style receives positive feedback, with one customer noting how it prepares readers to face critics. Additionally, customers appreciate its authenticity and heartfelt content, with one mentioning being moved to tears multiple times while reading.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

47 customers mention "Adoption"47 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's biblical approach to adoption, describing it as a great overview of the topic and an encouraging perspective for those seeking to adopt, while also deepening their understanding of God's love.

"...Adopted for Life is primarily a work of theology, using the doctrine of adoption as a framework for the book...." Read more

"...Russell Moore writes beautifully and backs his claims with copious amounts of scripture...." Read more

"...Adoption isn't easy but it's also very biblical and Godly and if we can help our kids see that we are all adopted, they can come to love themselves..." Read more

"...He not only explains adoption, he makes you want to adopt." Read more

33 customers mention "Readability"33 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and enjoyable, with one mentioning it's excellent for everyone in the church.

"...Overall though, this as an excellent book, a great resource for those who are thinking about adopting and those who are personally familiar with..." Read more

"...Love it, love it, love it. It's on my read and re-read and re-read again list." Read more

"This book is awesome. My husband and I read it out loud together. It's awesome for people considering, or planning to adopt...." Read more

"A must-read. One of my favorite books. I can never read enough about adoption- it is a huge part of my life...." Read more

9 customers mention "Writing style"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as well-written, with one customer noting how the author writes from a pastoral heart and another mentioning how it prepares readers to face critics.

"...In addition to the powerful content, Adopted for Life is creatively written...." Read more

"...Russell Moore writes beautifully and backs his claims with copious amounts of scripture...." Read more

"...He seemed to be quite sensitive to the fact that he was writing for a broad audience, not just prospective adopters...." Read more

"...This is a well-written, total picture of adoption from the theological picture of the Christian being adopted into God's family all the way to how..." Read more

6 customers mention "Authenticity"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book authentic and convicting.

"...Moore has a readable style that is concrete and vivid, funny, and honest...." Read more

"So far I am a few chapters into the book. It is convicting and so encouraging. I love how Russell Moore talks about the church as our family...." Read more

"...It's not a "how to" book. It's a convicting and inspiring look at how God views adoption and how we as Christians should view it too!" Read more

"Heart warming and real, great for those of us on the adoption journey." Read more

4 customers mention "Heartfelt content"3 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the heartfelt content of the book, with one mentioning being moved to tears multiple times while reading it.

"This is a heartfelt and very Scripturally-based message to people who are pondering adoption or who are in some way involved in the adoption process..." Read more

"This book moved me to tears many times as the author parallels our adoption in Gods family with adoption here on earth...." Read more

"...that the reviews on this are so high, because it is so arrogant and upsetting...." Read more

"Amazing book. Cried through certain topics. And so encouraged to adopt!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2010
    A few months ago, two of the blogs that I follow regularly both commented on this book, and I was interested. While Kristie and I have talked about adoption from time to time, I'd never really want to read a book on the subject. For some reason, I thought it would be a list of reasons how we can navigate through of tower of bureaucratic paperwork and nefarious dealings overseas, while making the newly adopted kid feel at home in his new bed. Perhaps this idea of adoption books reflected my view of adoption itself. More recently, our good friends Mark and Jennifer are planning on a temporary move to Thailand next week to finalize the adoption of their daughter. This pulled the topic of adoption to the forefront of my mind, and I ordered the book.

    Adopted for Life is primarily a work of theology, using the doctrine of adoption as a framework for the book. Moore uses the idea that we, as Christians, have all been adopted into a family, leaving behind the filthy orphanages of the world and becoming heirs of the living God.

    "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God" (Galatians 4:4-7).

    Since we are no longer orphans but sons, Christians should have an especially sensitive heart for the orphans in the world. We are told to care for the widows and orphans as an act of justice. This focus is the one in Moore's book, not telling us the best agencies or the most accommodating countries for adoption. We should adopt mainly because we were adopted.

    Our worldview leads us into being a part of families and churches where adoption should be the norm, not the exception. Who more should care for the fatherless than the ones who were once themselves fatherless and homeless?

    In addition to the powerful content, Adopted for Life is creatively written. Moore has a readable style that is concrete and vivid, funny, and honest. I feel like I know this man after reading this, or, at least, I feel like I want to know him more. Because of this, I highly recommend this, wherever you are in thinking about adoption.

    As soon as I closed the book, I was online looking into agencies to see what God has for us because I am grateful to no longer be in the "cosmic orphanage."
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2014
    Even if you are not considering adoption, you should read this book if you are a Christian. Russell Moore writes beautifully and backs his claims with copious amounts of scripture. He skillfully explains how central the act of adoption is to the gospel--that we are all adopted as sons (and therefore co-heirs with Christ). Just as our adoption in Christ creates a legal, "real" family, so also adoption in this life creates a real family. There is no distinction between biological and adopted children.

    Moore's call to action for the church is something that everyone needs to hear...adoption should not be something that Christians turn to as a "last resort" when infertility treatment is unsuccessful. Instead, our churches should wholeheartedly encourage and support adoption. We, the church, should look after orphans, grafting them into our families just as we have been grafted into the family of God.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2014
    This book calls everyone to understand the importance of our adoption as sons and daughters of Christ but also that Christ himself was adopted by Joseph and that our adopted kids as we and Christ have a great inheritance. Adoption isn't easy but it's also very biblical and Godly and if we can help our kids see that we are all adopted, they can come to love themselves as God sees them. I highly recommend this book-it's deep and profound but really worth it. We are faithful Catholics, but could relate to all that he said and believe he is right that our communities need to change and when they do we will evangelize and change the hearts about adoption.
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2011
    There are three things in particular that make this book a stand out among books on adoption.

    1. It is theological but not is a dry sort of way. Moore writes about the theological doctrine of adoption, but he does so in a way that makes you want to adopt a child right away in order to demonstrate and exult in the gospel!

    2. It is pastoral but not in a sappy sort of way. Moore writes from a very pastoral heart. This is helpful, because as a Christian considering adoption, I came to the book with a multitude of questions. I had questions on everything from the theology, to the practice, to the nitty gritty details, and Moore addressed nearly all of them. He seemed to be quite sensitive to the fact that he was writing for a broad audience, not just prospective adopters. There is something here for everyone, regardless of whether you think you will ever adopt. It is also true that most questions about adoption are rooted deep in our sense of our own identity and how we think about the world and about God. I know that is true because Moore wrote about it so sensitively and pastorally, and I know myself better as a result of reading the book.

    3. It is well written. Moore is a very skilled, poignant writer. This is the first book I've read in a good while that I stayed up late reading because I didn't want to stop. He not only explains adoption, he makes you want to adopt.
    8 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book and real encouragement that adopting is not a ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2016
    Amazing book and real encouragement that adopting is not a 'Plan B' for building a family but rather a challenge and blessing to build a family, a real family, based on the ultimate example of what it means to be adopted.
  • A Proud and Grateful Granny
    5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book!
    Reviewed in Canada on November 25, 2018
    As the mother of two adopted, now adult sons, this book was particularly meaningful to me but also to our sons. The subject of adoption is expertly researched.
  • A. MacInnes
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book is an in-depth, honest look at a ...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 6, 2015
    This book is an in-depth, honest look at a Biblical view of adoption. I was willing, but reluctant to adopt before reading this book. I can honestly say it has changed my view not only of adoption but of fatherhood.
  • Clarey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Biblical, good perspective
    Reviewed in Canada on October 23, 2018
    Great book that gives a Biblical perspective on adoption. Helped me to wrap my head around WHY we should adopt and the beautiful picture it is.
  • Yevgeny
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2015
    Must read for Christians who consider adoption

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