Mother's Day Reflected: Obedience to Parents

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-3

Theme: Though a fabricated American holiday, Mother’s Day provides us with the opportunity to remember that followers of Christ must obey and honor their parents in obedience to God’s Word.

Introduction: In celebrating Mother’s Day who is the number one person on your mind? Your mom and hopefully you did something or are going to do something fantastic for her. But, how do you treat her every other day of the year? The Bible describes our ongoing relationship with our mothers and our fathers as one of obedience and honor. This morning we’re going to look to the book of Ephesians to help us understand that: Though a fabricated American holiday, Mother’s Day provides us with the opportunity to remember that followers of Christ must obey and honor their parents in obedience to God’s Word.

Book Introduction: Ephesians is about living the Christians life. It begins with reflecting on salvation present, the past before salvation, the work of salvation; salvation has come to the world, the life in Christ: generally and relationally; closing with a plea to wage a good warfare with the tools God has given.

Because God’s Word declares it as the right thing to do, we must obey our parents.

We obey when we submit ourselves to our parents commands and directives.

The term means to listen (taking initiative) and submit (to authority).

We must actively anticipate how we can obey our parents. (I Samuel 3:2-10)

In spite of the time of day we should be ready to obey.

In spite of our weariness we should be ready to jump at our parents’ requests.

In spite of how many times our parents call we should eagerly seek them out.

We must submit to our parents in all things. (Colossians 3:20)

Not in sinful practices

But as properly fitting in the Lord (obey your parents in the Lord)

This means when we agree with them and when we don’t agree with them.

This means when we want to and when we don’t want to.

This means when it is convenient and when it is inconvenient.

We obey because it’s the right thing to do.

Because God’s Word promises blessings in connection to obedience, we must honor our fathers and mothers.

We honor our parents when we recognize the high value our parents are to us.

We respect their instruction.

Don’t backtalk

Don’t whine and complain

Don’t question their authority (as long as they are acting within Biblical principles)

We recognize their authority even when away from them.

We make choices that reflect well on them.

We honor our parents as of primary importance.

We honor our parents with sight of its connection to blessing. (Let me put it to you this way, someone who consistently disobeys their parents-do you expect them to have a prosperous life, even a longer life than most?)

We honor our parents in expectation of long life.

We honor our parents in expectation of prosperity.

We see this exemplified positively in the life of Samuel and conversely in the lives of Hophni and Phineas, the sons of Eli the priest in the book of I Samuel.

Though our family situations may differ, we must obey our parent-like authorities because we are under authority. (Romans 13:1)

Conclusion: Obey your parents because God says that it is the right thing to do. Go the extra step and honor them in expectation of blessings that those who dishonor their parents won’t see. Celebrate Mother’s Day and every day of the year the best way that anyone should by obeying the Word of God in all things and especially when it comes to your parents.

Ephesians is about living the Christians life.

It begins with reflecting on salvation present, the past before salvation, the work of salvation; salvation has come to the world, the life in Christ: generally and relationally; closing with a plea to wage a good warfare with the tools God has given