Precious Memories (mother’s day)

Amen.

Turn in you Bibles with me to the book of 2 Timothy. Chapter 1 and we will also be in Chapter 3.

The reason we gather this morning is to worship Jesus.

The Lord’s Day is about the Lord, and we are here to magnify and glorify King Jesus.

But a second reason we gather is to encourage each other .

Encourage in discipleship and encourage in the faith.

And today is mother’s day, so we wish to honor and encourage our mother’s.

Elizabeth George said “Motherhood is a divine calling to raise up the next generation for the glory of God.”

Being a mother is truly a calling from God, and the mother’s today are molding and shaping the next generation of God.

Mother’s, we just want to begin by saying, thank you for all you do, and heed this grate calling for the glory of God.

At this time, let me pray and ask God’s blessings over this time.

Prayer: Father, thank you for this day. Thank for godly parents. Father’s and mother’s. And I especially thank you for each mother here this morning. Thank you for their faith in you, and I pray Lord you will strengthen them and guide them in motherhood. But for all of us Lord, increase our faith. Help us to love you more and love others more. As we turn to Your word, in it’s perfection, speak to us now, through the Holy Spirit. I once again pray for anyone here that does not have a personal relationship with you. I pray today that You will save them. And it’s in the name that is above every other name I pray, In Jesus name, Amen.

Introduction:

It’s said of a child’s opinions of their mothers.

4 years of age: My mommy can do anything! 8 years of age: My mom knows a whole lot! 12 years of age: My mother doesn’t really know quite everything. 14 years of age: Naturally, Mother doesn’t know that either. 16 years of age: Mother? She’s hopelessly old-fashioned. 18 years of age: That old woman? She’s way out of date! 25 years of age: Well, she might know a little bit about it. 35 years of age: Before we decide, let’s get Mom’s opinion. 45 years of age: I wonder what Mom would have thought about it? 65 years of age: I wish I could talk it over with Mom.

Isn’t it true how our perseption of others change over time?

That as we age, we look at things differently, through maturity.

And isn’t it true of our mothers.

I titled the message this morning: Precious Memories.

In our text this morning, the apostle Paul writes to Timothy.

And in his second letter to Timothy, he begins by encouraging Timothy by getting him to remember.

To recall his the memories of those who helped and taught Timothy in his faith. Of his mother and his grandmother.

Notice with me of these precious memories.

Firstly, of A FAITH THAT IS GENUINE.

Faith that is genuine.

2 Timothy 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,”

2 Timothy 1:2 “To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”

So Paul begins in his greeting, his calling as an apostle of Jesus Christ

And he calls Timothy his beloved son.

Paul is a Father of the faith to Timothy.

Acts 16 tells us the circumstances of how Paul come to meet Timothy.

Acts 16:1 “Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.”

So we see Timothys father was a greek, it’s believed by many that his fathere was not a Christian,

but his mother was a Jewish believer.

This woman, a mother, but a child of God.

Acts 16 continues.

Acts 16:2 “He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.”

You see Timothy had a good testimony by the believers in the area.

Acts 16:3 “Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.”

You see it is here that the relationship between Paul and Timothy was established.

And Paul took Timothy under his wing, like a son. A Son of the faith and begin to teach him the things of God.

You see in many ways that how the church operates.

We help lead the next generation.

I can testify to this.

My mother was a believer but my father was not.

Now, my dad was saved last year, and I had the privilege of baptizing him.

One of he most exciting things of my life.

But as I grew up, there were men in my church, pastors, who poured into my life. Like Paul poured into Timothy’s life.

2 Timothy 1:3 “I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.”

2 Timothy 1:4 “As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.”

2 Timothy 1:5 “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”

Paul says, he remembers him in his prayers, he remembers his tears, and but he also remembers his Timothys sincere faith.

And imagine Paul, as he is writing this letter, as the memories are flooding into his mind about his beloved Son.

And he brings up the memory of A FAITH THAT IS GENUINE.

A FAITH THAT BEGAN IN HIS GRANDMOTHER - LOIS AND MOTHER - EUNICE.

Faith that is Genuine, or sincere.

This word means, not hypocritical.

when we think of faith, we need recognize there are those who do not have real faith.

It’s counterfeit and phony.

Like a hypocrit.

They claim God, and wear the Christian mas, but put it away when they are not at church.

Parents, if you are not genuine, not a real Christian, your kids will know.

If you faith begins and ends at these doors, you kids will know.

If you live a life absent from God but claim faith, you kids will know.

We all need to have a faith that is real. Deendant on God.

Like the faith of these women.

Sincere faith is faith that is Genuine, but also faith that sincerely believes in Jesus.

That from the heart, we follow Christ and make him Lord of our life.

Mothers, in order to help your children have faith, you must first have faith.

Genuine faith, that you can teach and instruct your children.

Memories of A FAITH THAT IS GENUINE, BUT ALSO OF A FAITH THAT IS LIVING.

Faith that is living.

2 Timothy 1:5 “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”

Notice how Paul describes this faith, it dwelt. A dwelling faith.

This word means living or alive.

Timothys mother and grandmother, had faith that was living and active.

Not dead faith.

They did research In 2019, research exploring the spiritual heritage of believers in Jesus in the United States revealed that mothers and grandmothers have a significant influence on spiritual development. Nearly two-thirds of people who claim a legacy of faith credited their mother, and one-third acknowledged that a grandparent (usually a grandmother) also played a significant role.

The report’s editor remarked, “Over and over, this study speaks to the enduring impact of mothers in . . . spiritual development.” It’s an impact we also discover in Scripture.

Timothies faith first dwelt with Lois and Eunice.

Think of dwelling.

We dwell in our homes, we live in our homes with our families.

We spend alot of time their, do alot things, with each other.

We’ve had our home a year, but we’ve done some living there.

I pray everywhere we have been and lived, that faith has dwelt there.

Timothy learned his faith, from a faith that dwelt in his home.

I’m sure he had many memories with mom and grandma.

memories as they talked about Jesus and the Bible and faith.

Living faith is a faith that lives for Jesus everyday. Fully surrendered to Jesus.

That’s faith that dwells in us.

But when you think of Timothys mom and grandma and their fiath.

Give the glory to Jesus.

They simply trusted and obeyed God, according to his will.

Now, I know it’s mothers day.

Mother’s and father’s, may your home be a place of faith.

But we must recognize the faith of grandmothers

Faith genuine and living.

Teach your grandchildren, help their parents.

But show them was real faith is.

Grandparents are a gift from God.

Now, in the same way, Paul was a Father of the faith.

There are also, grandparents of the faith.

I can testify to this.

My grandparents on my fathers side both died before I was born.

And my grandparents on my mothers side, both passed away when I was about 3 or 4.

So we would have grandparents day at school, and I had no grandparents.

So I asked an older genelman from my Church, Mr. Frank Henigan to be my kind of adopted grandfather.

Friends, we need admit, being a parent today is difficult.

It is hard times, and a hard task of raising kids.

But the God who has given us this great task in hard times, will help us.

It is a grace and only a grace we are able.

Timothy, a third generation Christian.

Reminded of his faith and the faith of his mother/grandmother.

Faith that is genuine.

Faith that is living.

Lastly, Faith that is learned.

Faith that is learned.

2 Timothy 3:14 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it”

2 Timothy 3:15 “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Notice, Paul here encourages Timothy in the faith, he learned.

He says from Childhood.

This word means form infancy.

This means Lois and Eunice began to teach Timothy the scriptures.

And vs 15 says the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus.

This book, we are a people of the book.

These sacred writings that we believe and teach are from God.

We teach our children about faith through the word of God.

But why?

It should give lead to the truth of Jesus Christ and salvation to those who believe in Him.

Teaching our kids the Bible, is so important.

Discipleship starts at home. It starts with parents, teaching their kids the word.

But in order to be discipled, one must be a disciple.

Conversion. Salvation, being born again and receiving eternal life. That’s what we should desire for everyone, but especially our children.

But conversion is only the beginning of discipleship, not the ending.

Paul continues.

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God

Friends, this is God’s word. God breathed. Not man’s invention, but a divine instruction.

and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”

2 Timothy 3:17 “that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

this book s useful, for every good work.

To the Christian in this place, if you are not reading you Bible, you are missing out.

it helps us, teaches corrects. Helps us to grow in our faith.

Charles Spurgeon tells how every Sunday evening, his mother would stay home with the children, read and explain the Scriptures to them, and plead with them to think about the state of their souls and to seek the Lord. He remembers one time her praying, “Now, Lord, if my children go on in their sins, it will not be from ignorance that they perish, and my soul must bear a swift witness against them at the day of judgment if they lay not hold of Christ.” He says, “That thought of a mother’s bearing swift witness against me, pierced my conscience, and stirred my heart” (p. 44).

Spurgeon’s father was often away from home preaching. Once, as he was on his way to a service, he feared that he was neglecting his own family while caring for the souls of others. So he turned back and went home. When he came in the house, everything was quiet, except for the voice of his wife behind the bedroom door. He listened and heard her pleading earnestly in prayer for the salvation of all her children, and especially for her strong-willed first-born, Charles. His father thought that with his wife caring so well for the spiritual interests of his children, he could go on about the Lord’s business, so he left again for his preaching engagement without disturbing her (from pp. 44-45).

Mother’s and father’s, the primary way we teach our kids to love God is through His word. it will not return back void.

God’s word is truth, it tells of salvation, it tells of sanctification. It tells of glorification and heaven.

The best thing you can do for kids it to teach them this book.

Maybe your here and you feel like you haven’t been the parent, husband or wife you should be.

What should you do? where should you start?

start with talking to God, repent, ask for his help.

But just as timothys mom and grandma taught the scriptures,

begin maybe today, tonight, sit down and read your Bible to your children.

Teach them and train them.

Maybe, there’s a grandparent here, maybe you’ve not taken interest.

I do want to quickly say this before we close.

Life is short. If you are at odds with any of your family, fix it.

And don’t wait for them to come to you.

God didn’t wait on us. He came to us.

He initiated restoration. So you, go to your family, and fix it.

Life’s too short to be at odds with family.

As we close, DO YOU HAVE A GENUINE, LIVING, AND LEARNED FAITH.

Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, came to seek and save the lost.

We are all lost without Jesus. All sinners and wanderers.

But all who repent and believe in Jesus Christ, are born again.

And they receive eternal life.

invitation: come forward.

Prayer:........Amen.