God’s Heart for Motherhood: Nurturing the Family of God
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Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
Prayer of Illumination
Tesser Affirmation
Eleni Prayer & Send Off
Dismiss Kids
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Good Morning and welcome to Confessor’s of Christ Church.
While we typically focus on biblical celebrations, there are moments when cultural events align with God’s truth.
Today, as our nation celebrates Mother’s Day, we pause our study of Colossians to honor motherhood.
Not as a mere tradition, but as God’s divine design, rooted in Scripture from Genesis to the Gospels.
Let’s begin by calming our your mind, try to remove distractions, and think for a moment about a mother.
Could be your own, a grandmother, or a woman in this church—one who shaped your life with her love.
What comes to your mind?
Maybe it was a home-cooked meal, I’m thinking of you Donna if you are watching.
A late-night prayer, a word of wisdom, or a warm embrace.
Today, we celebrate these women and the God who designed motherhood to reflect His heart.
This celebration did not originate in America, but originated in Genesis chapter 4.
The moment that Adam and Eve became pregnant with their son.
It was God that established motherhood, and it is God that establishes the heart of a mother.
Our goal is not to celebrate motherhood, this morning, for the sake of motherhood,
No, our goal is through motherhood, we will celebrate God’s design, which leads to God’s glory and worship.
It is through God’s plan, God’s Purpose, and God’s ultimate mission, that has brought about motherhood.
Therefore, a greater understanding of motherhood will lead us to a greater worship of our God.
Next, while my goal is to encourage and honor the mothers in our church, I want to also challenge all women to see themselves as God has designed each of you to be.
Meaning, as we unpack Scripture, we may be surprised to see how this role does not require bearing children of one's own,
But rather calls all women to love, nurture, and care for the spiritual children of the church with a mother's heart.
Thus, all women should listen carefully, because God has a role to fulfill with children and without children.
Now, before we think the guys are off the hook this morning,
I also want you to pay attention, because we also play a vital, and biblical, role in this, too.
I am not talking about pro-creation, which is important, but how we are to support the women in our lives through their calling.
I want to focus our exploration of motherhood in three areas.
First, or point 1 for those taking notes: The Call of Motherhood for all women.
I want us to explore why this is God’s plan and how God designs women to fulfill this.
Point 2 is The Equipping to motherhood for all women.
This does not mean all women must have children, but it does mean that all women are to play a nurturing role in the their family and their church.
Scripture speaks to this and through the power of the Spirit, equips women for this very work.
Point 3 will look to the Application of Motherhood in the home and in the church.
How do women carry out their design and purpose in practical ways according to Scripture.
Lastly, we will wrap up with the call to the men.
We will see the role we play in celebrating and encouraging God’s design for women.
So, fellas you can’t tune out this morning.
Today, we’ll see how God calls you to honor and support the mothers—biological and spiritual—in your life, just as Christ loves His church.
So, this will be the direction we will explore this morning and we will be all over our Bible’s this morning to do so.
As we see much of Scripture speaking to this very topic.
Before we jump into our first point, what is it meant by this phrase motherhood?
Why is it good to celebrate and honor mothers?
God, in His infinite wisdom and power, put forth the way in which children would be born and every person would enter into God’s creation.
He found it to be good to do this through the womb of a woman in partnership with God.
But, what we will discover is that Motherhood is more than bearing children,
It’s God’s call to nurture, teach, and love, whether for your own children or the spiritual family of this church.
Motherhood consists of raising, caring, providing, nurturing, teaching, and extending compassion.
He equipped women to be unique, different, and complementary to man in a way that a man could never be.
While a man can attempt to provide these things, and in extreme cases, must do his best to provide these aspects, it is God’s design for a woman to carry this role.
This is why motherhood includes those who give birth, but it is not limited to those who give birth, but to all women in God’s design.
Thus, it is good to celebrate all women as we glorify God in His ultimate plan.
Let us jump into point one, the Call of Motherhood for all women.
Regardless of age and regardless of ability, all women are called to motherhood.
Let’s look first at age, and why age does not prevent motherhood.
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
The older women in our church still have a role to play when it comes to motherhood, whether they are caring for their biological children or spiritual children.
My wife, for instance, has gleaned much from the older ladies of our church and they have been a great source of encouragement to her.
While I am blessed to have my mother in my life, and very grateful for this, I also have spiritual mothers in my life.
Gina for instance will gladly tell you that she is like a mother to me and I’ve been adopted into her family as one of her boys.
She not only encourages me, but corrects me, rebukes me, challenges me, and also loves me dearly.
I truly appreciate, and welcome her wisdom and guidance, because I know that it comes from a place of love, and fulfilling her role spiritually to our family.
But, it is not just Gina, many of the women of the church have been such a blessing and an encouragement to me and our family.
If you do not have children, or your children have moved out of the home, get this:
You still have spiritual children that God has gifted you in this congregation.
Spiritual daughter’s and son’s to pray for, care for, encourage, lift up, and love.
It is not just my wife and I that you have the opportunity to care for, and be a blessing to, it is the entire church body that you get to adopt in this sense.
Just as we have been adopted into the family of God, you too, get to bring your love, care, and compassion, to those in God’s church.
This call is not just a suggestion, it is carrying out the very will and character of God.
God uses motherly language when speaking of the care of His children.
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
By example in Scripture, we see a mother is one who brings comfort.
God uses motherhood and the call to mothers as comforters, as an example of God’s love for His people.
Who here does not desire to be comforted, desire to be embraced, desire to be loved in difficulties.
God points to motherhood as an example of how he loves His children and comforts them.
He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.
Here, God uses a mother bird to continue to illustrate the care of motherhood in general to provide a place of refuge and protection.
This is a call not just to birds but represents the same care that all mothers are called to provide.
God, again, uses this to bring encouragement and comfort to how He protects and provides refuge.
One of the many joys in being the teaching elder here at our church is that I get a front row seat to watching this take place.
Kim, who is not with us this morning and recovering from surgery gives us a beautiful picture of what this means.
Her and Bill have their kiddos moved out of the house and she came to me and said that she has a heart for children.
That she wants to give back by equipping the next generation of children to know their God, to understand His grace and mercy, and to encourage them in the faith.
She has the longing and the desire to nurture the next generation in the Lord and blessed with the time and energy to put in this area.
She is excited to display this very heart of motherhood towards her spiritual grandchildren of the church in an incredible way.
My mom is excited to move from Ocala to this area in the next couple of years to be the “Nana of the church.”
Her heart for the littles, is beautiful, though I may battle with jealousy here and there cause I’m like, what about me!
If you watch Miss Maggie, walk through the doors you’ll see the impact that she has already made on many of the children here.
They one by one take turns to go up and give her a hug in the morning.
As you can see, this call that God has on the women of the church extends beyond just biological children to spiritual children.
Yes, mothers with biological children you have a call to love, nurture, care, provide, protect the ones that God has gifted you.
But, also know that God has put you into a larger family to use your gifting and talents to make an impact in His Kingdom family as well.
Now, Women who are younger, let me turn my attention to you, you are not off the hook.
You too, have a great opportunity to pour into the lives of the children of the church as well.
You do qualify as an older woman in this case, but uniquely gifted to be closer in age and can relate more recently to what kids are going through.
So, this call of motherhood, and the call to provide, protect, nurture, care, and love goes out to all women for both physical and spiritual children.
We’ve seen God’s call to motherhood for every woman.
Now, let’s discover how He equips you to live out this sacred role, whether in your home or our church family.
Point 2 is the Equipping of motherhood for all women.
So, what if you understand your call to motherhood, you believe you are indeed called to this, but do not feel equipped?
This is where point 2 will come in.
Your answer is this: Through Scripture and the Holy Spirit, God equips all women to fulfill their nurturing role in their family and their church.
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
Proverbs 31 is a known as the vitreous woman, or the wife of noble character.
It lays out the characteristics of a woman who embodies wisdom, strength, diligence, and godliness.
The question that is always raised is how does one become this type of woman, which in turn becomes the type of mother her family needs.
First, to be equipped means to know your Scriptures, to know your Bible.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
The Bible equips for every good work, including the work of motherhood.
The work of nurturing, the work of raising up, teaching, and training.
Motherhood includes caring, nurturing, but also includes correcting and reproof.
A mother who truly cares, is a mother who is willing to correct when necessary.
The way mother’s are equipped to carry this out is by being saturated in the Word of God.
The next way that Mother’s are equipped to do this is through the power of the Spirit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
The Word equips and the Spirit produces.
These aspects empowers women to care for others.
The more that you submit to the Scriptures and submit to the Spirit’s work, the more you will see this incredible and necessary work flourish in your life.
It is through the Word and the Spirit that God will not only call you, but equip you, to carry out your purpose through God’s plan.
When women embrace and embark on the mission of motherhood, they fulfill their divine calling.
When women submit to and steward the means provided by God through His Spirit and His Word, they will be equipped for this calling.
We see this played out with women who embraced motherhood with physical offspring along with those who also did so with spiritual offspring.
Here are just 10 examples of mothers who took the call and accomplished God’s plan.
1. Eve – Mother of All Living
Imagine Eve, her heart heavy with the Fall’s consequences. Childbirth, now marked by pain, lay ahead.
Yet, with bold faith, she embraced her calling as the mother of all living.
Holding Cain, then Abel, and later Seth, she didn’t just raise sons—she launched God’s story of redemption, trusting His plan.
2. Sarah – Mother of Isaac
Sarah’s journey as a mother was marked by patience and faith in God’s seemingly impossible promise.
Barren for decades, she endured societal shame and personal longing until, at 90 years old, she gave birth to Isaac.
3. Rebekah – Mother of Esau and Jacob
Rebekah embraced her calling as a mother with discernment and bold action.
Pregnant with twins, she sought God’s guidance when she felt them struggling within her, learning that “the older would serve the younger”.
As the mother of Esau and Jacob, she nurtured both sons but recognized Jacob’s role in God’s plan.
4. Leah and Rachel – Mothers of the Twelve Tribes of Israel
They fulfilled their calling as mothers by giving birth to the sons who became the patriarchs of Israel’s twelve tribes.
Leah, unloved yet faithful, bore six sons and a daughter, finding her worth in God’s provision.
Rachel, deeply loved but initially barren, prayed fervently and later bore Joseph and Benjamin.
5. Jochebed – Mother of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam
Jochebed’s motherhood was defined by courage and ingenuity in the face of oppression.
When Pharaoh ordered the death of Hebrew male infants, she hid Moses for three months and then placed him in a basket on the Nile, entrusting him to God’s care
6. Hannah – Mother of Samuel
Hannah fervently prayed for a child and vowed to dedicate him to God’s service. Her son, Samuel, became a prophet and judge over Israel.
7. Bathsheba – Mother of Solomon
Bathsheba’s journey as a mother was marked by resilience and advocacy.
After the tragic loss of her first child with David, she bore Solomon, whom God named Jedidiah, “beloved of the Lord”
8. Elizabeth – Mother of John the Baptist
Elizabeth’s motherhood was a testament to God’s faithfulness in her old age.
Long barren and past childbearing years, she conceived John the Baptist through God’s miraculous intervention.
Her faith and joy were evident as she welcomed Mary, proclaiming her blessedness
9. Mary – Mother of Jesus
Mary’s calling as the mother of Jesus was defined by her humble obedience and profound faith.
Chosen by God, she accepted the daunting role of bearing the Messiah, responding, “Let it be to me according to your word”
10. Lois and Eunice – Grandmother and Mother of Timothy
They fulfilled their calling as mothers through their faithful transmission of faith to Timothy. They instilled in him a “sincere faith” from childhood, teaching him the Scriptures.
After being called, these women were equipped by God to carry out His plan and purposes through Motherhood.
Not only are these women encouraging testaments there are also examples of women who played a spiritual role in the mothering of God’s people.
Deborah was a Judge who led and cared for Israel.
Lydia in the New Testament nurtured the early church through her love and hospitality.
We have examples of both young and old who fulfilled their calling according to God’s plan.
And you today, are being encouraged to join with women in every generation who are called and equipped to be physical and spiritual mothers.
Yet, Calling and equipping are only two sides of the triangle, there is a third part that is necessary.
Our last point, before we jump to how men and the Gospel plays a role in motherhood, is this:
The Application of Motherhood in the Home and the Church.
Women are called and equipped to go and live out their God-given design through practical acts of love, care, and nurturing in both the home and the church.
No matter what stage of life today finds you in, you are to go, be, do, and accomplish the task that is set before you in the Lord.
Encourage one another, pray for one another, inspire one another if the works that you get to do.
You are to take your calling, be equipped through the Spirit and the Word, and then apply this to the role of motherhood.
Remember, we are not trying to earn our favor with God, but it is because of the Gospel that we now get to do these very things.
It is because of the freedom that Christ won, that you are able to give of yourself, no longer needing to earn approval or plead for acceptance.
In Christ you are called and equipped to accomplish this task, so begin to pray and ask God for guidance and help to accomplish this.
Seek the Word and embrace the Spirit’s work in your life.
Be reminded of this incredible reality through 1 Peter.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:
Spiritual gifts (teaching, hospitality, encouragement) enable women to serve as mothers in the home and in the church.
So use these gifts for the good of your home, the uplifting of the congregation, and for glory of God.
If you are unsure how this would look here at Confessors of Christ Church, do not hesitate to ask, myself or one of the elders.
Let us partner together to make much of Jesus in this building and this community.
If you are still unsure, then do not delay to go to the Lord in prayer.
Ask God to grant you wisdom and discernment on how to use your gifts to advance the Kingdom through motherhood.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
This verse reminds us that God loves to grant prayers that are according to His will and,
We know that a prayer for wisdom is absolutely the will of God to be used for this very purpose.
So, my encouragement and challenge for you is to pray and see how God will use you in this season amongst His children as a family of God.
For those of you who do have physical kids still at home, begin thinking through how you will disciple them if you are not already doing so.
We have tons of resources that we can share with you.
Remember your first ministry is the ministry that God has given you in your children.
Love, nurture, care, and equip your children in the knowledge of God and the Gospel.
For those that do not have children, or whose children are grown and moved away, there is still a role for you to play, and a very important one at that.
Encourage other mothers in the congregation, commit to caring for the children of the congregation, mentor younger mothers with wisdom.
Pray for the families of the church, and serve in areas that utilize your talents.
Now, for the men of the church.
Men, we have a responsibility to honor, support, and encourage women in their God-given role of motherhood, both biological and spiritual.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
Husbands have a very important role to play and it does not end when children move from the home or if you are awaiting children.
We are to encourage our wives with deeds, inspire our wives with Scripture, and join our wives in the work and ministry of the Word.
If you do not have a wife, then there is still a role for you to play as well.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Paul encourages the Thessalonians to be an encouragement for one another.
If you are not married then you can still be an encouragement to each other.
Pray for one another, and care for the women of the church, not for selfish gain, but as a brother in Christ.
Celebrate the contributions of the women in the church, whether through teaching, mentoring, or nurturing.
Let them know that you appreciate the work that they are doing and the benefit that you receive through it.
One way to support women practically is to serve along side them.
If your wife serves in the children ministry or the nursery, join them in this ministry.
If they greet at the door, join them, if they serve in hospitality, join them, be a support and a partner in ministry.
There are many ways for us as men to support, affirm, and celebrate the work that the women do here for our church.
We are substantially stronger and better when everyone joins in on the mission of God and nobody is left out or left behind.
Lastly, I want to close with an encouragement in the Gospel.
Mother’s Day brings a mix of emotions, joy for some, gratitude for others, or perhaps longing for those awaiting children or mourning loss.
Yet, God’s design for motherhood embraces every woman, whether you’re raising children, mentoring youth, or nurturing the church.
Whatever emotion this day brings to you, the Gospel assures us: you belong in this calling.
It is ultimately in the Gospel that women are able to accomplish this call on their lives.
Jesus gives us a beautiful example of what it means to love, what it means to disciple, what it means to care for each other.
Jesus understands the sacrifice and the commitment required.
Jesus knows the heartaches and the pains and the rejections.
Jesus knows first hand what it means to sacrificially lay his life down for the good of those you love.
It is through His love and sacrifice that has freed all who trust in Him from the chains of sin that prevents us from accomplishing His will.
It is through Jesus’s resurrection and ascension that sends forth His Spirit to to equip and empower believers.
It is through Christ’s intercession in which our prayers are answered and wisdom and gifts are given to be all that God calls us to be.
The Gospel is the power for Salvation, absolutely, but the Gospel is also the power for our life on this earth and the power for life everlasting.
Where you are weak, He is strong, Where you stumble, He is your rock, Where you falter, He is steadfast, today, tomorrow and forever.
Believe upon Jesus, rest in Jesus, trust in Jesus, and live to Jesus as you fulfill your role as a woman and as a mother.
May God richly bless, encourage, equip, the woman of our church. Amen? Let us pray.
Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is a sacred ordinance instituted by Christ, symbolizing His atoning sacrifice. It’s a means of grace where believers partake of bread and wine, representing Christ’s body nailed, pierced, and blood shed for the forgiveness of sins. The elements remain bread and wine, not physically transforming, but through faith, believers spiritually commune with Christ, receiving His presence and benefits of the covenant of grace. Participating strengthens our faith, fosters unity in the church, and proclaims Christ’s death until He returns. This is for all believers to join after self-examination, in reverence and discernment.
