The Vital Role of Christian Women
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· 14 viewsTimothy's mother and grandmother were recognized by Paul as bearing a vital influence in Timothy’s life.
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3 Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.
9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.
11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.
12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.
13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.
14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
INTRODUCTION:
I- A CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S INFLUENCE CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. (2 Timothy 1:5 b)
I- A CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S INFLUENCE CANNOT BE OVERSTATED. (2 Timothy 1:5 b)
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
(ὑπόμνησιν λαβὼν τῆς ἐν σοὶ ἀνυποκρίτου πίστεως, ἥτις ἐνῴκησεν πρῶτον ἐν τῇ μάμμῃ σου Λωΐδι καὶ τῇ μητρί σου Εὐνίκῃ, πέπεισμαι δὲ ὅτι καὶ ἐν σοί.)
A- The influence of women in the Bible is clear.
A- The influence of women in the Bible is clear.
1- Some have influenced for good.
The Prophetess Deborah (Judges 4-5)
Priscilla (wife of Aquila) (Acts 18) (Romans 16:3-4)
3 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus.
4 In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches.
2- Some have influenced for evil.
The evil influence of Queen Jezebel (1 Kings 16 - 22) (note her influence: 1 Kings 22:51-53)
51 Ahaziah son of Ahab began to rule over Israel in the seventeenth year of King Jehoshaphat’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria two years.
52 But he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the example of his father and mother and the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel to sin.
53 He served Baal and worshiped him, provoking the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father had done.
The negative influence of Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)
The destructive actions of Eve (Genesis 3:6)
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
B- The godly impact of the Christian women in our text is powerful.
B- The godly impact of the Christian women in our text is powerful.
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
(ὑπόμνησιν λαβὼν τῆς ἐν σοὶ ἀνυποκρίτου πίστεως, ἥτις ἐνῴκησεν πρῶτον ἐν τῇ μάμμῃ σου Λωΐδι καὶ τῇ μητρί σου Εὐνίκῃ, πέπεισμαι δὲ ὅτι καὶ ἐν σοί.)
1- The impact of Timothy’s mother and grandmother was so powerful that it is noted here by the Apostle Paul.
a. The text emphasizes the fact that Paul was impressed with Lois and Eunice.
Paul states that Lois’ faith “filled” her life (ἐνῴκησεν = to dwell in, permeate the life of).
Same idea communicated in (Col 3:16)
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
Timothy’s grandmother Lois had a genuine faith that impacted at least two generations that we know of.
Genuine faith was evidenced “first” (πρῶτον)
She passed on her faith by example and teaching to Timothy’s mother Eunice.
Timothy’s mother, Eunice passed on that genuine faith to Timothy.
Who knows how many people, old and young, within the family of faith, who had been impacted by these two ladies.
b. While Paul greeted many in his letters, he does not heap this kind of recognition lightly.
2- The influence of these two godly women impacted the life of the young man Timothy in lasting ways.
a. The faith passed on by the teaching of these godly women helped make Timothy the man he was.
He was a faithful companion to the Apostle Paul.
He was one who was teachable (Paul discipled him).
He became a man whom Paul could entrust with difficult tasks. (see 1 & 2 Timothy)
He became a stalwart and faithful disciple of Christ during difficult days. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)
1 I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom:
2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
II- A CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S INFLUENCE MAKES HER A TEACHER THAT IS UNPARALLELED. (2 Timothy 1:5 a,c)
II- A CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S INFLUENCE MAKES HER A TEACHER THAT IS UNPARALLELED. (2 Timothy 1:5 a,c)
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
(ὑπόμνησιν λαβὼν τῆς ἐν σοὶ ἀνυποκρίτου πίστεως, ἥτις ἐνῴκησεν πρῶτον ἐν τῇ μάμμῃ σου Λωΐδι καὶ τῇ μητρί σου Εὐνίκῃ, πέπεισμαι δὲ ὅτι καὶ ἐν σοί.)
The godly Christian woman teaches those under her influence:
A- What real faith looks like.
A- What real faith looks like.
1- Paul refers to Timothy’s faith as, “your genuine faith” (σοὶ ἀνυποκρίτου πίστεως).
a. What dies genuine faith look like?
It is a faith that is real. (genuine faith = ἀνυποκρίτου πίστεως = genuine and sincere, and hence lacking in pretense or show—‘genuine, sincere.’)
It is a faith that impacts all of life. (filled your grandmother Lois = ἐνῴκησεν πρῶτον ἐν τῇ μάμμῃ σου Λωΐδ )
ἐνῴκησεν = to dwell in, permeate the life of.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.
time
thoughts
actions
words
B- To faithfully follow Christ. (2 Timothy 1:8-10)
B- To faithfully follow Christ. (2 Timothy 1:8-10)
8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.
9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.
1- Teaching them to understand and believe the truth of the Gospel. (2 Timothy 1:9-10).
9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.
a. The most important thing you can do is to teach people under your influence the Good News and seek to lead them to the savior.
b. Help them to understand that God has called us to a life of commitment and surrender to him.
2- Teaching them to be open and active witnesses of their faith. (2 Timothy 1:8)
8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.
C- To Faithfully follow Christ in all circumstances. (2 Timothy 1:13-14)
C- To Faithfully follow Christ in all circumstances. (2 Timothy 1:13-14)
13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.
14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
( 13 ὑποτύπωσιν ἔχε ὑγιαινόντων λόγων ὧν παρʼ ἐμοῦ ἤκουσας ἐν πίστει καὶ ἀγάπῃ τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ·
14 τὴν καλὴν παραθήκην φύλαξον διὰ πνεύματος ἁγίου τοῦ ἐνοικοῦντος ἐν ἡμῖν.)
1- “Hold on to” = ἔχε = ‘to hold on to, to retain in the hand, to seize.’
2- Based upon and in a strong faith in Jesus that is rooted in love.
a. Let Christ’s love bee the motivation for life.
(2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.
15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
(Ephesians 3:17-19)
17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
2- To hold on to the Word of God.
a. Because it is God’s word that provides the answers for life. (2 Timothy 3:16)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
3- To carefully guard the truth.
a. Refuse to compromise with the world and its ways.
(Romans 12:2)
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
CONCLUSION:
Augustine’s Mother, Monica.
Her influence on Augustine
He was born in 354 in a North African town set among the woods near the Mediterranean. His father was a pagan, but his mother, Monica, was of devout Christian stock. Augustine was an undisciplined child, idle and truant despite frequent beatings. He loved sports and pranks and soon discovered a host of adolescent pleasures. When he was 15 his father saw him in the public baths and realized his son was a man. He was. He later wished that “the high tides of my youth had spent their foam upon the shore of marriage.”
Augustine was also brilliant, and he soon moved to Carthage to further both his studies and his fun. Monica warned him against fornication, but “I ran headlong with blindness.” At about 18 he found himself the father of a son. At the same time he joined a cult.
Years passed, and Monica, praying ceaselessly, heard that Augustine was planning to leave Africa for Rome. She begged him not to go. When he refused, she determined to go with him. Using deception, he left her praying in a chapel and sailed without her; but she took a later boat and intercepted him. They traveled to Milan where she persuaded him to listen to the great Bishop Ambrose. The bishop’s razor-sharp sermons penetrated Augustine’s head, if not yet his heart. Monica continued praying, confiding her struggles to Ambrose. He told her not to worry: “It isn’t possible for the son of such prayers to be lost.”
One day as Augustine sat in a friend’s garden he heard a child singing, “Take up and read!” He opened the Bible near him and read from Romans 13: Don’t go to wild parties or get drunk or be vulgar or indecent. … Let the Lord Jesus Christ be as near to you as the clothes you wear. By the time he finished the sentence, he later said, he was converted.
On the eve of Easter, April 24, 387, Augustine and his son Adeodatus were baptized by Ambrose as Monica watched. Her lifetime of prayer was answered, and a church father was born
Morgan, Robert J. 1997. On This Day: 365 Amazing and Inspiring Stories about Saints, Martyrs & Heroes. Electronic ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
