Mothers Day

Welcome

Welcome

Welcome

Galatians 4:21–26 NLT

21 Tell me, you who want to live under the law, do you know what the law actually says? 22 The Scriptures say that Abraham had two sons, one from his slave wife and one from his freeborn wife. 23 The son of the slave wife was born in a human attempt to bring about the fulfillment of God’s promise. But the son of the freeborn wife was born as God’s own fulfillment of his promise. 24 These two women serve as an illustration of God’s two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. 25 And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law. 26 But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother.

Isaiah 54 ESV

1 “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord. 2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities. 4 “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. 5 For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. 6 For the Lord has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God. 7 For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. 8 In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord, your Redeemer. 9 “This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. 10 For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. 11 “O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. 12 I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones. 13 All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children. 14 In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. 15 If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you. 16 Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; 17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”

The Church is a Mother

Today is Mother’s Day.

For many people, this day is beautiful. For others, it is complicated. For some, it is joyful. For others, it carries grief.

Some are celebrating wonderful mothers. Some are remembering mothers who have passed. Some are carrying wounds from absent or broken relationships. Some are longing to become mothers. Some are exhausted from the weight of motherhood.

But whether today brings celebration or sorrow, one truth remains:

God designed mothers to shape lives.

A mother nurtures. A mother protects. A mother sacrifices. A mother teaches. A mother makes room.

And remarkably, the Bible says the Church is called to do the same.

In Isaiah 49, the people of God are pictured as a mother surrounded by children. And in Galatians 4, Paul declares:

“Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”

The Church is not merely an organization. The Church is a spiritual family.

ITS NOT A THING YOU ATTEND, ITS A FAMILY YOU BELONG TO

And in a culture filled with loneliness, confusion, anxiety, division, and spiritual emptiness, the Church has a critical role to play.

The world does not need a colder Church. It needs a compassionate Church.

The world does not need a Church obsessed with image. It needs a Church full of grace and truth.

The world does not need a Church acting like a business. It needs a Church acting like a family

So as we take on this parralel that Paul gives to the church lets remember some things about mothers for sure, but even more so, how the church has this responsibility in the world:

1.The Church Gives Spiritual Birth to new believers

Acts 9:25–31 ESV

31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

JUST LIKE A MOTHER WHO IMMEDIATELY TAKES CARE OF A NEW BORN…. WE AS THE CHURCH TAKE CARE OF THOSE THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY BORN INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD.

Galatians 4 is one of the most powerful contrasts in the New Testament.

Paul compares two women:

Hagar and Sarah.

Hagar represents slavery. Sarah represents promise.

Hagar symbolizes life under the law. Sarah symbolizes life under grace.

Paul says:

“Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.”

In other words, the true people of God are born not through human effort, but through divine promise. What God has done

So here is a great reminder:

The Church Is Not Built on Performance, Its built on a person.

(as any good mother knows - A childs value is not based on their performance, its based on the very fact that they are part of the family)

This matters deeply today. Because you matter to God today.

Because many people think Christianity is about performance.

Be good enough. Try harder. Fix yourself. Earn God’s approval.

But the Gospel says:

You cannot save yourself.

You are saved by grace.

The Church is not a family of perfect people. The Church is a family of rescued people.

That is why the Church must never become a place where people feel they must pretend.

The Church should be the safest place on earth to admit:

“I need Jesus.”

Mothers Understand Grace Better Than Most

A good mother knows her children are imperfect.

She sees the failures. She sees the mess. She sees the immaturity. She see’s the way we see ourselves but often looks through it all to who we are becoming rather than who we are in the moment.

And yet she keeps loving.

That does not mean she ignores truth. But she does not withdraw love every time her child struggles.

And this is exactly how God loves us.

Romans says:

“While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

The Church must reflect that kind of grace.

Not cheap grace. Not compromise. Not ignoring sin.

But Gospel grace.

Grace that tells the truth. Grace that restores. Grace that forgives. Grace that believes God can still transform lives.

The World Is Starving for Grace

People today are exhausted.

Exhausted by pressure. Exhausted by comparison. Exhausted by pretending. Exhausted by trying to measure up.

Social media says: “Perform.”

Culture says: “Brand yourself.”

Religion often says: “Earn it.”

Jesus Says: Just come close….

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” - M 11

The Church must become a place where weary people encounter the grace of Jesus Christ.

2.The Church is the place where people grow UP

this mirrors whe way a mother brings up a child

It begins with training: Nourishment, unconditional love, affection, daily food, general understanding of things pertaining to life in the kingdom…. and just like a mother - the church ensures that the needs are met for that child: weekly service, worship. bible study, fellowship with other believers…. growth happens

**baptism is apart of this process: not about age but about the spiritual needs of the person: Believe and Be Baptized.

it continues with teaching: They were taught by the apostles. they held fast to the teaching of Jesus, passed down by the apostles:

Acts 2:42 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Mothers call out childish foolish behaviour - why? because they have an inherent responsibility to teach their child when it is time to move on towards maturity.

the church must do this:

We teach our kids

We teach our Youth House

We teach our young adults….

It remains with trusting: the church has been delt a tough blow here: the church is where there is

invitation… to become responsible.

3.The Church Often Ministers Through Pain & Suffering

….Mothers Know the Cost of Love

No mother escapes sacrifice. No parent will escape the sacrifice.

*** Instagram picture from ten years ago. all our kids in our bed on a saturday morning and the caption was “Saturdays used to be so different”

But what Good parent doesnt sacrifice.

What mother doesnt give of herself and again and again to ensure the well being

Mothers lose sleep. Mothers carry worry. Mothers pray through tears. Mothers give when nobody notices.

And the Church also ministers through sacrifice.

The Church throughout history has endured persecution, rejection, ridicule, and hardship…. to LOVE PEOPLE.

Yet the Church still stands.

Because Jesus promised:

“I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

….The Modern Church Faces Real Challenges

We are ministering in a fractured culture.

Families are broken. Truth is relative. Loneliness is epidemic. People distrust institutions. Including churches.

And some of that distrust has come because churches have failed.

There has been hypocrisy. Abuse. Pride. Compromise.

The Church must repent where repentance is needed.

But we must also remember this:

Jesus has not abandoned His Church.

God still works through imperfect people.

And the answer to a broken Church is not abandoning the Church. The answer is becoming the Church Jesus intended.

….The Church Must be a beacon of Compassion, not condemnation

The Church today must recover tenderness.

Not weakness. Not compromise. But Christlike compassion.

Jesus was full of grace and truth.

And mothers understand that balance.

A good mother tells the truth. But she tells it in love.

The Church must do the same.

4.The Church Still Has a Hopeful Future

Isaiah’s prophecy ends with astonishment.

God tells the Church:

“The children which thou shalt have… shall say… The place is too strait for me.”

In other words:

“There are more people coming.”

Even after grief. Even after captivity. Even after hardship.

God says:

“I am not finished with My Church.”

….God Is Still Saving People

It is easy to become cynical.

Easy to believe culture is too dark. Easy to believe people are too far gone.

But God is still changing lives.

Prodigals are still coming home. Marriages are still being restored. Young people are still encountering Jesus. Addicts are still being set free.

The Gospel still has power.

….The Church Must Make Room

Isaiah says:

“Give place to me that I may dwell.”

Healthy churches make room.

Room for broken people. Room for new believers. Room for different generations. Room for people who do not have everything together.

Mothers know how to make room.

They make room at the table. Room in the schedule. Room in the budget. Room in the heart.

And the Church must do the same.

…The Church Should stay Amazed by Grace

Isaiah says:

“Who hath begotten me these?”

The Church is shocked by what God has done.

Can I tell you what I pray for?I pray God sends people nobody expected.

People with messy stories. People who thought church was not for them. People who never imagined grace could reach them.And suddenly the Church looks around and says:

“Look what Jesus has done.”

That is the beauty of the Gospel.

None of us earned our way here. We are all children of promise.