Planted Week 4

Rooted in Love

Synopsis:

This message looks at the importance and power of love in our faith. It will also look at how the faith of Timothy’s Grandmother and Mother impacted him and emphasizes the unique role of mothers raising their children to believe in Christ.

Introduction:

ill of the Importance of roots in planting using the plants for Mother’s Day as an example.

Message:

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

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.

This is a generational faith, it was modeled to him and handed to him by previous generations. Christianity cannot be forced but it can be modeled and transferred from one generation to the next. The faithful service of Lois and Eunice contributed to the faith of Timothy. The faith of Timothy impacted countless others. Faith keeps going.

Acts 16:1-3 also informs of Timothy’s lineage

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Timothy

TIMOTHY Personal name meaning “honoring God.” Friend and trusted coworker of Paul. When Timothy was a child, his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois taught him the Scriptures (

Eunice was Jewish and Timothy’s mother while Timothy’s father was a Gentile.

Ephesians 3:14–21 ESV

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Vs. 14 This verse begins the passage that is a prayer from Paul. The Greek words for Father and family here are closely related.

Vs. 15 Family here is the whole family of God (Jew and Gentile)

Vs. 16 the riches of Glory of God is sufficient that we do

Vs. 17 Roots are necessary in plants and trees, and they are also necessary in faith. It has to go down deeper than the surface in order to be sustainable. The nutrient we need in our soil is: “Love”

Vs. 18 The vastness of his love here is described similarly as Romans 8:38–39 “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

There is a depth to God’s love that is in someway beyond our own comprehension.

Vs. 19 love of Christ

In Parenting - Stay rooted in Love (II John 1:4-5)

In Family - Stay Rooted in Love (II John 1:4-5)

In Marriage - Stay rooted in Love (Ephesians 5:25)

In Our Gifts - Stay Rooted in Love (I Corinthians 13:1)

In The Way We Treat Others - Stay Rooted in Love (Matthew 22:39)

In The Way We Treat Ourselves - Stay Rooted in Love (Matthew 22:39)

Vs. 20 It is Him, Jesus, who is able to do more than we could ask or think

Vs. 21 This faith is generational.

If, like Timothy, you have a heritage in your faith, be thankful. If not, become the Lois or the Eunice or the Timothy to someone else.

Closing:

How are your roots?

Do you need some water? John 4:10–11 “Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?”

Do you need love to fertilize your roots?

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