Mother's Day 2019

Mother’s Day has a long History, dating back to early Greek culture. This was more of a pagan idea of mother-worship.

The earliest record of a Christian Tradition for honoring mothers is from the Church of England in the 16th Century with the observation of “Mothering Sunday” - although this was more about the “Mother Church” than Mothers.

American churches have officially celebrated the Mother’s Day Holiday for just over 100 years. Miss Ann Jarvis is given credit for leading the campaign to establish Mother’s day as an official Holiday. (1908 was the first- Wikipedia)

…It should not be surprising that so many cultures see the value in honoring mothers by setting aside a special day of commemoration.

The earliest record of a Christian Tradition for honoring mothers is from the Church of England in the 16th Century with the observation of “Mothering Sunday” - although this was more about the “Mother Church” than Mothers.

It should not be surprising that so many cultures have seen the value in honoring mothers by setting aside a special day of commemoration. Nor that the Christian church would receive this into their annual liturgy.

American churches have officially celebrated the Mother’s Day Holiday for just over 100 years. Miss Ann Jarvis is given credit for leading the campaign to establish Mother’s day as an official Holiday. (1908 was the first- Wikipedia)

The Bible in many places extols the virtues of mothers.

American churches have officially celebrated the Mother’s Day Holiday for just over 100 years. Miss Ann Jarvis is given credit for leading the campaign to establish Mother’s day as an official Holiday. (1908 was the first- Wikipedia)

As we will see in our text this morning mothers lay the foundation of our Christian faith, and instill in us the greatest parts of our personal character.

It should not be surprising that so many cultures have seen the value in honoring mothers by setting aside a special day of commemoration. Nor that the Christian church would receive this into their annual liturgy.

mothers laying the foundation for our faith, and instilling in us the greatest parts of our personal character.

It should not be surprising that so many cultures have seen the value in honoring mothers by setting aside a special day of commemoration. Nor that the Christian church would receive this into their annual liturgy.

Regardless of your situation regarding your mother (mourning her loss, still living under her strict rules, even nursing bitterness from a long time estrangement) We can all be encouraged by the Apostle Paul’s praise and recognition of the invaluable role mothers are playing or have played in our life. With that...

Regardless of your situations regarding your mother (mourning her loss, still living under her strict rules, even nursing bitterness from a long time estrangement) We can all be encouraged by the Apostle Paul’s praise and recognition of the invaluable role mothers are playing or have played in our life.

Open your Bibles to the book of 2 Timothy, and we will see 4 reasons why we should Honor our mothers.

2 Timothy 1:3–8 ESV

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. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 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. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

The Bible in many places extols the virtues of mothers.

2 Timothy 1:3–7 ESV

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. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 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. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

As we will see in our text this morning mothers lay the foundation of our Christian faith, and instill in us the greatest parts of our personal character.

This is an unusual section of Scripture in that someone other than God is being given credit for establishing the faith of another person.

Regardless of your situation regarding your mother (mourning her loss, still living under her strict rules, even nursing bitterness from a long time estrangement) We can all be encouraged by the Apostle Paul’s praise and recognition of the invaluable role mothers are playing or have played in our life. With that...

Let me show what I mean...

Open your Bibles to the book of 2 Timothy, and we will see 4 reasons why we should Honor our mothers.

Verse 5a Paul commends the faith of Timothy- “your sincere faith”

Timothy is getting it right. The life of faith that he is living out is a source of great encouragement to others. Paul says that even the thought of him fills him with tears of Joy.

We would expect Paul to follow this with a praise and thanksgiving to God for giving Timothy such great faitfhfulness…and He does eventually do that in this context. Verse 6 He says that Timothy is gifted by God, and in verse 14, He enjoins the Holy Spirit as the One in whom Timothy must trust to save guard his faith. But, before he does either of those things, Paul points to the human influencers in Timothy’s life. The flesh and blood relationships that God used to lay a foundation for Timothy’s faith and even to build some of the structure of if.

2 Timothy 1:3–7 ESV

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. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 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. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:3–7 ESV

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. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 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. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:3–7 ESV

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. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 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. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

So, lets’ work backwards down the list.

This is an unusual section of Scripture in that someone other than God is being given credit for establishing the faith of another person.

Verse 7 - God gave Timothy a spirit of power, love and self-control.

Let me show what I mean...

Three indispensable character traits for anyone.

Verse 5a Paul commends the faith of Timothy- “your sincere faith”

Power carrying the meaning of ability and closely related to the idea of confidence. The courage, will, and ability to do what is needed. Power.

Love, the capacity to place the needs of others before one’s own desires or needs. Love

Self-Control, this really falls under the idea of wisdom. The will and ability to do or not do something as the situation requires.

going to bed on time, getting up on time.

eating right, exercising

doing maintenance- relationally, materially

Disciple = Self Control

All three of these are said to be issues of the spirit- Human Spirit- where our character resides. All three of these are said to be gifts of God.

Verse 6- Notice that Paul, takes some credit for Timothy’s spiritual gifts. Not that Paul generated the spiritual gift and gave it Timothy, but that God used Paul to impart this gift to Timothy.

This is a huge point in this passage, and the main point I want to make today. God uses people to build the best parts of our character into our life. We need to honor those people for their contribution in to our life.

Now, we could reflect on what Paul has said in verse 6 and pause to recognise the influence of spiritual mentors in our life. Preachers, teachers, even pastors, maybe. And that’s good to do.

But, let’s follow Paul’s path here and give honor to the most influential person in our life. Our Mothers...

Verse 5- Paul gives proper praise to God for Timothy’s gifts, He then recognizes that he had a part to play in Timothy’s faith, but, in verse 5 we see that Paul’s contribution would not have been possible without the foundation of faith that Timothy’s mother (and grandmother) laid in his life.

Saving Faith is not transferable. But, faith is communicable. Your example of faith strengthens my faith and vice versa. Timothy had to come to faith in Christ on his own. But, his mother’s faith in God were the stepping stones that God used to lead Timothy to the foot of the cross, where he could decide to believe and receive the Gift of Life through Jesus Christ.

This is true no matter our parent’s faith position. My mother was semi-devout Roman Catholic. Yet, her example of faith in God, instilled in me at a very young age a desire to know who God is. This was not saving faith, but when I heard the Gospel for the firs time, all that foundation of belief in God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit made the reception of the Gospel all the more easier.

Maybe your mother brought you up under the sound of the Gospel, be very thankful for that. Honor you mother for this great gift.

Maybe she wasn’t Christian - How does that contribute to your Christian faith?

Mothers are a reflection of God’s character. They fill us with courage and self-confidence, They love us unconditionally, They encourage us to do right, they impart wisdom to us- they try to.

These are the same things that we find true about the God who desires to save us. The One who sent His Son to pay our sin debt in His own blood.

These are the other three reasons to Honor your mother today, even if she did not share your Christian faith.

God used her to fill you with Power-

God used her to give you an example of Love

God used her to give you wisdom and self-control

And then God used all of that to introduce Himself to you. It became the connection between you and the Gospel Message. You could believe in a God who wants to empower you to succeed, A God who will love you unconditionally, A God who will teach us self-control and wisdom.