The Tender Love of God

Sermon Discussion May 14, 2017 Isaiah 49:14-16 Short Review Briefly summarize the message: 1. Why does Israel (and us) feel abandoned by God? Is it legitimate? 2. Why does God compare His love to that of a mother? 3. What about those who never knew the genuine love of a mother? Some Questions for Discussion: Focus the discussion on: How mothers can prepare us to know the tender love of Christ. 1. How was/is Mother’s day observed in your home? 2. What were times, as a child, when you felt forgotten, forlorn and unloved? Did you ever want to run away from home? Did you run away ever? Tell us what you remember. 3. Which of the comparisons of God’s love to a mother’s love particularly resonated with you? 4. Tell us about your mother and life with her. [Is it easy or hard to talk about this?] a. Are all the memories warm and pleasant? b. Is it important to have an honest – realistic – view of our mothers? Why? [What would Scripture say about our mothers and their spiritual needs?] 5. How can we talk about, and think about, our mothers honestly while still honoring them? 6. Do you know someone who grew up without a mother’s love from a young age? [Due to death, illness, emotional illness, abandonment, for example.] How did it affect their life later? 7. Read Psalm 27:2 – what comfort is there in God’s love for those without a parent’s love, or for all of us who have imperfect parents? 8. If you could pray a blessing over your mother which began something like, “May God bless you, mom, by…” – what would it be? What words of blessing would you like to say? 9. Close with prayer for mothers and those who ache because never knew this love – till they met Jesus.