Momma Said...

Announcements

1. Mother's Day

Stand - pray - gifts

2. Membership Meeting

15th between services

Open to all - members only vote

3. Tech and worship

Help needed - email Jacob

4. Y@H May 16 at 11:00a

RSVP by May 15

Restaurant TBD

Introduction

Proverbs 1:8 (ESV)

8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,

and forsake not your mother’s teaching,

If someone asked you, “What did your momma always say?”

If you’re Bobby Boucher:

“Momma says that alligators are ornery because they got all them teeth and no toothbrush.”

If you’re in the Shirelles:

“Momma said there’d be days like this, there’d be days like this my momma said.”

If you’re Forrest Gump:

“Momma always says life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.”

If you’re LL Cool J:

“Momma said knock you out!”

I asked Ronnie and Gracie what their momma always says:

Gracie: Momma don’t play that...

Ronnie: Don’t you tell me what you can’t do...

I thought they were going to say something she always lovingly and jokingly says...

No one cares if you’re tired; work harder!

Mothers have profound effects on us

Some of us our grateful for what our mothers have given us

Inheritances

Work ethic

Memories

Some of us don’t like what our mothers have given us

Big nose

Bad habits

Things to discuss with a therapist

Either way, even if she wasn’t there for you, your mother has an an effect on you

That’s why what our mothers do is so important

Today we’ll talk about what Timothy’s mother gave him

And also her mother before her

YouVersion: Momma Said

In 2 Timothy 1:1-7

May 9, 1914 was first ever Mothers Day

Instituted nationally by Woodrow Wilson

However, Mother’s Day started before that

Someone named Anna Jarvis advocated for the day

She pushed after the death of her own mother

Anna Jarvis: “I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mothers day commemorating her for the matchless service she renders to humanity in every field of life. She is entitled to it.”

Although Woodrow Wilson made it official, it wasn’t the first time Mother’s Day was celebrated

The first Mother’s Day celebration was held in a church in West Virginia - organized by Jarvis

For the next 7 years it grew until Jarvis campaigned enough to Woodrow Wilson

Today, we still honor Mothers in our churches

Today, we’re going to do that by looking at Paul honoring mothers...

All the way back to almost 2,000 years ago!

2 Timothy 1:1–7 ESV

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 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.

What do we know about Paul and Timothy?

Timothy and Paul were CLOSE

Timothy was Turkish

Mom was Jewish, dad was Greek (must have been tough)

Paul’s mission was to travel, evangelize and start churches

Paul and Barnabas visited Lystra and spread the gospel there and then left

A few years later he returned and met a young all-star who had grown in Christ - Timothy

He was likely timid, reserved, young, and maybe even sickly...

But God used him for very powerful ministry!

Timothy ended up going with Paul and travelling around

He was mentored by Paul, and spent time helping different churches

He travelled with Paul to Macedonia, then split to Thessalonica, then met Paul again in Corinth, then went back to check on the church in Thessalonica, then they met again in Ephesus, then he went to Macedonia again, then met again in Corinth, then went to Macedonia together, then he split to Troas, then it gets a little fuzzy..

Eventually, Timothy and Paul met up again and 6 years later Timothy is sent to Ephesus again

At this point, Timothy takes over leadership to fix all the problems that church had

While he was there, Paul wrote this letter to Timothy

We don’t know how long Timothy has been in Ephesus

But Paul is in prison and expects to die

One of the main purposes of this letter is to ask Timothy to meet with him

To say goodbye and to pass on the mission of church planting to Timothy

To begin the letter, he draws all the way back to when he first met Timothy

He goes all the way back and honors the two leading ladies in his life:

His mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois

You must be a special lady to impress Paul!

Look at his relationship with Timothy

He calls him his child

I long to see you

It would bring me joy

I pray for you daily

Then He remembers his “sincere” faith - means not hypocritical

Where did that faith come from?

His mother, who got it from her mother...

Mom’s: Do yo realize how many things you pass onto us?

So many things -

I got my height from my mom

I got my compassion from my mom

I got my sense of humor from my mom

The most important thing she ever passed on to me was her love for Jesus!

Honestly moms, that’s the most important thing any of you can pass on

And your relationship with God will affect your kids one way or another

What are the most important things your kids need to see in you

Godly moms:

…choose prayer and the word of God

There are so many voices in the world

Everyone wants to tell you what it means to be a mother

The government, therapists, TV, your friends...

I even read an article this week that a woman with no kids told her SIL with 3 kids that she was just as much a mother as her and deserves to be honored on Mother’s Day...

It can be hard to figure out what you should do

Best resource is prayer and the Word of God!

Abraham Lincoln: “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”

Later in his letter, Paul explains the importance of Scripture:

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)

16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Teaching, reproof, correction, training… sounds like being a mom to me!

Godly moms:

…trust and obey God

Illustration: Anna and teenage angst

I’m sitting there freaking out

God told me you were going to be okay

He was right, I was okay

I was learning the importance of not dating atheists

Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

Trust and obedience go together

There are many times what God says doesn’t make sense

The bible says this about government, women, homosexuality...

I don’t understand the problem of evil

I don’t understand predestination

I don’t understand why we have to give

Trust the Lord, and lean not on your own understanding

Or to flip it...

Don’t trust yourself, but lean on God’s understanding

Godly moms:

…are generous servants

Notice I didn’t say slaves...

Sometimes we get that mixed up

Sally Clarkson (The Mission of Motherhood): ...it’s the way I respond to my children in everyday moments that gives me the best chance of winning their hearts… and if I approach them with a servant’s heart, then I have a far better chance of influencing them in the larger and more critical issues of life.”

When moms are teaching their kids to serve, it’s not about teaching them what to do

Ladies, you teach us how to have compassion on people who need

When you are washing the macaroni and cheese off the booster seat...

You are modeling how Jesus washed the feet of he disciples

When you calmingly place the band-aid on the scuffed knee of your child

You are modeling how Jesus took compassion on those He healed

When you hug your kid after they messed up and their frustrated

You are modeling Jesus’ patience with His disciples who were not perfect

Motherhood is your chance to serve like Jesus served

Speaking of...

Godly moms:

…are forgivers

Illustration: Ronnie eating pudding

He’s puking and I’m mad

Suddenly he smiles

He grabs some and says “that’s good” and starts busting up!

I still haven’t forgiven him for that

That was 15 years ago...

I’m sorta kidding, but forgiveness is something moms have to do

Our kids aren’t perfect

But neither are you

I’ve seen many mothers struggle to deal with guilt

Actually, there’s a thing called “mom guilt”

You wear it around their necks like heavy chains

“I wish I wouldn’t lose my temper so much with my kids”

“I wish I could be a stay at home mom - or I wish I contributed by being a working mom”

“I wish I could be like supermom over there...”

Baking cookies while building a pillow fort and teaching the cello...

Moms will never be perfect, and so you must learn to forgive yourself

You know God forgives you, forgive yourself!

And then reflect that forgiveness from God by forgiving your kids!

Matthew 5:7 ESV

7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Honestly, the most miserable people I know are the ones who can’t forgive

Hanging on to the things others have done wrong

Just adds heavy stress

Mom’s, we depend on you for forgiveness...

Godly moms:

…comfort and encourage

Isaiah 66:13 (ESV)

13 As one whom his mother comforts,

so I will comfort you;

you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

When God wants to describe His comfort for His people...

He compares it to a mother’s ability to comfort

Why? Because it’s the greatest example He could give!

That speaks to the power of a mother’s comfort and encouragement

If you’ve met my mom for half a second, you know she’s an encourager

Never missed a hockey game, a rock concert, or a graduation

When I played hockey, my mom would get the whole crowd cheering with her

I’d meet random people after the game - your mom sure loves you boy

Oh yeah, how could you tell?

Not every mom is expected to do that...

But Godly moms do make encouragement a priority

I wonder how many people out there would have

Better marriages

Shorter criminal records

And would be closer to God

If they had mothers that were encouraging...

Godly moms:

…offer unconditional love

1 Corinthians 13:2 (ESV)

2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

You could easily edit that verse to describe a mother’s love as well

Mom’s, if you serve gourmet meals every night, and register your kids to play every sport, and ensure your kids have straight A’s, but have not love, you are nothing.

There is nothing more important about being a mom than loving them

AND teaching them about God’s love!

Don’t misunderstand that statement

I said LOVE, not being “nice” to them

The word for love here is agape - unearned, unconditional love

Agape love is sacrificing self for the betterment of others

Whether they deserve it or not

This is a love we are all called to as Christians

But how much more for a mother

Closing

Proverbs 31:28–30 (ESV)

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Godly Mom’s - today we honor you

Because you fear the Lord

Not because you’re perfect - but because you are made in God’s image

Your love for us is an extension of His love

Had He not created you, we’d be missing out on so many good things

And I encourage you moms - don’t give up

Your families need you

Our church needs you

Humanity needs you to keep being as wonderful as you are

Thank you moms, for being so good to us

Pray