"Motherhood" Series

Series: There’s an App for That

“Motherhood”

Luke 1:26-38

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Can you tell me what I’m holding up? [cell phone] Not just a cell phone. It’s a smart phone. In this little device, I have many multiple times more computing power than the computers that guided the first moon landing.

In each smart phone there are “apps” – short for applications. They are downloadable programs for you to use to help make your life easier. Need a stopwatch or a flashlight? There are apps for that. In a strange town and need to find the closest restaurant? There’s an app for that. Want to check Facebook, Twitter, or email? There are apps for all of those. Want to listen to music, play games, or watch videos? Yep, you got it. There are apps for those as well.

It seems as though there is an app for everything on the planet. Need to know where you parked your car, where to get an autographed picture of Elvis, or where to stand if you want to see the Loch Ness Monster? There's an app for that.

In the ancient truths of the Bible, we find downloads for the issues of life in the 21st century. God has an app for every situation that we face. So today, we start a sermon series called, “There’s an App for That.” Predictably, today, we’re going to look at an app for motherhood.

One of my favorite comic strips of all times is Calvin and Hobbes. Calvin is a precocious and adventurous six-year-old boy and Hobbes is his stuffed tiger – his imaginary friend. They get into all kinds of mischief together as they ponder the meaning of life.

In one Mother’s Day strip, Calvin is pictured standing by his mother’s bed. He yells, “Hey, Mom! Wake up! I made you a Mother’s Day card.”

His mother says, “My how sweet of you.” Calvin says, “I did it all by myself. Go ahead and read it.” She begins to read: I was going to buy you a card with hearts of pink and red

But then I thought I’d rather spend the money on me instead.

It’s awfully hard to buy things when one’s allowance is so small

So I guess you’re pretty lucky I got you anything at all.

Happy Mother’s Day!

There I said it, now I’m done.

So how about getting out of bed and fixing breakfast for your son.

Signed, Calvin

His mother sarcastically says, “I’m deeply moved.” Calvin asks, “Did you notice the part about my allowance?”

Some of you here this morning may have felt like Calvin’s mother; wondering if anyone was going to say, “Thank you, Mom, for all the good stuff you do.” Being a mom is a tough job and we recognize and honor you today.

This morning, I want us to look at Mary, the mother of Jesus. What an honor it was to be chosen to be the mother for the Son of God. Let’s see what we can learn from her.

Lk. 1:26-38 – In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

The Difficulties She Faced

First of all, she faced having a tarnished reputation. Mary was pregnant out of wedlock. Now, we know the whole story – that the child in her womb was produced by the Holy Spirit. This child was and is the Son of God. But do you think that they believed that story in the little town of Nazareth?