A Faithful Mother

A Faithful Mother

Griffith Baptist Church – 5/11/08

A.M. Service

Text: 2 Timothy 1:1-5

Key verse: 2 Timothy 1:5 - When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

The Introduction

Mom’s Dictionary:

DUMBWAITER: One who asks if the kids would care to order dessert.

FAMILY PLANNING: The art of spacing your children the proper distance apart to keep you on the edge of financial disaster.

FEEDBACK: The inevitable result when your baby doesn’t appreciate the strained carrots.

FULL NAME: What you call your child when you’re mad at him.

GRANDPARENTS: The people who think your children are wonderful even though they’re sure you’re not raising them right.

HEARSAY: What toddlers do when anyone mutters a dirty word.

INDEPENDENT: How we want our children to be as long as they do everything we say.

OW: The first word spoken by children with older siblings.

PUDDLE: a small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.

SHOW OFF: a child who is more talented than yours.

STERILIZE: what you do to your first baby’s pacifier by boiling it and to your last baby’s pacifier by blowing on it.

TOP BUNK: where you should never put a child wearing Superman pajamas.

TWO MINUTE WARNING: when the baby’s face turns red and she begins to make those familiar grunting noises.

VERBAL: able to whine in words

WHODUNIT: none of the kids that live in your house...

G. Campbell Morgan, a profound British preacher whose four sons all became pastors, influenced millions with his preaching, teaching and writing. One day, when his young son Howard finished preaching, a reporter asked him, "Since you have five Pastors in your family who is the greatest preacher? Expecting the son to give the honor to his father, Howard surprised the reporter by saying, "My Mother!" Often people do not realize that a mother’s love, concern and teaching are often far more influential on people than anything else. Never underestimate the power of love.

Contributed by: Paul Fritz

Mothers are known for giving so much to their families

They sacrifice enormous amounts of time and energy to make sure that all are provided for and that the children are brought up correctly.

That unfeigned or sincere faith found in Lois and Eunice tells much about their impact on the life of Timothy.

Faithful mothers seems so rare in our society, at least the kind that God’s Word talks about and how they ought to be.

The first priority of a mom is spiritual in nature. (morals, values, and above all, a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Transition Statement: A faithful mother does three things that help her children. The first is this, she lives her faith.

Body

1. A Faithful Mother Lives Her Faith

A. Timothy was influenced by mother and grandmother alike

B. The joy for a Christian mother is the salvation and service of her children:

I think ofttimes as the night draws nigh of an old house on the hill,

Of a yard all wide and blossom-starred where the children played at will,

And when the night at last came down, hushing the merry din,

Mother would look around and ask, "Are all the children in?"

’Tis many and many a year since then, and the old house on the hill

No longer echoes to childish feet, and the yard is still, so still.

But I see it all, as the shadows creep, And though many the years have been

Since then, I can hear my mother ask, "Are all the children in?"

I wonder if when the shadows fall on the last short, earthly day,

When we say good-bye to the world outside, all tired with our childish play,

When we step out into that Other Land Where Mother so long has been,

Will we hear her ask, just as of old, "Are all the children in?"

--Florence Jones Hadley

C. Living your faith is trusting and obeying God and that your children see that faith lived out daily in the lives of children.

D. Living your faith before your children means:

i. God is more precious to you than any other thing on earth

ii. When counsel is given, it must include the Word of God – Isaiah 54:13 - And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Susannah Wesley, who bore 17 children, made time each week to take each of those boys and girls aside and counsel with them, speaking to them about the love of Jesus. Is it any wonder that one boy in that family became the greatest preacher of his generation, and another son became the greatest hymn writer in the English-speaking world? With a mother like that, we can understand why Charles Wesley wrote these lines, ardent with devotion to Christ: O for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer’s praise, The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of His grace! Jesus! the name that charms our fears, That bids our sorrows cease; ’Tis music in the sinner’s ears; ’Tis life, and health, and peace.