A Godly Mother's Contribution

“The Godly Mother’s Contribution”

Prov. 24:3-4; 2 Tim. 1:3-7

By

Dr. Steven G. Cook

I. Introduction

Origin of Mother’s Day –

In a small Methodist church in Grafton, WV, a Sunday school teacher named Anna Reeves Jarvis, decided to honor mothers. Her daughter actually is credited with getting the town of Grafton to celebrate the first Mother’s Day in 1907. In 1909 the city of Philadelphia decided to pick up on the idea and celebrate a day honoring mothers. Finally, on May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson designated the second Sunday in May as the official celebration of Mother’s Day in the United States.

A. Prov. 24:3-4 - “Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established; And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

B. In our text this morning, we find 3 Vital Characteristics of building

of home:

1. Wisdom 2. Understanding 3. Knowledge

C. Abraham Lincoln once said, “No man is poor who had a godly

mother.”

D. Motherhood today is not viewed as it once was - Today there are many in our society that believe that motherhood is something that prevents women from fulfilling their “total potential”; some argue that motherhood suppresses women’s rights; Motherhood is often disrespected in the United States to a large degree.

E. Today, there is much talk about “soccer moms” and “working moms” and “den moms” - but the world no longer is interested in “godly moms”.

F. Our text mentions 3 Vital Characteristics of Godly Motherhood.

G. One man said that the greatest translation he ever saw was his mother’s translation which she lived during his lifetime.

H. Timothy had such a translation to read in his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother, Lois.

I. Read 2 Timothy 1:3-7

II. Timothy’s Godly Mother & Grandmother (2 Tim. 1:3-7)

A. Let me first of all state emphatically - Though this sermon deals

with the topic of “Motherhood”, there is something that we all can

learn from the Word of God.

B. Paul reflects upon the importance of Timothy’s mother and grand-

mother and their influence upon his life.

C. Illustration - “Only God Can Count the Apples in Each Seed”

D. Raising children is a difficult thing -

1. The Law of Heredity states that all undesirable traits come

from the other parent!

2. If you don’t want your children to know what you are saying,

pretend that you are talking to them.

3. There was never a child so lovely but his mother was not glad

to see him asleep (Ralph Waldo Emerson).

4. If your wife doesn’t treat you as she should, BE THANKFUL!

III. 5 Contributions Timothy’s Mother Made in the Home

A. Revealed Tenderness - (vs. 4)

1. Timothy was a man given to shedding tears.

2. No doubt Timothy learned this tenderness from his mother.

3. In our society, the father is often negligent in showing emotions to their children.

4. Illustration - Cosie’s tenderness for others.

5. Today, there is a movement from HELL that is teaching our mothers to be hard, tough, and invincible!

6. God have mercy on our society that is moving away from the Biblical teachings and moving toward such paganism and barbarianism.

7. What has become of our society when there is no tenderness?

8. Today, the role models of our children are anything by godly.

9. One man said, “The world’s idea of a man is a person who is built like Tarzan; looks like Jane; and acts like Cheeta!”

10. Timothy had a godly mother who taught him tenderness!

B. Practical Faith - (vs. 5)

1. The word “unfeigned” literally means “sincere; without hy-

pocrisy; genuine”.

2. Timothy’s mother and grandmother had taught him that Faith

was more than just “Lip-Service” or something one talks

about at Sunday School!

3. Children often have parents who pour facts & words into their

heads, but they see a different life being lived by mom & dad.

4. Deut. 6:20-25 - Israel was told by God to APPLY Truth!

5. Mothers who teach their children about “Practical Faith” do so by being living epistles - living examples of Faith!

6. WHY??? (vs. 6) YOUR child might just become a Timothy or an apostle Paul or some other great man or woman of God!

7. ALL Christians have a spiritual gift that must be nurtured and developed by the teaching of God’s Word.

C. Spiritual Confidence (vs. 7a)

1. It is by godly mothers that many great men and women of God

have had the confidence to step out in Faith in service.

2. Paul states that God has not given us the “spirit of fear”, yet

we all know that often we experience such fear.

3. No doubt these fears are from Satan himself, who would desire