Influential Mothers

Turn your Bibles to 2 Timothy 1:5

Title: Influential Mothers

Theme: Biblical Principles to Capturing the Spiritual Hearts of Children

Listen as I read 2 Timothy 1:5, “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” Pray!!!!

Introduction: Charles Swindoll had a friend who was raised by a Christian mother that knew the value of a godly upbringing. When he was still just a young baby she would sing him to sleep at night, not singing little ditties and lullabies, but singing the hymns and other songs that speak of the Christian faith. From the crib until he left home, she made sure he knew the truths of God’s Word, which were so powerfully proclaimed in hymns such as “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

Proposition: I would propose to you that many a Christian mother has been used by the Lord to plant spiritual seeds that the Holy Spirit has used to bring many to Christ.

Interrogative Sentence: Just what are some Biblical principals that can be lived out that can capture the spiritual heart of your children?

Transitional Sentence: God’s Word is full of instructions on how to live in such a way that could enable your children to enjoy the abundant life promised in Christ. Influential mothers who want to capture the hearts of their children for Christ, take to heart what is written in Philippians 2:3 and 5, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

The best thing a mother can do for her children and family is to let the humility of Christ flow in and through her. A Christian mother who has been taught of the Lord on how to apply this principle in raising of her children will know the joy of sacrificial living. She has been taught of the Lord the difference between working to get ahead in life and of working for the good of the family--especially for her children’s eternal future.

This Christian mother will train, equip and care for herself in a way that benefits the family. A mother of godly influence works to keep herself healthy, alert and well equipped for the work God has laid before her.

She will ask herself the most important question, “Will this or that ensure a Christian upbringing of our children or will it keep us too busy for the things of God? Many a Christian mother has done without in order to enjoy the pleasure of sacrificial love, doing what it takes to ensure that her children are being brought up in the faith as Timothy’s mother and grandmother had done.

D. E. Buffaloe spoke so appreciative of his mother’s sensitivity to his need to know about the things of God, and especially her need of living a God fearing life before her children. She made the time to teach him to pray and made sure he had what he needed to learn about the Lord Jesus. She denied herself certain pleasures in order to have the finances and especially the time to help oversee the spiritual training of her children.

When he grew up he did what many have done, he walked away from the teachings and the Christian example of his mother. After being beaten to the point of unconsciousness, he found himself lying in the hospital bed in a Juvenile Hall in California, scared to death. It was at that time he remembered the teaching of his mother about prayer and the Word of God, thus, he prayed a real heartfelt prayer to receive Christ as Savior and Lord.

He is now a pastor of a church and he makes this plea to all mothers on this Mother’s Day, “Mothers, [be sensitive to your children’s need of] turning off the television and worldly distractions and make the time to plant seeds [that the Holy Spirit can use to lead your children to Christ]. [Lay a] foundation that will cause them to consider Christ.”

Transitional Sentence: Influential mothers are sensitive to the spiritual needs of their children and they will sacrifice self to plant those seeds. They are also mothers who are supportive. Proverbs 15:4 says, “The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life…” One of our modern day Bible translations puts it this way, “Kind words bring life but cruel words crush the spirit.”

A Christian mother will take to heart the fact that she must surrender to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to be supportive in her speech. Kids can be ruthless and they can hear words from other kids that tear them down. The last thing your child needs to hear when they come home is “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” That’s not true. A broken bone heals faster than a broken spirit. Mothers who are under the control of the Holy Spirit will see failures as opportunities for giving words that can heal.