Mentoring Moms
2 Timothy 1:5
Rev. Brian Bill
5/11/08
Have you heard about the boy who wore a Green Bay Packer jersey for 1,581 straight days? David Witthoft from Connecticut (not Wisconsin) wore Brett Favre’s #4 jersey every day since Christmas 2003. He stopped wearing it a couple weeks ago on his 12th birthday because it became too small. Showing that the statement is true that behind every good man is a great mother, his mom Carolyn had washed the jersey every other day and mended it when needed. The story left out how happy the mom was when David ditched his jersey!
I’m aware that Mother’s Day is anything but happy for some of you.
* Maybe you want to be a mother but you can’t be for some reason
* Perhaps some of you have not had the best mother in the world
* Some of you have had a mother who has died
* A handful of mothers have lost a child to death
* Some of you mothers feel the pain of a wayward child this morning
* And, some of you are flying solo as you work hard to nurture your child’s faith
I want to propose this morning that a mom can be a spiritual mentor to her children with or without the help of a dad.
Let me introduce you to a young woman named Eunice. She was raised in a religious home and was greatly impacted by her mother Lois. She loved to learn the stories from the Bible when she was young and enjoyed going to services where she could learn about God. As she approached her teenage years, she was still focused on spiritual matters but she became attracted to a young man who was not into religion at all. Against the best wishes of her godly mother, the teaching of her faith, and the tug of her conscience, she married the man. Don’t get me wrong – he was a nice guy but thought spiritual matters were for weak people.
After a couple years of marriage, Eunice and her husband had a baby boy named Timothy. In the meantime, Eunice’s dad had died so they asked her mother Lois to come and live with them. Little Timmy was a delight to everyone. Both his mother and grandmother spent hours with him, teaching him the Bible, praying with him and for him, and training him in the things of God, creating a spiritual environment where tiny Tim could flourish.
We don’t really know when Grandma Lois became a follower of the Lord Jesus but it could have been at Pentecost where we read that 3,000 were saved from all over the area (Acts 2:41). Whenever it happened, she passed her faith on to her daughter Eunice. Acts 16:1 tells us that she was raised in the Jewish faith and had recently become a believer. These new believers in turn focused on teaching Timothy who Jesus was. We know from reading the book of Acts that Paul himself took a personal interest in Tim the teenager and, in tandem with his mother and grandmother, led him to saving faith.
Later, Paul and Timothy partner together in ministry as the gospel continues to spread throughout the area. Many years later he writes two letters to young Timothy. These letters contain some teaching about how Timothy should behave as a church leader and are also filled with some reminiscing and nostalgia on Paul’s part. As Paul writes these letters, that we know as 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy, he reflects on the mothers who made an impact in Tim’s life.
With that as background, let’s turn to 2 Timothy 1:5 to see how a mother (and a grandmother) can be spiritual mentors to children with or without the help of a dad. We don’t know much about Timothy’s dad other than he was a Greek and not a believer. We’re not told if he deserted the family or if he was around but just absent spiritually. Incidentally, I’m not suggesting that dads don’t matter. In fact, they matter a lot. We’ll end this series on Father’s Day with a message called, “Disciplemaking Dads.”
Let’s ponder this passage: “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.” As I pondered this passage, three principles came to the surface.
* Sincere Christ-followers stand out. Paul is in prison and he feels feeble. Many of his friends have deserted him (see 1:15, 4:16) but his mind goes to Timothy’s sincere faith. That reminds me of 3 John 1:4: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
* Focus on your family first. Grandma pointed her daughter to grace and then mom modeled the faith and mentored her own son. The principle is that we must focus on our own family first. After being healed by Jesus a formerly demon-possessed man begged to go with Him. Listen to Mark 5:19: “Jesus did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you.”
* Faith is both taught and caught. Grandma Lois and mother Eunice taught Tim and He caught their faith by seeing their sincerity. People listen to our words but they watch the way we live to see if we’re sincere. Do you see the progression here? Faith was passed from grandmother to daughter to grandson. C. Everett Koop, the former Surgeon General said this: “Life affords no greater responsibility and no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.”
Have you ever stopped and wondered how we’re doing at passing along a sincere faith to the next generation? Judges 2:10 paints a picture that may be prophetic of the state of the church today: “After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what He had done for Israel.” I came across some stunning statistics recently that show the decline of evangelical Christianity among each successive generation. These findings are from Thom Ranier in his book The Bridger Generation. Here’s the percentage of born again believers in each generation:
* Builders (born 1927-1945) 65%
* Boomers (born 1946-1964) 35%
* Busters (born 1965-1976) 16%
* Bridgers (born 1977-1994) 4%
Friends, the character of our children tomorrow depends on what we put in their hearts today. If they’re going to live it out we must first pass it on. Here are three ways that moms can spiritually mentor their children, with or without the help of a dad.
1. Pass on salvation. Even though Lois and Eunice were believers, Timothy needed to come to a point in which he put his faith in Christ. Faith is not hereditary, it is learned. At the same time, when mothers model genuine faith, an environment is set up whereby children will hopefully be motivated to want that same kind of faith. Note: Some of you have done the best you could in this regard and your child has gone “prodigal” – I hurt for you. I certainly don’t mean to imply that you’ve done something wrong or that there’s some failsafe formula to follow that guarantees faith in your kids.
The word, “sincere” means their faith was not phony and was “unhypocritical.” The King James Version says “unfeigned faith.” Their faith was the real deal, without any pretense or false façade. They had faith in Christ and they were faithful to Christ. The word “lived” means to dwell or make at home. Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest translates it this way: “house in you continually.” This reminds me of what Jesus said in John 14:23: “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” Faith had come and taken up residence in his grandmother’s heart and in his mother’s heart – and was now alive in his own life. We could say it this way: Christ must be at home in your heart before He can be at home in your home.
That reminds me of a cartoon in which a little girl is asking her mom a very important question: “Mommy, what is a Christian?” The mother thought for a moment and replied: “A Christian is a person who loves and obeys God, loves their friends, neighbors, and even their enemies. They are kind and gentle and pray a lot. They look forward to going to heaven and think that knowing God is better than anything on this earth. That is a Christian.” The little girl pondered this answer for a few moments and asked, “Mommy, have I ever seen a Christian?”
These two mothers were completely sold out to Christ. They were drop-dead serious about their faith and there was no phoniness about them. They were fully devoted and completely committed. And Timothy knew it. No one knows better than a child whether a parent’s faith is genuine. Do your children and grandchildren see you as a godly guide?
This past week I received an email from Melissa Barth as she celebrated the salvation of their daughter Ellie. Paul and Melissa adopted Ellie almost three years ago. Here’s what she wrote: “Ellie and I have been having conversations lately about God and why Jesus died and the whole gospel message. The other day she mentioned heaven and we talked about that too. I asked if she wanted to pray and ask Jesus to be in her heart and help her become more like Him. It was beyond sweet. Of course she doesn’t speak as well as other kids and she misses some words so she prayed: ‘Jesus, come in heart. Being wi’ (me) forebber. I WUV you.’”
Ellie is now “twice-adopted” by her family and now into the family of God. I love what Melissa said in a follow-up email: “There are some moments when being a mom is totally worth all the other dreary, messy, exhausting stuff.”
Moms, if you want to instill authentic faith in your children then you better take your own faith seriously. If you’re just going through the motions spiritually your kids will eventually see it, and tragically, may do the same thing when they are older. That leads to a question: Is your faith actual or an act? As you demonstrate your faith consistently by reading the Bible, praying, attending worship, bringing your kids to programs that help them grow spiritually, and by participating in the life and mission of the church, you will send a strong message to your children.
I heard recently about a pastor who had a long conversation with someone about becoming a member of his church. When he was done the young man said he was ready to join. The pastor was curious so he asked him, “What did I say that convinced you to join the church?” The man answered, “It was nothing I ever heard you say. It was the way my mother lived.”
Timothy’s family environment was fertile to his faith development. Both his mother and his grandmother held their faith deeply and shared it freely. How fertile is the environment in your family for the reproduction and the nurturing of authentic faith in the lives of your children and grandchildren? Mothers, are you passing along a legacy of authentic faith to your kids? Values we leave our children are more important than the valuables we leave to them. A mom can be a spiritual mentor to her children with or without the help of a dad.
2. Pass on Scripture. Grandma and mom not only passed on salvation they also handed off the Scriptures. Turn to 2 Timothy 3:15: “And how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.” The word “infancy” in some passages refers to a newborn baby or a toddler. Lois and Eunice teamed up to provide high-powered Bible Study Fellowship classes for young Timothy – even before he could crawl! They read to him, they talked about Samson and Samuel, David and Ruth, Abraham and Noah. They did everything they could to provide Timothy with the opportunity to learn all he could about the Bible. These two mothers had God’s Word in their hearts and so it also permeated the home. Because they had internalized the truth into their own lives, they could impress it upon young Timothy by talking about it throughout the day, showing Tim how the Scriptures impact every area of life.
Mothers, it is never too early to start teaching the Bible to your children – and, it’s never too late to start if you haven’t already. Thankfully, you do not have to do this all by yourself. We have a well thought-out, Bible-based Sunday School program for your children, 5-Day Clubs this summer, an AWANA program that is based on Scripture memorization, and a student ministry that teaches the Word of God in a way that teenagers can understand and embrace. These programs are all designed to assist you in helping your children learn the Word of God.
Four scholars were arguing over Bible translations. One said he preferred the King James Version because of its beauty and eloquent old English. Another said he liked the New American Standard Version for its literalism and how it moves the reader from passage to passage with confident feelings of accuracy from the original text. The third scholar was sold on the New Living Translation for its use of contemporary phrases and idioms that capture the meaning of difficult ideas. After being quiet for a moment, the fourth scholar admitted: “I have personally preferred my mother’s translation.” When the other scholars started laughing, he said, “My mom translated each page of the Bible into life. It is the most convincing translation I have ever read.”
Mothers, what kind of Bible is your child reading when he or she observes your life? Are you looking for ways to instill a respect for the Word of God into the lives of your children? Remember, a mom can be a spiritual mentor to her children with or without the help of a dad.
3. Pass on serving. Turn back to Acts 16:1-3: “He [Paul] came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey…” I see three character qualities in Timothy that were no doubt passed down from his mother and his grandmother:
* He was a strong believer. He is referred to as a “disciple.” Luke, the author of Acts, could have referred to him as a believer or a Christian, but he chose to call him a disciple. A disciple is a learner and a follower. A disciple was one who was serious about Christ, not just one who was going through the motions.
* He had a good reputation. The believers in the area “spoke well of him.” People knew him as a man of integrity and as a man of the Word. He was rock solid.
* He was available. Paul wanted to “take him along on the journey.” As you continue to read the Book of Acts, you’ll see that Timothy was eager to minister. He knew it meant leaving home and he knew it meant facing hardship.
Paul enlisted Timothy to be his special assistant to replace John Mark and refers to him as his “beloved son” in 1 Corinthians 4:17 and in 1 Timothy 1:2, he calls him his “own son in the faith.” In Philippians 2:20, Paul can’t think of anyone like Timothy when he writes: “I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.” Paul thought very highly of Timothy and couldn’t wait to unleash him for ministry. I love the words of the song that the kids sang at the beginning of the service: “We’re called to be a servant. We’re living for a cause…those who are wise will shine.”
Mentoring moms make sure that children know how to minister. Our kids are to learn the Bible and grow in their faith so that they can become difference-makers in their world. So they can share their faith with others. So they can minister in the church and in their school. So they can help those who are hurting. So they can serve as missionaries. So they can identify their spiritual gifts and use them on a regular basis.
The mother of our children has reminded me that our primary job as parents is to disciple our girls so that they grow up to be young women of God who will serve Him wholeheartedly for the rest of their lives. I’m thankful for Beth’s strategic and intentional mentoring and am amazed by her consistent love and care for our daughters. Happy Mother’s Day, honey.
One area in which we want to expand our service opportunities is to open up our ushering ministry to men and women. As leaders we’ve been studying the Scriptures and have concluded that women should be allowed to serve as ushers. Here’s what the Elders approved recently.
In surveying the Scriptures, we see no restriction regarding women serving as ushers during our services. This includes handing out bulletins, greeting people, helping people find their seats, taking the offering, and being “on-call” for emergencies or any other situations while they are serving.
Since ushering is really a servant’s role, and a key one at that, women will serve alongside men in this capacity. We see examples in Scripture of women who served the saints in many different ways (Romans 16:1-2; Philippians 4:2-3; 1 Corinthians 16:19). Related to this, mature teenagers will also serve as ushers. This will take affect beginning June 1st.
Grandparents Make a Grand Impact
Before wrapping up I want to emphasize the importance again of grandmas (and grandpas). Remember it was in a grandma that the faith “first lived.” If you’re a grandparent, you have the opportunity to make a grand impact.
For two solid hours a grandma talked about her grandchildren to a man sitting next to her on an airplane. She even brought out all her pictures of her eight grandkids and described each one of them to the man. After talking for so long she suddenly realized that she had dominated the whole conversation. As the plane was preparing to land, she said, “Oh, I’ve done all the talking, and I’m so sorry. I know you probably have some things you want to say. Please, tell me…what do you think of my grandchildren?”
I read a study recently that shows the bond between grandparents and grandchildren is second in emotional power and influence only to the relationship between parents and children. Did you know that most of the famous people in the Bible were grandparents?
* Grandchildren help us rejoice. Psalm 128:6: “And may you live to see your children’s children.” One grandma commented, “If I had to do it all over again, I’d just bypass children and have grandchildren.” I think I’ve heard my mom say that about me!
* Grandchildren are a reward. Proverbs 17:6: “Children’s children are a crown to the aged…” Someone put it this way: “Your children may have kept you poor, but their children will make you rich.”
* Grandparents can reinvigorate their grandkids. One of the best kings God’s people ever had was Hezekiah. Hezekiah’s dad was Ahaz, one of the worst kings. But, he had a grandfather named Jotham who filled in the gap. Thankfully, Hezekiah took after his grandpa and not his dad. The glory of Grandparents is that they can fill in the gap. That’s exactly what many of you are doing for your own grandkids. Even if one generation goes astray, the next generation can be brought back through the godly influence of grandparents. Bless you for standing in the gap for your grandkids!
Mentoring Ideas
If you are a mom or a grand-mom, you are on a mission. Your mission is to be a spiritual mentor to your children [and grandchildren] with or without the help of a dad. Here are seven opportunities that can help you be a more effective mentor of your own children.
* Women’s Bible Study. This study will begin again in the fall on Tuesday mornings.
* Moms in Touch. This is a group of moms that meets weekly to pray for students.
* Parenting Seminar. Pastor Dick will be leading this seminar on Saturday, May 31st. Topics include: Communicating Love, Character Development and Elements of Discipline. Please fill out the insert if you’re interested.
* Entrusted with a Child’s Heart. This class, led by Lynette Duncan, will be offered again this fall, possibly on Sunday mornings.
* Living Beyond Yourself. This is a study on the Fruit of the Spirit that will be offered for women on Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings. Check out the insert in your bulletin and simply indicate which time will work best for you.
* Apples of Gold. This outstanding mentoring ministry will offer another session this fall.
* Women’s Gatherings. Watch the bulletin for details for the next Gathering to be held this summer. These informal get-togethers take place quarterly.
I want to applaud you mothers and grandmothers who model your faith and mentor your children. As Proverbs 31:28 says, “Her children arise and call her blessed…” We stand up this morning and call you blessed – thanks for pouring your lives into ours.
[Have everyone, but mothers stand and say, “You are blessed” to the mothers seated around you]
Proverbs 31:30 says that, “a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” We praise God for those mothers who worship and adore the Lord and who pass this legacy of faith on to their children.
[Have everyone applaud mothers and give thanks to God for them]
Happy Mother’s Day.
