Our theme for this morning is this, “For every great person, there was a mother!” Standing before us are moms to whom God has given the honor to impact many people. Please join me in thanking them at this time………
As our children hand out the gifts for our moms, let me read this brief article to honor you moms……….
Mothers are everything for us when we are small...our lives revolve around her. For everything that we need we call mom. To protect us from all perceivable dangers we want her around us. To take us out we hold her arms. To kiss away our wounds we run to her. And for a warm hug and love we look for her. She is the focal point of our lives, the greatest human being in the world or should we say God-sent. There is simply no way we can ever really thank mother for all she has done for us. She is the one who will be awake all night when we are sick. Praying to God to make us well and be ever ready to bear the pain that we may be experiencing. She is the one who endures all our tantrums. Mothers are the ones who would forever complain that we are not eating enough or not eating right. They would cook all sorts of things so that we be strong and healthy. Mothers in fact, worry more for our exams than we must. They would take pains to complete our school projects leaving all other works behind while we play around with friends or just while away time. Mothers are the one on whom we put all the blame for our failures. It is easy for kids to be so demanding from parents, especially mothers as we take her affection and care so much for granted. And so moms, if we’ve hurt you, we are truly very sorry!
We take this opportunity now to say we love you.
To our moms, let us say it together, We love you Mom!!
As our moms sit down, please gather around a mom and pray for her (thank God for her, ask for God’s blessings & wisdom for her)...
Family Prayer Song…….
In celebration of Mother’s Day, we will take a break from our Bible exposition of the Letter to the Romans. The message today is what would be defined as a “topical message”. As most of you know, this is not the norm here at All Nations Bible Church. Our goal is to be as biblical as we can, especially when it comes to preaching. A topical message is one which focuses on a subject then is supported with Scriptures. An expository message is one which focuses on Scriptures supported by learning of biblical principles for life! And so for today, I declare to you again this topic, For every great person, there was a mother!
Motherhood of course is God’s plan! God’s Word gives us many evidences of mothers positively influencing great people! Please open your Bibles to the very beginning. Read along with me Genesis 4:1-5…..
What were Cain and Abel doing??
Cain and Abel worshiped God! When we get to heaven, we can ask Abel how he learned how to worship; but don’t you think Mother Eve had a lot do with it? Let us also note that a third son was born to Eve. We can note from Scriptures that after Seth was born, people acknowledged the Lord. The ancestry of Jesus Christ can be traced back to the line of Seth, who was mothered by Eve!
Now turn to Genesis 17:15-16…………
Sarah was titled the Mother of Nations. Her son Isaac, was born in her old age, the Bible’s first story of a miracle conception. Sarah’s life was one of continuous trial, but through it she emerged as a woman of power, one who was a beloved wife and became a favored and venerated mother. God tells us in 1 Peter 3:6, wives and mothers are to be imitate Sarah!
Now turn to Genesis 35:16-18…….
Rachel, mother of Joseph and Benjamin, was the first woman on record to lose her life in childbirth. Joseph who became a great leader spent much time with his mother Rachel. And Benjamin must have been impacted by his mother who died for him and how much Jacob loved her. Mothers can influence her children even after death!
And many of us forget the mother of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam, leaders for God! Anyone remember her name??
Jochebed was the mother of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. God can be proud not necessarily by how many big things a woman can personally accomplish but by how wisely and well she serves as a mother.
Let’s look at one more mom in the Old Testament.
Turn to 1 Samuel 2:18-21……….
Hannah had named her son Samuel, meaning "asked of the Lord." She had prayed for his birth and made a promise that if she was rewarded with a son, she would dedicate her child to God. Then when he was about three years old, she took him to Eli the priest for training. Once a year the family went to Shiloh for the yearly sacrifices and each time Hannah took with her a robe made of blue fabric for Samuel to wear. We can be sure Hannah put love into every stitch.
As an adult, Samuel played an important part in uniting the tribes against the growing threat of the Philistines. Samuel anointed Saul as king of Israel, and later went to Bethlehem to anoint David as Saul’s successor. A praying mother can impact a nation! Moms, we need your prayers! Moms, America needs your prayers more than ever today!
In the New Testament of course we can note Mary the mother of Jesus. Turn to John 2:1-11…..
Mary knew her son and Jesus was obedient to his mother!
Mary the mother started the miraculous ministry of Jesus Christ!
Now turn to Matthew 20:20-23………..
The sons of Zebedee were James and John and their mother was Salome. We must not be too hard on Salome. First of all, was her rebuke from Jesus harsh? Jesus was gentle to her! As a matter of fact, it is very impressive that the mother of James and John was even able to speak to the Lord Jesus! You see, God allowed an opportunity for Salome the mother to ask and she requested the ultimate positions for her sons! Why? Salome loved her sons! And what happened to Salome and her sons? This mother was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ! Salome was one of the first to witness the resurrection! James and John of course became great leaders of the early Christian Church! The faith and boldness of a mother will lead her children to do the same for the glory of God!
And let us not forget Timothy’s mother and grandmother. We read from the apostle Paul in 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.” Moms, the best way you can love your children is to be strong in your faith in Jesus Christ!
And what about the Apostle Paul? We don’t know much about his biological mother but in Philippians 3:4-6 we can note the type of young man Paul was (briefly turn there)…
We can be sure that Paul was influenced by his Jewish biological mother! But now turn to Romans 16:13…………
The Apostle Paul was raised by a godly mother but there was a Christian mother who cared for him! God used both the biological mother and an adopted mother to help Paul expand the Kingdom of God all over the world!
For every great person, there was a mother, which may not necessarily be the biological one!
Moms and mature Christian ladies, it is now your turn! Your children and adopted children are influenced by you! And of course, if Jesus Christ is the truth, the right way to influence children is for mothers to be faithful Christians!
Faithful Christian mothers will produce faithful Christian children who may influence the world greatly for God!
And for those of us who are children, let us follow the example of the Apostle Paul who was able to do great things for God. The apostle Paul honored his biological mother and he sought out a Christian mother to guide and care for him.
Let us all honor our moms and seek out and learn from faithful Christian mothers God has blessed us with!
Moms, be blessed by being faithful to Jesus Christ, and in turn you will bless many!
