Mama Mia
Mother’s Day Sermon – May 9, 2010
Highlight Liz’s poem in the bulletin on mother: Read it to the congregation.
Sermon title: Mama Mia – it is an Italian term:
A mild expression of surprise, typically used by Italians.
Means my goodness or goodness me!
Mom’s are looked at as goodness and as goodness to you and me! I find it amazing how much the mother’s of our society shape the hearts and minds of the children. They are the chosen one’s in the trenches daily who labor for their children and strive to develop their children into the men and women of God they are called to be. They are the chosen one’s who were created by God to show comfort and nurture to their children. They were created and given a part of the character of God to portray to their children and to society this loving part of God.
Scripture Text: Aspects of God’s parallel mom’s gifting and anointing:
Isaiah 66:12-13: 12For this is what the LORD says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dangled on her knees. 13As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.
Creation of Adam and Eve
Matthew 23:37-39: 37“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Thesis: God created mother’s in His image and empowered them with qualities of His to impact their children for eternity.
Genesis 1: 26Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth,£ and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.28God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Key part - Genesis 1:26-28 …In the image of God he created him: male and female he created them…
Galatians 3:26-29: Sons of God
26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,
27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Key part: Galatians 3:26-29 …There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus….
Introduction: A mom’s job is never completed according to the philosophers of life and to the experts on parenting. She is on call 24 -7 and loves this responsibility because she loves her children with the heart of God. Mom’s also have been chosen by God to be the primary teachers in a child’s life according Proverbs 1:8 children are warned not to forsake the teachings of their mothers. Listen to some of the things mom’s do and say that may surprise us and even prompt us to say “Mama Mia!” But we deep down know they are teaching us in these moments of life.
I. “What Mother Taught Me” from sermonspice.com, and sermoncentral.com
a. Hear what one, anonymous son has written along these lines:
My Mother taught me LOGIC...
"If you fall off that swing and break your neck, you can’t go to the store with me," as well as, "If everyone else jumped off a cliff would you do it too?"
My Mother taught me MEDICINE...
"If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they’re going to freeze that way."
My Mother taught me TO THINK AHEAD...
"If you don’t pass your spelling test, you’ll never get a good job!"
My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT...
"If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.
My mother taught me about GENETICS...
"You are just like your father!"
My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION...
"Just wait until your father gets home."
My Mother taught me TO MEET A CHALLENGE...
"What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you... Don’t talk back to me!"
My Mother taught me HUMOR...
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me."
My mother taught me about my ROOTS...
"Do you think you were born in a barn?"
My mother taught me about the WISDOM of AGE...
And the all time favorite thing my mother taught me - JUSTICE
"One day you will have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you. Then you’ll see what it’s like! I can’t wait!"
I think this is the secret hope for every mother…that history will
repeat itself.
Application: We find a lot of these teaching moments funny but you have to admit there is wisdom in the midst of these mom-isms which help children to learn and to grow daily.
2. Mom-isms from Biblical moms:
a. There has been some commonality through the years when it comes to motherhood let’s look at just a few Bible mom’s and imagine what they had to deal with and how they handled raising their children.
ILL Notebook: Mother (Great Sayings of Biblical Mothers). In fact, we have some quotes of mothers from biblical times to show you that some things just don’t change.
1. Samson! Get your hand out of that lion. You don’t know where it’s been! (Judges 14:5-8)
2. David! I told you not to play in the house with that sling! Go practice your harp. We pay good money for those lessons!
3. Abraham! Stop wandering around - the countryside and get home for supper!
4. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! Leave those clothes outside, you smell like a dirty ol’ furnace!
5. Cain! Get off your brother! You’re going to kill him some day!
6. Noah! No, you can’t keep them! I told you, don’t bring home any more strays!
7. Gideon! Have you been hiding in that wine press again? Look at your clothes! (Judges 6:11)
3. Here are some more Mom -ism’s you could have heard your own mom teach you: From http://www.mothersdaycentral.com/mothers-day-fun/mother-isms/
Rules
• “If everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you do it to?”
• “I don’t care what [name of best friend]’s parents do, when you’re living in my house you obey my rules.”
New Clothes and Hand-Me-Downs
• “You’ll grow into them.”
• “They’ll shrink.”
• “Just roll up the sleeves a bit.”
• “We’ll get those trousers altered.”
• “Some thick socks will make those shoes fit.”
• On buying shoes that are slightly too big: "When you’re wearing your heavy socks, they will fit just fine."
• “Wear your new shoes to school. Keep your old shoes for the back yard.”
• On keeping the old shoes: "You can use the new pair as your school shoes and kick around the house in the others."
Sage Advice
• “Slow down. You’ve got your whole life to be a grown up.”
• "You’ll be an adult forever, what’s your hurry?"
• “Don’t forget to stop and smell the flowers.”
• "Give folks their flowers while they’re living."
• “Happiness is a journey, not a destination.”
• "Happiness is a direction, not a place."
• “You call that a broken heart? You’ve got a lot of living to do.”
• "You think that’s heartache? Just keep on living."
• “If it doesn’t kill you, it’ll make you stronger.”
• “If you keep making that face, it’s going to freeze that way.”
• “Sticks and stone may break your bones, but names will never hurt you.”
• “Measure twice, cut once.”
• "Measure twice, saw once."
• “Hang in there.”
• “It’s all fun and games until someone puts an eye out.”
• “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
• “Don’t bother—I just got back from where you’re headed.”
• "I’ve been where you’re trying to go."
• “I suppose you’ll do what you want anyway.”
• Upon asking her opinion: "Do what you want. You will anyway."
Anatomy
• “You’d forget your head if it wasn’t screwed onto your neck.”
• On forgetfulness: "You’d forget your head if it weren’t attached to you."
Sex
• “Don’t go out and make me a grandmother!”
Eating
• “Just scrape off the black part of the toast.”
• On burned toast: "Just scrape it off."
• “Elbows off the table.”
• “Always eat your vegetables.”
• “Finish your vegetables—there are children starving in Africa!”
• "The poor children in [fill in the name of an impoverished country] would kill to have what you have."
• “Would you eat like that on a first date?”
• On watching a son gulp down a meal: "What girl is going to want to sit and watch you eat like that?"
• On watching a daughter gulp down a meal: "What boy is going to want to sit and watch you eat like that?"
Health & Hygiene
• “Don’t forget your jacket.”
• “Don’t forget your mittens.”
• “Don’t forget your hat.”
• “Always brush your teeth.”
• “Always wear clean underwear (in case you’re in an accident).”
• “Wash behind your ears—I can see carrots growing back there.”
When Baby Bird Leaves the Nest
• “Write me a letter once a month.”
• “E-mail me at least once a week.”
• “Call me every day.”
• “I miss you.”
On Running Away
• “Don’t worry, I’ll pack up the rest of your things and send them to your new address.”
• "Hey, I’ll pack your clothes and send them to you later."
Financial Advice
• “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”
• “Do I look like an ATM?”
• Upon asking her for money: "Do I look like a bank?" which has evolved into, "Do I look like a Cash Station?"
Discipline
• “Stop fighting or I’ll turn this car right around.”
• “Just wait until your father gets home.”
• “Don’t make me come in there.”
• “Why? Because I said so.”
• “Who do you think you are?”
• "Just who do you think you are?"
Obedience
• “If you don’t like my rules, then there’s the door!”
• “We can talk about the rules when you start paying rent.”
• "While you’re living here, you’ll dance to my music."
Intelligence
• “Do you think I was born yesterday?”
• "I wasn’t born yesterday, you know."
• “You think you’re so clever…”
• "I bet you think you’re so smart."
The Guilt Trip
• “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be alright.”
• “Do you feel good about yourself now?”
• "Are you proud of yourself?"
• “Is it too much to ask for a few kind words?”
• "All I want is a few kind words."
• “Am I asking so much?”
• "Is that too much to ask?"
• “I went through labor to have you behave like this?”
• "I endured [fill in the number] hours of labor, and you can’t do what I ask?"
• “I never made my Mother cry.”
• "I never made my mother cry."
And, When You Really Deserve It,
• “I’ll give you something to cry about”
• “I’m the one who brought you here, don’t think I can’t take you out.”
The Ultimate Insult
• “I hope someday you have children just like you.”
Subtle (and not-so-subtle) Reminders
• “M is for Mom, not for Maid.”
• “Clean up your room, it looks like a tornado hit.”
• “It looks like a pigsty in here!”
• “Close that door, are you growing a tail?”
• “Were you born in a barn?”
• “Turn off the light when you leave the room.”
• “If you use up the toilet paper, please change the roll.”
• Upon passing a bathroom: "Am I the only one who knows how to change the toilet paper roll?"
Anytime, Anyplace
• “No matter what, I’ll always love you.”
• "Just remember, I love you no matter what."
Scripture text: All these Mama Mia sayings are filled with surprise humor and yet wisdom from above. This is why we are to Honor our Mother’s today it’s even one of the commands of God found in Deut 5:16:
Honor your father and your mother , as the Lord God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land your God is giving you!
Point Mom’s – mother’s –women are created in the image of God too! We men need to remember that and pay honor for the role that mother’s do in this world.
Thesis: Mom’s have special gifting because they are created in the image of God and He gave these qualities to moms to help in their God given task of raising children who will honor and serve the Lord. He gave our moms the anointing and the mothering gifts so that our children would grow up to serve His Kingdom.
Highlight graduation memories from the week!
4. One last story from another Biblical mom (2 Kings 4:1-7)
1One day the wife of a man from the guild of prophets called out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead. You well know what a good man he was, devoted to GOD. And now the man to whom he was in debt is on his way to collect by taking my two children as slaves.”
2Elisha said, “I wonder how I can be of help. Tell me, what do you have in your house?”“Nothing,” she said. “Well, I do have a little oil.”
3“Here’s what you do,” said Elisha. “Go up and down the street and borrow jugs and bowls from all your neighbors. And not just a few—all you can get.
4Then come home and lock the door behind you, you and your sons. Pour oil into each container; when each is full, set it aside.”
5She did what he said. She locked the door behind her and her sons; as they brought the containers to her, she filled them.
6When all the jugs and bowls were full, she said to one of her sons, “Another jug, please.” He said, “That’s it. There are no more jugs.” Then the oil stopped.
7She went and told the story to the man of God. He said, “Go sell the oil and make good on your debts. Live, both you and your sons, on what’s left.”
a. A few points about this cry of a mother to the messenger of God Elisha.
i. A mom cries and intercedes for her children after the loss of her husband one of God’s prophets.
1. He revered the Lord this father. He was killed for doing so!
2. This mom goes to God and asks for help because her children are about to be taken into slavery.
3. Elisha prompted by God asks her how he can help. He asks he “what do you have of value in your home.” She replies a little oil! That’s all!
a. But listen moms and dads that’s all God needs is a little oil, to do a miracle to deliver your households out of debt. To set your children free! Just a little oil.
ii. Oil defined by Easton’s Bible Dictionary - ONLY OLIVE OIL SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN USED AMONG THE HEBREWS. IT WAS USED FOR MANY PURPOSES: FOR ANOINTING THE BODY OR THE HAIR (Ex. 29:7; 2 Sam. 14:2; Ps. 23:5; 92:10; 104:15; Luke 7:46); in some of the offerings (Ex. 29:40; Lev. 7:12; Num. 6:15; 15:4), but was excluded from the sin-offering (Lev. 5:11) and the jealousy-offering (Num. 5:15); for burning in lamps (Ex. 25:6; 27:20; Matt. 25:3); for medicinal purposes (Isa. 1:6; Luke 10:34; James 5:14); and for anointing the dead (Matt. 26:12; Luke 23:56). It was one of the most valuable products of the country (Deut. 32:13; Ezek. 16:13), and formed an article of extensive commerce with Tyre (Ezek. 27:17). The use of it was a sign of gladness (Ps. 92:10; Isa. 61:3), and its omission a token of sorrow (2 Sam. 14:2; Matt. 6:17).
iii. The Lord took what she had and multiplied it.
1. She was given instructions from the Prophet of the Lord:
a. Go borrow more jars for the soon coming harvest of oil to your home. Don’t ask for just a few – ask for a lot!
i. Get ready CH because I am asking God for a lot of fruit more than this church can handle. And he is getting ready to pour new oil on this church. The anointing is going to come in a wave on this place so gather the jars people and get ready to see God’s hand move on this church.
b. Listen just like this mom kept pouring when anointing oil was flowing we need to do the same.
i. She did it until the jars were all full then the flowing of the oil stopped.
ii. But it was enough to pay off their debts and to keep her children free from the creditors.
iii. This story is about a mom crying out to the Lord for help and he responded with a miracle of anointing oil!
Conclusion:
Let’s celebrate our moms today!
