The influence of mothers in the home is not to be underestimated. According to the Barna Group Research released this past week, finds that mothers—more often than fathers, or any other category of frequent participants in households—are seen as the confidants, providers of support and drivers of faith formation in the Christian home. This is not just mothers, but in many cases, this applies to grandmothers as well. For all the stereotypes of teens rolling their eyes at their parents, Generation Z (born after 1995) are actually very open with and dependent on their mothers. Teens go to moms for tough conversations & personal support. As mothers are seen as advisors and encouragers, teens report approaching them with tougher topics.
In the impressionable middle and high school years, even conversations about sex (41%) aren’t off limits between teens and moms. Understandably, when discussing sex, there is a bit of a difference depending on the teens’ gender, with 30 percent of boys and 48 percent of girls talking about this with their mother, and 50 percent of boys and 10 percent of girls covering this topic with their father). Christian teens also primarily seek out mothers’ opinions on questions of faith (72%) or the Bible (71%), as well as things that might be troubling them (78%). No wonder 68 percent of Gen Z in this survey say their mom was the one who was there for them in their last personal crisis. Practicing Christians in their teen years consistently identify mothers as the ones who provide spiritual guidance and instruction and instill the values and disciplines of their faith in the household.
Moms are their foremost partners in prayer (63%) and conversations about God (70%), the Bible (71%) or other faith questions (72%). This is consistent with Barna data through the years that show mothers to be the managers of faith formation (among other household routines and structures). Mothers are also the ones encouraging church attendance (79% mothers) or teaching kids about the Bible (66%), God’s forgiveness (66%) and religious traditions (72%). [1]
I believe this data includes more than just Gen Z. Today we will read about Timothy’s mother and Grandmother.
2 Timothy 1:3–5 (NKJV) 3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
Many notable men in history have credited their mothers
-John Quincy Adams - “All that I am, my mother made me.”
-Abraham Lincoln - “All that I am or hope to be, I own to my angel mother."
-Dwight Moody - "All that I have ever accomplished in life, I owe to my mother." [2]
Young Timothy was no different. We first meet Timothy in Acts 16:
Acts 16:1–3 (NKJV) Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek.
Timothy’s father probably figured little in his upbringing. The Scriptures say that Timothy’s father was a Greek. If he was a believer, the scripture would have most likely said so. Most of the time when the someone is said to be Greek in the scriptures, that usually meant he was a heathen or pagan. Timothy had not been circumcised possibly because of his father’s influence. So Paul had it done for the sake of the ministry. Timothy most likely became a Christian a few years earlier during Paul’s first missionary journey through the area of Derby and Lystra, either through the teachings of Paul or later from the witness of His mother and grandmother.
Paul brings Timothy along with him as his protégé. And Timothy become quite the servant of the Lord through the mentoring of Paul. Now years later, Paul is in a Roman prison, for the second time. His life is near the end, and this letter to Timothy was likely the last thing Paul wrote. So get the picture, Paul in a cold damp dungeon, chained like a common criminal, and He writes this upbeat letter.
2 Timothy 1:3 (NKJV) I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,
He starts by thanking God, and he is thanking God for Timothy. And God, Paul says, he has served with a pure or clear conscience. Not only with a clear conscience, but He has done so as his forefathers had done. Paul never looked on his faith as a departure from Judaism, but rather a natural continuation of Judaism. His forefathers served God looking forward to the cross, Paul served God looking back on the cross. Paul thanks God for Timothy, praying for him continually.
2 Timothy 1:4 (NKJV) greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy,
Paul greatly missed Timothy. You might even say Paul was homesick for Timothy. Paul remembered Timothy’s tears, again we don’t know what the occasion was for these tears, but it was likely when Paul was arrested and place in to prison again. Obviously Paul loved Timothy and Timothy loved Paul. What was so special about Timothy?
Paul was like a father to Timothy. At the beginning of both letters to Timothy, Paul called him his son.
1 Timothy 1:2a (NKJV) To Timothy, a true son in the faith:
2 Timothy 1:2a (NKJV) To Timothy, a beloved son:
Paul trusted Timothy with important aspects of the mission.
Philippians 2:19–22 (NKJV) But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
And when Paul wrote these epistles to Timothy, Timothy was the pastor of the Church at Ephesus. And he was a young man
1 Timothy 4:12 (NKJV) Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
This are why these letters are called Pastoral Epistles. 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, Paul writes giving instruction to these pastors. Let’s look at Timothy’s background. What accounts for Timothy’s character, his attributes? It all goes back to his upbringing.
2 Timothy 1:5 (NKJV) when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.
Timothy’s genuine faith. In the Greek, the word is quite literally “un-hypocritical.” Timothy lived out his faith in a very real way, not just in public, but in private as well. It was genuine and it was sincere, and not in any way hypocritical. Timothy did not display something he was not.
The faith that Timothy possessed, was present in mother and in his grandmother: "which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice."
That word “dwelt,” translated “lived in” in the NIV and HCSB indicates something that was not merely an occasional visitor. This faith was lived, it was not passive, it was not merely words, or external when in public for show. This faith that lived in Lois and Eunice went deep and actively alive. They did not just teach the faith to Timothy, they lived it out in his presence continually. You see, in the home, you cannot keep up an act, a pretense. Lois and Eunice lived every moment of every day in the faith. Their faith was real. And they lived it, they taught it as well. Paul reminded Timothy of his knowledge of the scriptures.
2 Timothy 3:14–15 (NKJV) But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Knowing from whom he learn them. That would be Lois and Eunice. From childhood he learn the Scriptures.
Again, the scriptures make no mention of any influence Timothy’s father had, but the influence of his mother and his grandmother is well known. True faith cannot be inherited, but it can be demonstrated in very convincing ways within families. The first mission field for any mother and father is among their own children and in many cases, among their grandchildren.
One day, as a parent, I will have to answer to God as to what I taught my children and how I demonstrated the faith for them. We are commanded to teach these things to our children by word and by deed.
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (NKJV) “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
We are to keep these things ever before our children. It is not just a once a week discussion on Sundays. That does not mean that my children will choose the right way to go, or will take my faith as their own. But my job as a parent does not end when they grow up and move out on their own. I still instruct and encourage and demonstrate my faith to my grown children and I do so for my grandchildren. And I know many of you do so for your great-grandchildren.
Not only do we continue to teach and demonstrate the faith, they are always in our prayers as well. Can you imagine how Lois and Eunice prayed for Timothy after he left home to go with Paul?
Lois and Eunice’s faiths were well know to Paul. And Paul said: "I am persuaded is in you also." (2 Tim 1:5)
Paul had seen Timothy live out His faith. The word in the Greek for “persuaded” is in the perfect tense, meaning it is a completed action. Paul knew and was convinced of Timothy’s faith and Paul gave great credit for it to Timothy’s grandmother and mother.
As parents, we have a great responsibility to our children. I am grateful to the godly influence of my mother and father. I thank God for my godly upbringing. I am able to look back and see my parents as role models for me.
Some of you may not have been as fortunate to grow up with godly parents. If you grew up without such influence, you can be that influence in your own home and it can begin with you.
You older ladies who have raised your children in a godly way and if they are now out in the world doing well, you are not done. Scriptures tells us that you need to take the younger mothers under your wings and guide and nurture them.
Titus 2:3a, 4–5 (NKJV) the older women likewise . . .—4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
I can’t teach younger mothers how to raise children, but you grandmothers and great-grandmothers need to show the younger mothers how to raise their children in the Lord.
At the end of the day and when it is all said and done, it is all about Jesus. How have we shared Jesus with those around us. But sharing Jesus begins in our families.
Yesterday at Ms Ann's funeral, I loved the eulogy that Ms Toby gave about Ann and she related about the role of Ann in the salvation of her grandchildren. A mother’s work is never done.
[1] www.barna.com/research/moms-christians-households/?mc_cid=1ad0b6b3e6&mc_eid=b151303323
[2] www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/timothy-mother-s-day-troy-richards-sermon-on-mother-s-day-122360?ref=SermonSerps
