Sermon: Biblical Motherhood Summary: The Bible tells us to honor our mothers. This is not merely because some mothers appear to be supermoms, or mothers are all inherently nurturing dynamos, but because motherhood was created by God and is therefore a reflection of God's character. But Motherhood is not limited to biology. God himself is a mother figure for us, and therefore the church is also a mother figure for us. Know: Motherhood is a creation and reflection of God and is not limited to biology. Feel: The desire to honor mothers and mother figures in your life. Do: Reflect on how the church might fill a mothering role and how this is an extension of the very character of God. Identify ways the church can carry out and improve on this role. Text: Eph 6:2 Scripture Reading: Dt 32:10-12 Intro: 1. What does the word "mother" make you think of? a. Many various images pop into our minds b. Some thing of something domestic, others think of professional moms c. Some get images of another time that may or may not have existed d. Some think of "supermom" type images - some realistic, others not. 2. For me - I remember smells of soy sauce, fried rice, trips to the park, etc. 3. Many ministers approach it with a certain level of apprehension a. Several reasons: - Some have or had mothers that were not good mothers - Some women want to be mothers but are not able - Some have lost their mothers or never knew their mothers - Motherhood has been a painful ordeal for some b. With all of these qualifications, why bother with it at all? c. Answer: - Regardless of all of the pitfalls, pain, and mess… - Motherhood is a good and beautiful ideal - It comes from God and deserves to be honored d. So, this morning, we honor mothers and motherhood as a creation of God 4. What does the Bible say about Mothers? I. Honor our Mothers A. (Eph 6:2) - Honor Father and Mother 1. First commandment with a promise 2. Goes well with you when you honor your mother B. What does "honor" mean? 1. Look at all the ways the word "honor" is translated: a. honor, respect, reverence value, precious, price/compensation b. Root idea is "value" 2. When you honor her, you are showing that she is valued C. ILL: Remember the first Bible Bowl I ever went to - Freshman 1. Elimination Rounds, won 1st place 2. Awarded T-Shirt and Book from York College 3. Set up special place for book, and wore T-Shirt everywhere 4. Wanted everyone to see it D. That is how it is to honor Mom 1. She has a special place in your heart 2. Not ashamed of her, he is your mother 3. You show that you value her and honor her a. Respect her, listen to her b. Don't leave her to always clean up your messes 4. Mt 15:4f - Jesus points out way to honor your parents in old age a. You help them. Why? b. It is what God instructs you to do c. It also shows you value them II. Motherhood is a reflection of God A. Most people do not associate the "mother" image with God 1. We address him as "Father" as Jesus did a. It fits, because it is something we identify with b. As our Father, he takes responsibility, he has authority 2. But, realize that "gender" is a creation of God 3. God himself is not literally male or female any more than he literally has arms or legs 4. Not saying that we should call God "mother," but saying that BOTH motherhood and fatherhood are reflections of God B. There are times the Bible uses "motherhood images" for God 1. What does it convey? - Nurture, nursing, caring for a baby a. Like a mother caring for her young b. Several passages speak of the safety of nurture of living under the "wings" of God (like an eagle) - Dt 32:11; Ps 17:6-8; 36:7; 61:4 2. Some passages: a. (Is 46:3-4) "…You who have been borne by Me from birth And have been carried from the womb; Even to old age I will be the same, And even to graying years I will bear" b. (Is 49:13-16) "Can a woman forget her nursing child And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands." c. (Is 66:12-13) - "And you will be nursed, you will be carried on the hip and fondled on the knees. As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you" - Ps 131:2 - Like a weaned child leaning against mother's breast is how I am with God d. (Lk 13:34) - O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! 3. God can use motherhood images because it is his creation a. God is a nurturer, protector, nurser, etc. b. There is endless mental and physical energy c. Always on the job, 24-7. d. Fierce, devoted love for children C. ILL: Johnny wanted a younger brother so bad. Kept asking for one 1. Finally, one day, mommy said a little brother was coming a. The brother was in the tummy b. So Johnny would talk to his sibling in the tummy 2. Then little Steven arrived, but it wasn't like Johnny expected a. Didn't play with Johnny b. All he did was eat, sleep, poop, and cry c. Mom spent more time with the baby than Johnny! 3. Johnny asked, "Can you put Steven back in your tummy now? D. Mothers do not put their children back 1. Mothers have a fierce devoted love for children 2. Mothers, you are a reflection of God a. God created you b. God created motherhood III. Motherhood is not limited to biology A. Some do not have biological mothers 1. Adoptions 2. Surrogate type mother people in your life 3. Even when we do not have "biological" mothers to honor, we can still honor the "mother" in our life B. There is motherhood in the church 1. Early Christians a. Rescued unwanted babies left in the open b. Families disowned people who converted to Christianity c. Church was a "mother" figure to them - Nurture, care, protection, upbringing, etc. d. Was this what God intended? 2. (Mk 3:33f) - Jesus said all who do God's will are family 3. (1 Tim 5:1f; Tit 2:1f) - Fathers, Mothers, Brothers, Sisters in the church a. Early church didn't just make it up - Idea goes all the way back to Apostolic church - It comes ultimately from scripture b. There were "Christian" mothers and fathers in the church 4. Some of you ladies may be "mother" figures to someone a. We call each other "family" b. This is a family that will last for eternity C. ILL: We had a cancer scare last year with Stacey's Thyroid 1. Talked about what might happen if something happened to her 2. She wanted to make sure the kids were taken care of 3. Talked about possible Candidates for another "Mrs Telgren" a. Kind of a strange conversation b. Not that she didn't think I couldn't handle it alone…maybe c. All of them were "in the family," Christian family d. Were comfortable with the idea because they would still be family D. If you don't have a biological mother, you still have mothers 1. Honor the mother figures in your life 2. Appreciate them, do something special Concl: 1. Honor mothers because mothers are a creation and reflection of God 2. Remember it is not limited to biology 3. Like a mother, God loves you (Invitation) =============================== Small Group Questions: Biblical Motherhood Summary: The Bible tells us to honor our mothers. This is not merely because some mothers appear to be supermoms, or mothers are all inherently nurturing dynamos, but because motherhood was created by God and is therefore a reflection of God's character. But Motherhood is not limited to biology. God himself is a mother figure for us, and therefore the church is also a mother figure for us. Open: - What is the best mother memory you have? Explore: 1. Is 49:13-16; Lk 13:34; What imagery does God use to describe the depth of his love? What does this communicate about God? 2. According to Ps 19:1 and Rom 1:20, everything in creation is a reflection of the creator. How is motherhood a reflection of God? 3. In what ways does the mother/children relationship exist in the church, even when someone may not have a relationship to a biological mother? (Refer to scriptures such as: Mk 3:31-35; Titus 2; or 1 Timothy 5). 4. Since motherhood is a creation of God, to honor mothers would be honoring to the God who created mothers. What are some other reasons to honor mothers or mother figures in life? Apply: 5. Describe what in this lesson has been interesting, inspiring, or encouraging to you. 6. In what ways can you strengthen familial ties with the brethren? 7. What are some other ways you can apply things you have learned in this lesson? Prayer: