Rev. David Holwick P Mother's Day
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
May 8, 2005
2 Timothy 1:4-7
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I. What is a molding mom?
A. Doris comment on title - you mean like when oranges go bad?
B. Of course not - it is about moms who make a difference.
1) Bizarre example this week on the History Channel:
Interview of Japanese kamikaze pilot.
When he saw an American aircraft carrier, he shouted at top
of his lungs, "Mother!"
He doesn't remember shouting anything about his father.
(His plane had engine trouble and he had to abort mission.)
2) For good or ill, mothers tend to make a lasting impression.
C. Motherhood may be in danger of decline.
1) A San Diego State University report indicates marriage
satisfaction after a first baby's birth is 42% lower
among younger parents than in preceding generations.
The National Marriage Project's 2004 annual report noted
"children seem to be a growing impediment for the
happiness of marriage."
Only 38% of mothers of infants report high marriage
satisfaction, compared to 62% of childless women.
Children are no longer the centerpiece of marriage, the
researchers note.
Fewer Americans believe marriage is necessary for raising
kids.
Fewer Americans believe raising kids is a good enough
reason to keep a troubled marriage together.
Almost 70% of Americans now believe that the purpose of
marriage is something other than raising children.
#29379
To be sure, our purpose for being on this Earth is not
just to reproduce.
Love and companionship alone are very good reasons to be
married.
But having and raising children is not a superficial issue.
God blesses it, and he wants it done right.
2) Moms can be more influential than ever!
II. Influential mothers in Bible.
A. Influence comes in different varieties.
1) Micah's mother in Judges 17:1-3.
a) Lived during corrupt days in Israel.
b) Son stole silver from her and she gave a curse.
1> She probably knew he was culprit.
c) When he fesses up, she makes an idol out of it.
d) Her son later spreads bad religion throughout the land.
2) Mother of John and James. Matthew 20:21
a) The ultimate "stage mother."
b) She wanted her sons to sit next to Jesus in heaven.
B. A better kind of influence.
1) Moses and his mother.
a) She is unnamed, though all her children were influential
in Israel's early history.
b) She had the faith to put her baby in a floating basket.
c) She had the brains to become his nurse, serving the
Pharaoh's princess.
2) Samuel and Hannah.
a) Hannah wanted to be a mother desperately.
b) When she got her wish, she committed her son to the
Lord and had him brought up in Israel's sanctuary.
c) Samuel had visions as a young boy, and became a great
prophet and judge.
3) Jesus and his mother Mary.
a) She obeyed God from time of angel's visit.
1> She treasured many things in her heart.
2> She must have passed on these messages and
experiences to Jesus.
b) She gave her son a religious upbringing, and regularly
took him to celebrations in Jerusalem.
c) One of his final concerns was for her care, and he
committed her to Apostle John.
4) Timothy and Eunice.
a) Timothy was born to a mixed family. Acts 16:1
1> His father was a Greek - not Jewish.
2> But his mother and grandmother seemed to be the
biggest influence in his life.
b) Eunice taught her son the Bible. 2 Timothy 3:14
c) When Paul preached in their town, she and her mom
believed in Jesus and were converted.
d) They passed on an authentic faith. 2 Timothy 1:5
e) They allowed him to serve with Paul. Acts 16:3
C. Everybody is an influence.
1) What kind are you?
a) Most of us are probably a mixed-bag.
2) Reflect on your impact.
III. Factors to focus on.
A. The beliefs you teach.
1) Tell your kids what is truly important to you.
2) What you believe about Jesus, the Bible, and so on.
3) Are your beliefs informed? Or "hodge-podge"?
B. The values you pass on.
1) What moral values will you be remembered for?
a) Integrity, humility, acceptance of others...
b) Pound them into your kids!
2) Grandparents can be an important influence here.
C. The example you set.
1) It is unfortunate that actions speak louder than words.
a) Words are easier!
2) Display the fruit of the Spirit in your family.
a) Love, joy, patience...
3) If you want your kids to be honest, be honest yourself.
D. The faith you are committed to.
1) Undertaker yesterday - he switched religions because
another church was closer to his house.
2) Pass on a faith that is solid and the impact will last for
generations.
Henry J. Heinz was the wealthy distributor of the famous
"57 Varieties."
When his will was read, it was found to contain the following
confession:
"Looking forward to the time when my earthly career will end,
I desire to set forth at the very beginning of this will,
as the most important item in it, a confession of my faith
in Jesus Christ as my Savior.
I also desire to bear witness to the fact that throughout my
life, in which there were unusual joys and sorrows,
I have been wonderfully sustained by my faith in God
through Jesus Christ.
This legacy was left me by my consecrated mother, a woman of
strong faith, and to it I attribute any success I have attained."
#5224
IV. The unseen hand.
A. Influence is subtle.
1) It arises from numerous small acts and interactions.
2) Most of the time it is not a deliberate activity of ours.
The great missionary doctor, Albert Schweitzer, said this:
I look back upon my youth and realize how so many people gave
me help, understanding, courage - very important things
to me - and they never knew it.
They entered into my life and became powers within me.
All of us live spiritually by what others have given us, often
unwittingly, in the significant hours of our life.
At the time these significant hours may not even be perceived.
We may not recognize them until years later when we look back,
as one remembers some long-ago music or a boyhood landscape.
We all owe to others much of the gentleness and wisdom that we
have made our own...
And we may well ask ourselves what will others owe to us.
#5433
B. What will your legacy be?
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SOURCES FOR ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS SERMON:
# 5224 "The Will of Henry Heinz," Tan's 7700 Illustrations, quoted in
Fair Dinkum Magazine, http://members.iweb.net.au/~dinkum/dink53.htm
# 5433 "We Live Spiritually By What Others Have Given," Dr. Albert
Schweitzer, Internet: Bits & Pieces, April 3, 2000.
#29379 "Younger Marriages Struggle With Children, Studies Say,"
John Hall, Associated Baptist Press, May 5, 2005.
These and 25,000 others are part of a database that can be downloaded,
absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
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