Mothers Who Love

May 12, 2013
Mothers Who Love
1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 and 2 Timothy
Scott Howard

• A mother can make a significant spiritual impact on her children with or without the help of a father.

A Grandmother, a Mother, and a Boy...
Lois, a widow, lived with her daughter Eunice who had a husband and a little boy named Timothy.  Timothy's father did not have much of a spiritual life, but his mother and grandmother did.  They taught him while he was young, and one day a man named Paul came to town to teach people about the Gospel.  Paul took young Timothy under his wing and because of his Godly upbringing by his mom and grandmother, he became an instrumental minister of God's grace.

• How a mother and/or grandmother can make a spiritual impact on their children:

1. Instill a respect for Scripture.  --> 2 Timothy 3:12-17
2. Instill an authentic Faith.  --> 2 Timothy 1:5
3. Instill a desire to Minister.  --> Acts 16:1-3

• Three qualities in Timothy that were no doubt passed down from his mother and his grandmother: (Acts 16:1-3)

1. He was a strong Believer.  (referred to as a "disciple")
2. He had a good Reputation.  (people spoke well of him)
3. He was Available.  (he was taken along on the journey)

We are saved in order to serve.

• Susannah Wesley's (mother of Charles & John Wesley & 15 other children) Rules for Motherhood:

1. Subdue self-will in a child and thus work together with God to save his soul.
2. Teach the child to pray as soon as he can speak.
3. Give the child nothing he cries for, and only what is good for him if he asks for it politely.
4. To prevent lying, punish no fault which is freely confessed, but never allow a rebellious, sinful act to go unnoticed.
5. Commend and reward good behavior.
6. Strictly observe all promises you have made to your child.

(for more of Susannah Wesley's rules, you can look her up on the internet).