(2 Ti 2:5-7) [Mother's Day] Powerful Influence of a Godly Mom

Nathan Sehi

Mother's Day • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

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We all are familiar with Timothy, the helper to Paul. He had a powerful and faithful work in the early Church. But what is often forgotten is the powerful influence of his mom and grandmother. They were instrumental in passing a sincere faith in the Gospel grounded in the Word. There example should challenge parents to pass on their faith!

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Our world is filled with amazing things of power.

From the power of an Atom Bomb,

to the power of a 13,000 lb elephant

To the power of the word of the president.

Our world is filled with amazing things of power.

We often awe at the amazing power of this world.

And - Today, we celebrate the power of a mom.

A Parent holds a special sort of power.

They may not hold power over the vast millions of our country.

But to their children - they are one of the most powerful influences in their lives.

Despite all the ways we have looked at how to influence children

education in schools

intervention programs such as boy scouts, and the big brother group.

It is widely known - these have very little effect or power when compared to mom and dad.

Parents hold great power as influences over the lives of their children.

George Morgan was a British Pastor in the late 1800s. He worked a lot with D.L. Moody.

This is what he said about his preaching -

“My dedication to the preaching of the Word was maternal. … When but eight years old I preached to my little sister and to her dolls arrayed in orderly form before me. My sermons were Bible stories which I had first heard from my mother.”

“My dedication to the preaching of the Word was maternal. Mother never told it to the baby or the boy, but waited. When but eight years old I preached to my little sister and to her dolls arrayed in orderly form before me. My sermons were Bible stories which I had first heard from my mother.”

The power of a parent is enormous.

The responsibility of a parent to their children is also enormous.

Besides the grace and goodness of God - there is no one more powerful in children’s lives - then a parent.

This morning, for mother’s day,

I would like us to consider the powerful influence Lois and Eunice had on their son, the grandmother and mother of Timothy.

Timothy of course was the right hand of Paul.

When Paul couldn’t go himself - he would send Timothy.

When Paul needed someone to deal with false teachers - he would send Timothy.

When Paul needed someone to train up leaders in the church - he would send Timothy.

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Timothy

So close were Paul and Timothy that both names are listed as the authors of six of Paul’s letters (2 Cor. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:1; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1; Philem. 1)

How did Timothy become such a faithful, dependable servant of Christ?

Observe - the powerful influence of Timothy’s mother and grandmother.

1 Timothy 1:5–7 ESV

5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.

2 Timothy 1:5–7 ESV

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

This morning I would like to remind you of a truth you already know,

but sometimes we need to be reminded of.

PROP: Parents Ought to Teach Godly Faith to their Children, and Children Should Follow the Godly teachings of their Parents.

TRANS: And this text teaches us How to do that.

So first,

1) Parents Ought to Teach Godly Faith to their Children (v. 5)

In the Last few years the campaign motto for some has been - make America great again.

That strikes at the core of what many Americans hope for.

As we consider our own value system -

We that are Christians, we might paraphrase it this way - make America a Christian nation again.

For we that are Christians, we might paraphrase it this way - make America a Christian nation again.

In the last few decades our nation - has been on the fast track to all things anti-God and immoral

And so many of us hold on to the hope - that our nation as whole will return to the perfect wisdom of God.

But how do you get there?

How can America return to being a nation under God?

And may I say - part of the answer in many ways is the next generation.

A nations hope is built on the next generation.

No matter what we do in our lifetime, if we have not prepared the next generation to to proclaim the name of Christ, and glorify God, to live according to his wisdom -

– then we cannot expect our nation to perseu the truths of God in their lifetime.

Like all countries,

Our nations future is bound in it’s children.

But,

perhaps you are here today and saying - I care about our nation, but my real concern, my real fear, is my children and grand children.

Perhaps great grand children.

And perhaps you are here today and saying - I care about our nation, but real concern is my children and grand children.

Will trust in Christ and live for God.

How can I teach the Gospel to my children and their children?

This morning I hope to be a challenge to parents but also help the parents by giving us the example of Lois and Eunice.

There are great things we can say about Timothy, and how God work in his life.

However,

We might consider how Timothy came to trust in Christ and how Timothy came to know the the power of the cross in his own life.

As much as I would emphasize the importance of dad in their children's lives, Timothy did not have a dad who taught him the gospel.

Acts 16:1 ESV

1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.

It is possible that Timothy's father was a believer,

but then we would think that Paul would have mentioned that.

Instead he mentions mom and grandma of Timothy,

which Makes us think that his father never came to know Christ.

Making us think that his father never came to know Christ.

Timothy came to know Christ because of his mom and his grandma.

Oh, what power of influence does a parent have over their children.

And in particular, what power of influence does a mom have over their children.

As we consider this passage, I would like to show you three ways I believe timothy learned Christ from his mom and his grandma.

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

a. Right Belief in the Gospel. “a faith that dwelt first”

What Paul tells us here is that mom and grandma knew the gospel before timothy did.

Perhaps they heard the gospel first and came to believe.

Perhaps timothy was but a child when the gospel was first preached in this town, and so quite literally he learned it from his mom and grandma.

In either case,

why does Paul emphasize what was first believed by his mom and grandma?

Because Paul is is reminding timothy and telling us where timothy learned the gospel from.

How did young timothy come to know Christ? – because his mom and grandma hold him about Jesus.

There is no substitute for a parent telling their child about Christ!

EXHORTATION:

We so often want someone else to tell our children about Christ – but who is truly the most powerful influence or in their children's lives?

We so often want someone else to tell our children about Christ –

but who is truly the most powerful influence or in their children's lives?

Not church, not that other person, not a book,

Not church, not that other person, mom and dad.

but mom and dad.

>I challenge us to regularly talk to our children about the gospel.

- That might be challenging them about their sin and their need for Jesus.

- Or it may be reminding them about the faith that they already say they believe in.

But I challenge us – talk to our children about the gospel.

Deuteronomy 6:7 ESV

7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Make teaching your children about Jesus part of everything you do.

If you have time to lecture them about their dirty clothes on the war, then make time to tell them how that breaks God's law, and that the penalty for that sin, but there's Jesus who loves them and save them..

I love the way Charles Swindoll once put it -

“Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children.”

— Charles R. Swindoll, Evangelical Christian pastor

I hope that the deposits you're putting in your children are not just pick up your socks but that you need Jesus.

I hope the greatest investment in the memory bank of your children is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let's be honest – it's a lot easier to learn to pick up your socks then it is to realize your center who needs Christ.

>And don’t be afraid to be dogmatic with your children.

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”

If you have grandchildren and great-grandchildren our kids – not just take him fishing, patent tell them about Jesus.

— Margaret Mead, cultural anthropologist

Nor do I think this excludes teaching our adult children.

I am not saying don’t teach your kids logic

But Margaret Mead exemplifies how many people think.

I don't know if it's the liberal brainwashing of our country or the foolishness of our hearts.

But I've heard many parents who who say – I want my children to believe in Jesus but I want them to believe in Jesus on their own.

CAVEAT:

Now I understand ultimately our children make their own decisions.

No amount of yelling and screaming and hollering is going to get them to believe in Jesus,

It is something they must believe on their own.

and it’s ultimately a work of God.

But at the same time I don't think there's anything wrong with telling your children

- that it is foolish to believe anything else,

but thus says the Lord.

There is a time and a place to tell your children and your grandchildren what to think – and that's when you're talking about what the Lord says.

>>>>>In other words be honest and dogmatic about their need to believe in Christ.

>And I don't think this only means our small children still at home.

I think this means Adult Children. (Afterall - Paul reminds the adult child Timothy of his parents faith)

Further, the example is not just mom and dad - but grandma.

If you have grandchildren and great-grandchildren – don’t just take them fishing,

>>>>>tell them about Jesus.

Nor do I think this excludes teaching our adult children.

Our Culture has so abuse freedom - that we stop telling our children what they really need to hear.

Were so worried in our day about forcing someone to believe something as though were hurting their freedom by giving them the most wonderful news we can ever give.

I realize, sometimes adult children are very anti-God and it's hard.

But I also think sometimes we cherish a nice peaceful fund relationship with their children – more than we want them to know the everlasting promise of salvation in Christ.

Not only teach them Right Belief in the Gospel, but also a

b. Scripture Saturated Life. “how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings”()

“how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings”()

You have heard of ?

That text is a classic text on how the Bible gives us everything we need for living the Christian life.

What we might forget about is that Paul says that after he reminds Timothy about the Scriptures that is a mom and grandma taught him.

What we might forget about is

- that Paul says that after he reminds Timothy about the Scriptures that his a mom and grandma taught him.

2 Timothy 3:15–17 ESV

15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:14–17 ESV

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

In this passage Paul challenges Timothy to remember the Scriptures as mom and grandma taught him.

I hope you're not only depositing the gospel into the memory banks of your children – but also Scripture into the memory banks of your children.

ILLUSTRATION:

Our parents teaches many many things.

They Care for us, and training us up.

My parents loved camping and they taught me to go camping.

From very young, we would pack up a tent trailer and visit the coolest of places.

And that hobby has been passed on - I love the woods, I love camping.

They teach us how to do laundry, how to cook, how to fix our house.

Yet, if mom and dad didn't teach me to camp - would I shrivel up and die?

Yet, if mom and dad didn't teach us these everday life skills would we simply die and shrivel up?

How eternally important is camping?

But what do

But what if my parents never taught me Scripture?

But what if our parents never taught us Scripture?

How eternally important is teaching Scripture to our children?

If are not pouring Scripture into your life and your children's lives – then we are not really training up our children.

In fact, what kids need most from their parents is to learn the word of God.

In fact, what kids need most from mom and dad is help hiding God’s word in our hearts.

If Scripture is capable of making us complete and perfect and upright adults – then we have the greatest lesson book known to man.

Which means we need to continually be putting Scripture into the lives so that they will complete and equipped for whatever God has for them.

We cannot undervalue teaching our children to know and obey the Word of God.

Not only do I think that our children need to be taught

Right Belief,

A Scripture Saturated Life,

But also a

c. “A Sincere Faith”

Have you ever wondered why so many of our children who are told the gospel since childhood,

who were raised up learning God's word

– and then walk away from the Christ when they are adults.

CAVEAT:

Now, What I'm about to say is not in every case – because remember our children have to make their own choice about following God.

What I'm about to say is not in every case – because remember our children have to make their own choice about following God.

But I also must acknowledge that many children are simply living out what mom and dad taught them.

I heard it once said this –

the sins that we do in moderation our children often do in excess.

We cannot simply tell our children about the gospel.

We cannot simply make them memorize Scripture.

We have to model a sincere faith.

Timothy's mom and grandma lived out a sincere faith.

That's where timothy learned his sincere faith.

You see, the Christian life is not just about knowing the right things.

Of course it is not a blind faith either.

I get enjoyed with movies that say - “Just have faith”

Of course it is not a blind faith either.

True faith is a faith in the knowledge of Jesus Christ..

But it not just about knowing some facts either.

In the reality is that the next generation will decide that.

Raising the next generation is one of the hardest tasks we have.

ILLUSTRATION:

Is often been said, were only as good as the next generation.

There are a number of jobs that are invested in the next generation. Teachers are probably one of the obvious ones.

Too often Christian Homes proclaim Christ, but are filled with sin.

But even more than that, parents have the responsibility to train up the next generation.

We allow a few moderate and respectable sins - and then are surprised when our children live out those sins in excess.

Or maybe it's not so much the sins that we have committed, but what we've left out of our faith.

The sins of omission.

We proclaim the gospel in our homes,

but we live without an awe of God,

a love of God,

a passion for God.

Children can pickup on a going through the motions Christianity.

An empty and meaningless Christianity - and then were surprised when our children live out that apathy in excess.

CAVEAT:

Again this is not a hard and fast rule, but perhaps an observation of the reality for many homes - an observation of to many homes..

Again this is not a hard and fast rule, perhaps an observation of the reality for many homes to many homes..

A faith in Jesus Christ in more than knowledge.

If we are really living out the gospel in our lives,

then it can never be said that are Christianity doesn't matter.

- We ought to live a sincere faith whose not only believing the right things,

but obeying the right things.

- Not only believe the right things,

But we are passionate about the right things.

I'm reminded that teaches us not only to teach our children, but it first tells us this

Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV

5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

A Christian faith should cause us to love God more than anything else in this world.

It is a faith of obedience

it is a faith of passion

it is a faith of extreme love for God.

After all – were talking about a faith in the God who so loved me that he died for me.

And a gospel like that ought to cause us to have sincere faith.

And the gospel like that to cause us to have sincere faith.

Having Considered 2 timothy 1:5 - we should teach our children our faith in God.

We should do that by teaching them

right belief in the gospel

a Scripture saturated life

and a sincere faith.

I don’t normally quote Billy Graham, but

We must remember - (Don’t quote)

“The greatest legacy one can pass on to one's children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one's life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.”

(Billy Graham, evangelist)

But again I challenge us that this tax is not simply for parents,

but also children.

Not Only Should Parents Teach their Faith,

But,

2) Children Ought to Follow the Godly Teachings of Their Parents. (v. 6-7) “remind you to fan into flame”

Are you a child who was taught the gospel?

Are you a child who was taught the Scriptures?

Are you a child whose parents sincerely loved God?

Then you are a very blessed person.

Psalm 1:1–2 ESV

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

If you had parents like that – then you are very blessed person.

Timothy was that kind of person.

And observe what Paul told timothy to do.

2 Timothy 1:6–7 ESV

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

And observe what Paul told timothy to do.

I love the way that Paul pictures this.

He says, hey Timothy, that Gospel you got from mom and grandma. Fan the flame until it grows brightly in your life.

ILLUSTRATION/EXPLANATION

Paul was using a picture here the campfire and you're sitting around the campfire

So you are gathering around a campfire -

And no one wants just a little tiny campfire with a little tiny flame, right?

So maybe we get one of those paper plates, and we walk over and we fan the flame so that it becomes big and bright.

That is what Paul is picturing here - they you would take the faith you were given by your parents and fan the flame until it is big and bright in your life.

There is more to be said from this verse then can be said today.

Where more time we would talk more about what that means.

But May I briefly challenge us – are you living out the faith that your godly parents gave you.

Is the gospel big and bright in your life or is it a fire that's going out?

When we are so blessed to have parents

who tell us about Jesus,

and teach us the Scriptures,

and model a sincere faith –

Then we ought to take that wonderful blessing and live it out.

What were talking about here is a passing from one generation to another generation the gospel of Jesus Christ.

- If our parents had a responsibility love God with all their heart (),

- then we certainly have a responsibility to do the same.

It is an eternal responsibility to our Creator.

>>>>But it is also doubly responsible for the person who had parents who taught them to love God as they ought to.

I challenge you – if you're sitting here and your parents told you the gospel - and go live it out.

But I'd like to make a third point here - A balancing point.

3) The Gospel is bigger than anyone’s sin.

Perhaps you are sitting here, and say -

I wanted to be a good parent, but I didn’t know the Gospel.

I tried my best to teach my children the Christian faith, but I know I wasn’t perfect.

Maybe it is a current struggle -

I am trying so hard to raise my children for God, but it is so hard.

Then rest in this - just like the Gospel gives us mercy and grace in other matters,

the Gospel gives us grace and mercy in our parenting.

Isaiah 1:18 ESV

18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Grace and mercy before God,

Grace and mercy for our kids.

So don’t live in guilt and fear about your children and grandchildren, but instead live in the grace and mercy of God.

Know that God loves them more then you do.

That you are just an imperfect undershepherd of the perfect shepherd.

We don’t have to be perfect, we just need to trust in our perfect God.

God is bigger then anyone’s sin.

> Further, perhaps you are sitting here and never had parents who gave the Gospel to you.

Don’t fret.

Timothy didn’t have a dad who knew the Gospel.

Paul before believing persecuted the church.

God is bigger then our failures.

And yet God transformed their life.

Parenting is one of those places where we preach the ideal, but many times our world is not ideal.

You may not have had parents who pointed to a Godly faith,

but we do have the Word of God that is able to make us fully equipped and complete. ()

The Gospel and the Word give everyone of us all the mercy and wisdom we could possibly need.

But we must remember - God is bigger then anyone’s failure or sin.

So whether you are

a parent here, realizing your failures.

A parent struggling under the weight of responsibility,

Or your a child who never had parents like this.

Remember God is bigger and has given you everything you need.

If God can forgive and save Paul - a persecutor of the Church.

Then he certainly has the ability to cover our situation with grace and mercy.

Lois and Eunice h

CONCLUSION?

CONCLUSION:

So I challenge you - today.

So this mother’s day.

I commend you to the example of Lois, Eunice, and Timothy.

Paul describes an ideal situation -

>Where the next generation was passed on a Godly faith.

And their Child

>faithfully flamed the faith that his mom and grandmother gave him.

Our world is filled with amazing things of power.

From the power of an Atom Bomb,

to the power of a 13,000 lb elephant

To the power of the word of the president.

But I contend - Parents have an amazing power of influence over their children.

No one is in better position to teach them faith in Christ - then mom and dad.

Children - if you have been blessed with the Gospel, then fan flame and make it big and bright in your life.

(Ignore)

Parents Ought to Teach Godly Faith to their Children, and Children Should Follow the Godly teachings of their Parents.

Based on I challenge -

Parents to Teach Godly Faith to their Children, and Children to Follow the Godly teachings of their Parents.

**************************Pray***********************

As we are dismissed, I wish all the mom’s here a very happy mother’s day.

No evening service - so take time to spend time with you family.

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