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by Samuel E. Ward
May 12, 2013
View PowerPoint Slide Presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/mothers-day-2013-21545462
INTRODUCTION:
"Are You Smarter than a Second Grader?
Why did God make mothers?
1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Think about it, it was the best way to get more people.
3. Mostly to clean the house.
4. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers?
1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. He made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.
What ingredients are mothers made of?
1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world, and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string. I think.
What kind of little girl was your mom?
1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.
What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer? Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your mom marry your dad?
1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.
What's the difference between moms and dads?
1. Moms work at work and work at home, and dads just got to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power cause that's who you gotta ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
Pastor's all over the country will be bringing messages about mothers and many of them will offer examples from the Bible to highlight the value and importance. Surely the following will be among those to referred to:
1. The virtuous woman of Pro 31:10, 28,
2. Jochebed, the mother of Moses will serve as an example of a mother;s love and sacrifice for her child.
3. Hannah, the mother of Samuel, will serve to remind mothers that children are gifts from God and should be trained to serve the Lord.
4. Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus, who loved her son immensely, but knew that one day she would have release him to God's care and guidance knowing there were trials ahead that he would meet with and she could not, nor must not, interfere.
Allow me to make two brief and simple requests for Mother's Day (and every day after)
I. Husbands, Give Your Wives the Honor They Are Due.
II. Children, Give Your Mothers the Honor They Are Due.
We begin with the first request.
I. Husbands, Give Your Wives the Honor They Are Due.
A. Husbands, Honor Your Wives as Equal Partners Before God.
(1 Pet 3:7 NIV) Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
Instead of using their stronger physical presence to bully or use in forced submission (which is not a biblical concept), he should rather . . .
1. Be considerate of your wives rather than overbearing.
It means loving her, providing for her, leading her in spiritual matters, helping with the kids, making life a little easier for her
2. Treat your wives with respect.
Wives' opinions deserve to be heard every much as the husbands deserve to be expressed. Wives' deserve time for personal time, hobbies, friends, and self-enrichment as much as the husbands deserve time for their hobbies, workshop, sports, time spent with friends.
3. Understand your wives' equal spiritual standing before God with an equal share of the spiritual inheritance in the life to come.
B. Husbands, Love Your Wives Sacrificially, Eph 5:33a.
(Eph 5:33a NIV) However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself.
No man is excluded from this command to love his wife and no wife is to be excluded from receiving it. When it comes to loving their wives, there is no place in the marital relationship for selfish indulgence at the expense of your partner. The kind of love God commands from husbands to wives is the same love, "agape," that Christ exhibited when he sacrificed his life for the sake of the church.
C. Husbands, Minister to Your Wives Spiritually, Eph 5:25-31.
(Eph 5:25-31 NIV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her {26} to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, {27} and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. {28} In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. {29} After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- {30} for we are members of his body. {31} "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh."
1. You must be a student of God's Word and share your knowledge with her for the purpose spiritual growth and maturity.
2. You must take responsibility for your wife and family and minimize interference from the outside, such as your parents or in-laws, so that the bonding between you and your wife will be complete, uncompromised, and clear. The parents of the husband and wife violate the biblical order when they seek to inject themselves into the families of their children beyond offering support and begin to manipulate them for their own purposes.
D. Husbands, Do Not Forget to Use Important Dates as Opportunities to Express Love and Appreciation for Your Wives. (I have no Bible verse for this principle, just the benefit of past experience!)
One morning as a woman woke up and saw her husband getting ready to leave for work she said, with a big smile on her face, "Honey, I'll bet you do not know what day this is." Her husband had a hard time remembering birthdays and anniversaries, but since he was about to leave for work he excused himself from the embarrassing situation by walking out of the door while saying, "Honey, how could I ever forget. This is the best day of our lives."
All during the day he kept trying to remember what month and what day his wife's birthday was, and when their anniversary was, but he could not remember. The day wore on and it was getting close to time to get off from work and he knew he was going to have to go home and face his wife not knowing what made this day so special. He finally thought of a plan to save his hide. He rushed into the house and said, "Honey, get your best dress on. We are going to paint the town and celebrate this outstanding day in our lives!"
While she was getting ready he rushed down to the florist and bought her a lovely bouquet of flowers. He took her to the most expensive restaurant in town. He had spent $150.00 to celebrate the day, and he still did not even know what he was celebrating.
It was on the way home that he finally discovered what day it was. His wife snuggled real close to him, placed her arm around his shoulder, planted a soft kiss on his cheek and said, "Honey, this is the best Ground Hog Day we have ever enjoyed together." (1)
II. Children, Give Your Mothers the Honor They Are Due.
A. Children Are to Honor Their Mothers.
(Exo 20:12 NIV) "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
(Eph 6:1-3 NIV) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. {2} "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- {3} "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
1. This command is found in both testaments which means it is timeless and universal.
2. This command is first and foremost obedience to the Lord.
3. This command is the right thing to do according to the God, who is the final authority of what is right and wrong and the ultimate judge of it.
4. This command tends to bring a happier life to children who obey it.
5. This command tends to longer life to children who obey it.
B. Children Are to Bring Honor Their Mothers.
1. As opposed to causing them grief, Pro 10:1
(Prov 10:1 NIV) The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
2. As opposed to speaking disrespectfully to them, Pro 20:20
(Prov 20:20 NIV) If a man curses his father or mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
3. As opposed to taking advantage of her income or savings instead of making your own way, Prov 28:24.
(Prov 28:24 NIV) He who robs his father or mother and says, "It's not wrong"-- he is partner to him who destroys.
4. As opposed to not caring for them when they are old, Pro 23:22
(Prov 23:22 NIV) Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
5. So that they can be proud of you and rejoice, Pro 23:25
(Prov 23:25 NIV) May your father and mother be glad; may she who gave you birth rejoice!
Trust me, the day will come when you will wish you had shown more love to your mother than you had. But you will not be able to because she will have passed into eternity. Consider this poem published in the Akron Baptist Journal:
If you have a smile for Mother,
Give it now.
If you have a kindly word,
Speak it now.
She'll not need it when the angels
Greet her at the golden gate;
Give the smiles while she's living,
If you wait, 'twill be too late.
If you have a flower for Mother,
Pluck it now.
Place it gently on her bosom,
Print a kiss upon her brow.
What cares she when life is over,
For the flowers that bloom below.
She will have her share up yonder,
Sacttered at her feet galore.
Ask your wife or mother, "What can I do today and every day to honor you and show that I love you? Then DO IT!"
View other Sermon PowerPoints by Pastor Sam Ward at http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/
