What Is a Mother?

1 Corinthians 13:1-7

Introduction

1.      While this lesson is about mothers, it is about much more – much of it is about the kind of people we ought to be

2.      While my mother passed more than 25 years ago, she still is a strong influence on the kind of person that I am

3.      This is a tribute to mothers, a challenge to mothers and a challenge to each of us to live for God and others

4.      What is a mother?  

Discussion

1.      Someone who gives birth to children or adopts or gives foster care

a.       Gen 3:16

b.      Gen 35:16-21

c.       1 Sam 1:9-11

d.      1 Tim 2:15  

2.      Someone who makes sacrifices for her children

a.       The sacrifices my mother made for me and my brother

b.      Hannah gave her son to God (to the priest, Eli)

c.       Prov 31:15  

3.      Someone who provides stability for her children

a.       My mother compared to my father

b.      Child custody decisions are often based on this principle

c.       Men have often undertaken jobs that took them far from home and children  

4.      Someone who provides spiritual training and teaching for her children

a.       2 Tim 1:5; 3:15

b.      Eph 6:4 – while fathers are charged with the responsibility it is often the case that the training is supplied by the mother

c.       The teachers of youth in the church are most often women  

5.      Someone who loves her children – 1 Cor 13:1-7

a.       She knows all your faults, but loves you anyway

b.      She believes you can, even when you don’t

c.       If she is a Christian, she hopes that you will be too

d.      Every year Hannah brought Samuel a “little robe”  

Conclusion

1.       Today we “give honor to whom honor is due” – to those mothers who have served their families in faithfulness and truth

2.      To everyone we issue the challenge to be the best for God that you can be

3.      May your life be always a blessing to others