A Mother’s Influence

2 Timothy 1:3-5; 3:14-16Acts 16:1-3

Being a Mother

• Not a walk in the park…– Proverbs 31:28, “Her

children arise and call her blessed…”

– Proverbs 31:30, “a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

• A Grandmother, a Mother, and a Boy

A Mother’s Influence

I. Lead Them to the Savior

II. Instill a Respect for Scripture

III. Show Them a Faith That Is Real

IV. Instill a Desire to Minister

I. Lead Them to the Savior

and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus

2 Timothy 3:15 (NASB)

I. Lead Them to the Savior

• Introduce them to Jesus – Eunice led Timothy to know

the Lord Jesus Christ• She taught him about Jesus, and

expected that he would accept Christ as Savior

– "leads" speaks of anticipation• When a mother anticipates,

prays and leads toward Christ, she has every right to expect the cooperation of God in bringing her child to the Lord

• Sounds simple; but it is not easy...or cheap

Introduce them to Jesus

• Susannah Wesley, mother of 19 – Six rules for teaching children the

priority of the Savior1. 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 behavior6. Strictly observe all promises you

have made to your child

Introduce them to Jesus

• Susannah Wesley– These rules are exactly

the way the Lord treats us!

– Children should learn the love of the Father in heaven first by seeing it in their mother

II. Instill a Respect for Scripture

2 Timothy 3:14-15• 2 Timothy 3:12 - Everyone who

wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted

• v. 14 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it”

• Timothy could do this because he saw it modeled in his mother, in his grandmother, and in Paul himself

Teach them when young

• and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus

2 Timothy 3:15 (NASB

Teach them when young

• “childhood” = infancy, a newborn baby

• Eunice and Lois taught the Holy Scriptures to Timothy from the very beginning!

– They read to him– They talked about Samson

and Samuel, David and Ruth, Abraham and Noah

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

• “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Teach them when young!

• It is never too early to start teaching the Bible to your children

• And, it’s never too late to start if you haven’t already

Bible Translations

• Four scholars– King James Version - beauty and

eloquent old English– New American Standard Version -

literalism and accuracy– New Living Translation -

contemporary English captures the meaning of difficult ideas

– “I have personally preferred my mother’s translation”

• “Yes, she translated the Scriptures. My mom translated each page of the Bible into life. It is the most convincing translation I have ever read.”

Bible Translations

• What kind of Bible is your child reading when he or she observes your life?

• They will learn what you live!

III. Show Them a Faith That Is Real

• Modeling Faith– 2 Timothy 1:5

• “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

– Faith is not hereditary, it is learned!

III. Show Them a Faith That Is Real

2 Timothy 1:5

• “sincere” faith = “unhypocritical” faith

– Faith that is real, without any pretense

– They were serious about their faith - and Timothy knew it

– No one knows better than a child whether a parent’s faith is genuine

Lois to Eunice to Timothy

• No grandfather or father in this equation!

– A father is important! – But a mother can make a significant

spiritual impact on her children with or without the help of a father

• If you want to instill sincere faith in your children, then you better take your own faith seriously

• Send a strong message to your children

– Reading the Bible– Praying– Worshiping– Serving the Lord

“What Convinced You?”

• Pastor - long conversation about becoming a believer

– When he was done the young man said he was ready to accept Christ

– The pastor, “What did I say that convinced you to join the church?”

– “It was nothing I ever heard you say. It was the way my mother lived.”

IV. Instill a Desire to Minister

2 Timothy 3:16-17; Acts 16:1-3• Acts 16:1-3

– “He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey…”

Three qualities passed down

• He was a disciple

• He had a good reputation

• He was available

He was a disciple

• Luke could have referred to Timothy as a believer or a Christian, but he chose to call him a disciple

– A disciple is a learner and a follower

– A disciple was one who was serious about Christ, not just one who was going through the motions

– Timothy’s mother modeled this lifestyle of a learner

He had a good reputation

• The believers in Lystra spoke well of him

• Timothy was a man of integrity and as a man of the Word

• Timothy’s mother and grandmother had a lot to do with this

He was available

• Paul wanted to take him along on the journey

– Timothy was eager to minister – Leaving home meant facing

hardship– Philippians 2:20 “I have no

one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare”

– This kind of commitment has to be encouraged at home!

He was available• A Mother’s Job

– To lead them to the Savior– To instill a respect for the Bible– To show them an authentic faith

• The most important job - instilling within your children a desire to minister

• Children are to learn and grow in their faith so that they can become disciple-makers!

– Share their faith with others– Help others grow in the Lord– Serve those who are hurting– Reach the world!

The Truth

• We are saved in order to serve

• We are discipled so that we can disciple others

• We are equipped so that we can equip others and evangelize the world

• We are sanctified so that we can be sent to a lost and dying world

• We are blessed so that we can be a blessing to others!

The Testimony of Many

• G. Campbell Morgan - four sons

– All became preachers– At a family reunion a friend

asked one of the sons, "Which Morgan is the greatest preacher?"

– With his eyes beaming with delight, the son looked over to his father and said, "Why, it’s Mother!"

Is your child ready to serve God?

• Mother and Father are not honorary titles

– They are working job descriptions

– Don’t leave the spiritual teaching to the pastor or Sunday School teacher.

• A Spanish proverb says: “An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy”

– YOU lead them to the Savior– YOU teach them the Scripture– YOU model a real faith for

them– YOU prepare them for service