A LITTLE KNOWN “MOTHER”
1. One of the chapters that receives little attention in the New Testament is Rom. 16.
2. This chapter is filled with 26 different names.
3. 6 of the persons mentioned in this chapter are women.
4. Because we know so little about the people who are mentioned, this part of the book is often ignored.
SINCE TODAY IS MOTHER’S DAY WE WANT TO LOOK AT
ROM.
A. There was a Christian named “Rufus.”
B. He had a mom.
C. The verse ends by saying, “and mine.”
D. This curious ending presents us with questions.
E.
Does this mean Paul’s mother live at
2. Most believe this statement means the mother of Rufus had been kind to Paul.
3. She had been so caring and attentive she was like his mother.
4. If this view is right, Paul had somehow met the mother of Rufus.
A. Did he meet her during one of his missionary trips?
B. Was he sick and this woman tended to him?
C. We do not know but we are left with some fascinating questions.
5. This woman was one of a select group of people Paul specifically mentioned.
6. We can say with certainty that she was a mother who was a good woman.
7. As we think about how she is described, we are prepared to think about motherhood from 3 perspectives:
A. A mother’s love.
B. The impact of a good mother.
C. What mothers deserve.
8. A few days ago someone sent a note to me which sums up a mother’s love.
9. This piece said the easy part of motherhood is giving birth.
10. The hard part is showing up each day.
A. Every mother gets to experience a wide range of experiences that show their love.
B. I cannot help but think of Mt. 20:20.
C. This chapter describes a mother who had two grown sons.
D. These boys were out of the house and on their own.
E. Yet, the mother came to the Lord and “worshipped Him.”
F. Mom was more than respectful and then said she had a request.
G. What she wanted is stated in verse 21 – READ.
11. This mother cared for her sons.
12. Her boys were grown but she still loved them enough to try and get them good seats in the kingdom.
13. The love of a mother lasts. It starts early in life and continues.
14. We seen an example of early love in the Old Testament.
15. In 1 Sam. 2 we read about another mother—the mother of Samuel.
16. Samuel was not living at home so his mother made trips to see him.
17. The Bible says she made and brought him a coat each year.
18. Returning
to the New Testament (Jn.
19. Seeing Jesus on the cross must have been the hardest thing Mary ever had to watch.
20. When crucifixion scenes are reenacted people often get sick.
21. Seeing this sight in person was enough to make a strong person vomit.
22. A mother’s love kept Mary at the cross.
23. Going back to the Old Testament we read about the mother of Moses in Ex. 2.
A. This mom knew about an order which had been given.
B. Male babies were to be killed.
C. Being a godly woman who loved her child, the mother of Moses used some creativity.
D. She put her son in a container that would withstand the river water and got him to safety.
24. In both testaments the Bible tells of women who loved their children.
25. From infancy through adulthood, there are examples of unflinching love.
26. Some may be familiar with a piece of writing by Helen Rice.
27. Here
is what she wrote concerning a mother’s love:
- READ.
A mother's love is like an island
In life's ocean vast and wide,
A peaceful, quiet shelter
From the restless, rising tide.
A mother's love is like a fortress
And we seek protection there
When the waves of tribulation
Seem to drown us in despair.
A mother's love is a sanctuary
Where our soul can find sweet rest
From the struggle and the tension
Of life's fast and futile quest.
A mother's love is like a tower
Rising far above the crowd,
And her smile is like the sunshine
Breaking through a threatening cloud.
A mother's love is like a beacon
Burning bright with Faith and Prayer
And through the changing scenes of life
We can find a haven there....
For a mother's love is fashioned
After God's enduring love,
It is endless and unfailing
Like the love of Him above.
For God knew in His great wisdom
That he couldn't be everywhere,
So he put His little Children
In a loving mother's care.
THIS
PIECE BRINGS US TO THE NEXT POINT: THE
IMPACT OF A GOOD MOTHER.
A. I want to explore this from a passage already given.
B. A short time ago some information from Ex. 2 was introduced.
C. Moses was put placed into a container and carefully situated in a river so others would find him.
D. Ex. 2:2 says the child was hidden for “three months.”
E. Ex. 2:6 says Moses was found.
F. We want to pick up with verses 7-8 – READ.
2. The mother of Moses was found and she was asked to care for her own baby.
3. A key verse in this chapter is the next one – verse 9 – READ.
4. In this day and time there were some things the Egyptians didn’t have.
5. Pampers were unknown.
6. There was no such thing as baby formula or baby cereal.
7. It was typical for children to be nursed until they were 4-5 years old.
A. The mother of Moses must have influenced her child for at least 4-5 years.
B. One the one hand 4-5 years does not sound like a very long time.
C. If a child normally receives instruction for 18-19 years, about 75% of this time was lost.
8. Let’s keep this information in mind and skip to Heb. 11.
9. Moses was eventually brought up in the ways of Egypt.
10. He became the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (Ex. 2:10).
11. He had a lot of training from the Egyptians, but only 4-5 years of training with his mom.
12. At first glance one might suspect he accepted the ways of the Egyptians.
A. Notice what is said in Heb. 11:24-28 – READ.
B. This is not the type of information many would expect in light of Ex. 2.
C. This child who was reared in the ways of the Egyptians clung to the Hebrew faith.
D. Why did he do that?
E. The mother of Moses loved her child and exerted a great influence upon him.
F. The influence must have been short lived, but was powerful.
13. Children can know a lot and learn a lot in the early years of life.
14. I guess I am a little behind the times in regard to elementary school education.
15. I was aware of kindergarten and pre-school.
16. About a weeks ago someone told there is a pre-school to pre-school.
17. Why do parents send their children to school so early in life?
18. The answer is found in Ex. 2 and Heb. 11.
19. Children can learn and the learning starts early.
A. By the approximate age of 5, Moses knew who the people of God were.
B. He knew some things about the coming Messiah.
C. He also knew something about sin and the fact it only lasts for a season.
D. This child knew more about religion that some adults now living.
20. The influence of a mother is forever proven by Ex. 2 and Heb. 11.
21. Every mother who loves her children will influence them for God and good.
WHEN A MOTHER DOES THESE TWO THINGS, THE THIRD POINT IS TRUE. MOTHERS DESERVE RESPECT, HONOR, AND APPRECIATION.
A. Mothers have done great things for this country.
B. At least two presidents (John Adams and Lincoln) credit their success to their mothers.
C. At the present times mothers are as busy as ever.
D. I recently read some statistics about women who give birth.
2. In the 1970’s mothers stayed had a 4 day hospital stay if the delivery was smooth.
3. By 1992 the four days had been trimmed to two.
4. I am not sure what the procedure now is, but a few years ago it was 24 hours.
5. In some cases women were being sent home 8 hours after giving birth.
6. It was like mothers were rushed into the hospital, had the baby, and rushed out.
7. The demands on moms and dads seems to keep growing.
8. The wives and mothers we know deserve appreciation.
9. This is not my believe; this is what God says.
10. Listen to Prov. 31:28-30 – READ.
11. What a wonderful statement.
12. Charm is deceptive. Beauty doesn’t last.
13. A woman that serves God is blessed.
14. These three verses in the book of Proverbs are the most fitting tribute to mothers we can offer.
15. They also allow us o ask an important question?
16. Do we, as a man, woman, or young person, serve God?
17. This is the important question we will ever be asked.
18. This question will be one that we one day answer.
19. We start serving God by becoming a Christian.
20. This process involves: