May 11, 2008

Mother's Day
Steve Lane

A. Introduction

A real relationship forged in the kitchen with flour flying, and something frying.
And now, something similar happens around my house every morning.

"The thing about marriage that is magnificent is that it portrays something magnificent."

B. The Parable of Marriage

Children are born into God's family... by faith and regeneration.

1 Corinthians 4: 15
"In Christ Jesus I became your father."

1 Thessalonians 2: 7
"Like a mother nursing and caring for her own children."

Matthew 12: 48 - 49
"Here are my mother and brothers. Whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother"

Mark 10: 29 - 30
The picture gives way to the real thing in eternity.

It will dilute both the temporal and the eternal.

C. Families are for Disciple Making

Ephesians 6: 1 - 4
Marriage is to display the love relationship between Christ and the church - a real-life drama.

Ephesians 5: 23 - 32
"Marriage and family is magnificent because it gives a picture of something magnificent and eternal."
- Piper

The emphasis is not on making children, but making them disciples.

Revealing God to their children:
A child knows the authority, strength, love, care, nurture, leadership, protection, justice, warmth and intimacy of his parents before he knows that God has these same attributes.

The primary job of a parent is to know God and to reflect Him in their life, and to point their children to the God of the Bible.

D. A Mother's Call to Suffer

Luke 2: 34 - 35
Proverbs 10: 1
Who suffers like a mother?

"Mothers, take an eternal view."

Matthew 10: 28 - 31
Do not fear if you are called to send them or to take them.

"Why can't I have this thimble and the ocean?"

Matthew 19: 29 - 30

"Family life is magnificent, because it portrays something magnificent."