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MESSAGE SUMMARY
Timothy demonstrated genuine faith and loyalty to the Lord, and Paul the apostle credited these traits to how Timothy was raised by his mom and grandmother. As we examine Paul's second letter to Timothy, we discover three important ways that moms can invest in their children so they will fear the Lord and desire to serve Him with their lives.
STUDY GUIDE
Mothers are special. They can change the world through the influence they have on their children. In the New Testament, we find a mother named Eunice and a grandmother named Lois, who together trained up a world changer by the name of Timothy. In this teaching, we discover from their example three investments women can make in their children that can change the world.
First, Eunice and Lois imparted tenderness to Timothy (see 2 Timothy 1:4). Paul remarked that he remembered Timothy's tears. Apparently, he had seen Timothy weep one of the many times the two of them served alongside each other. It's interesting that the Holy Spirit moved Paul to record for all of the church something that could embarrass a man. This underscores the significant place that tenderness should have in the heart of a Christian. Often, a mother's heart is reflected in the tenderness of her children. It was well said that God couldn't be everywhere, so He invented mothers. One of the ways that God is everywhere is through the love of mothers. Evidently, Timothy's father was not involved in training Timothy to be a man of God. Whether he died or abandoned his family, whether he was an unbeliever or simply didn't get involved (see Acts 16, which mentions that Timothy had never been circumcised since his dad was Greek), he was not the one to whom God credited Timothy's discipleship. Mothers, please comfort and display tenderness to your children, for it meets one of their most essential needs and is one of God's characteristics (see Isaiah 66:13). Tenderness makes a man approachable, relatable, believable, and credible, and Timothy's tender heart came from his mother and grandmother. Ecclesiastes 3:4 states that there is a time to weep, and Luke 6:21 says that those who weep will be blessed. David wrote of drenching his couch with tears (see Psalm 6:6), and Jesus wept several times. Why might this seem embarrassing to us? What does it say about our culture?
Eunice and Lois also imparted godliness to Timothy (see 2 Timothy 1:5). The name Timothy means one who fears God, and it is likely that his mother gave him this name. Her name, Eunice, is the Latinized form of the Greek word euniké, referring to the winged goddess of victory or one who conquers well. Whether she was a single mom or bore the spiritual burden of parenting alone, she lived up to her name as she held together a divided household and raised her son to be a faithful follower of Christ—so much so that Paul invited her young son, who was either in his late teens or early twenties, to join his ministry team. Her life embodied the Scottish saying that "an ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy." Paul referred to her "genuine faith" that she had passed down to her son. Abraham Lincoln rightly said that "no one is poor who has a godly mother." Last week, Skip mentioned that the fear of God is a necessary trait for someone who has been radically saved; Timothy's name reminds us of this. Read Proverbs 1:7-9. Why do you think this trait is being repeated for us?
Thirdly, Eunice and Lois passed on boldness to Timothy (see 2 Timothy 1:6-7). Tenderness coupled with genuine faith results in the courage to serve the Lord fully. The gifts Eunice passed on to Timothy gave him the boldness he needed when fear began to grip his heart (see v. 7). Paul exhorted Timothy to stir up this confidence within him, to stoke its fires and be a bold witness. Tenderness and godliness provide the impetus for boldness. The product of genuine faith is faithful service, and Timothy's service provides quite a testimony. He was Paul's travel companion, received multiple letters from Paul, and was appointed a pastor. The great apostle referred to him as a true son in the faith with whom he had an unparalleled like-mindedness, and through Paul, God gave Timothy the father he didn't have. Moms, be encouraged that when you lay your loving hands on your children in prayer and blessing, someone else will lay affirming hands on them, upholding their gifting and their faith. But you cannot pass on what you do not have. You cannot direct your children toward a goal that you know nothing about, so ask God for wisdom and be encouraged to train up your children with His goals in mind. Although your job never ends, be inspired that your influence lasts a lifetime. What was your mother's influence like? What goals did she establish? Have other people done these things in your life? Who stirred or stirs up your gifts when you doubt or fear?
Adapted from Pastor Skip's teaching
The Big Idea:
Godly mothers can raise children who change the world.
DETAILED NOTES
Figures referenced: Thomas Lea, Hayne P. Griffin, John Bowlby, G. Campbell Morgan, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Spurgeon, Karl Menninger
Greek words: euniké, anupokritos, hupokrités
Cross references: Psalm 127:3-4; Isaiah 29:13; 66:13; Matthew 15:8; Acts 16; 20:37-38; Philippians 2:20; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:3-7
Topic: Mothers
Keywords: Mother's Day, moms, mothers, motherhood, tenderness, crying, tears, godliness, fathers, children, child, fear, boldness, laying on of hands, parents, parenthood
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