These are suggestions to the Message Based Discussion Quesions (MBDQ) from the message given on Mother’s Day, May 12, 2013. The manuscript was posted on May 13, 2013. Please use this only to help in the process of thinking through the message and making application to honoring mothers.
Mothers Predict the Future
2 Timothy 1:3-5
Why are mothers important?
1) Mothers establish the spiritual groundwork for children to grow 2 Tim. 1:3-5
· Acts 16:1-2
2) Mothers help determine the future by how their children continue in their word 2 Tim. 3:14-15
Mothers predict the future in discipling children to Jesus!
Message Based Discussion Questions
1) What is your earliest recollection of your mother or the woman who raised you?
Digging Deeper:
2) Read Luke 2:40-51. As Jesus was growing up, who had a deep love for Jesus? ___________________ What do you learn about mothers from this passage?
3) Who was Samuel’s mother (cf. 1 Sam. 1:2-28 [it’s lengthy, but take the time to read the entire passage]) __________________ Upon whom was she dependent? How did she respond to the answer she received? What were the consequences of her obedience?
4) Note Proverbs 31:10-31. Who is the subject of this passage? ________________ What are some of the good qualities of this person? Why are some people troubled by this passage?
Making application from the message:
5) How well are mother’s fulfilling their role of training up children to take their position as spiritual leaders in the world? What influences your thinking?
6) What are three things you could do for young moms at church to help determine the future for our church?
7) Make a list of 31 things your wife/mother does for you and the family. Make a point of thanking her specifically for one on each day of the coming month. On each day of the following month pay her a new compliment on one of her good attitudes, character qualities, habits or talents. Be prepared for a better relationship than you’ve enjoyed in quite a while!
Message Based Discussion Questions
1) What is your earliest recollection of your mother or the woman who raised you?
a) Great cook, disciplinarian, kind and compassionate.
b) She sang a lullaby when I had trouble sleeping.
c) She dug a piece of glass from my heel that came from a shattered light fixture.
d) She had her head bowed before the church service started.
e) She handled us kids, when dad was away.
Digging Deeper:
2) Read Luke 2:40-51. As Jesus was growing up, who had a deep love for Jesus? _Mary__ What do you learn about mothers from this passage?
a) Mary was dedicated to the Lord and went to Jerusalem for the festival. She was pursuing a relationship with God (2:41).
b) She went every year for Passover (2: 41).
c) They trusted Jesus to be on His own. She didn’t hover over Him (2:42).
d) Mary trusted Jesus to be with another neighbor or family member when it was time to return to Nazareth (2:43).
e) She did pursue Him before they made it home. She was concerned (2:44).
f) She went back to find Jesus, even though He had gone through His Barmitzvah (2:45).
g) She would not stop looking until she found Him (2:46).
h) She wasn’t perfect and thought of her responsibilities, more than God’s purposes (2:48).
i) She didn’t understand, but she didn’t discipline Him (2:50).
j) She continued oversight of Him (2:51).
k) She kept thinking about these godly issues (2: 52).
l) One person at my discipleship group said, “She would have been guilty of a felony for child neglect in the USA.” That seemed like an astute comment.
3) Who was Samuel’s mother (cf. 1 Sam. 1:2-28 [it’s lengthy, but take the time to read the entire passage]) _Hannah__ Upon whom was she dependent? How did she respond to the answer she received? What were the consequences of her obedience?
a) She was dependent on the Lord.
b) She was trusting of the Lord to give up her child to Samuel for tabernacle ministry.
c) She had three more sons and two daughters (2:21). She was greatly favored by the Lord and loved by Elkanah.
4) Note Proverbs 31:10-31. Who is the subject of this passage? __a noble woman__ What are some of the good qualities of this person? Why are some people troubled by this passage?
a) Some of the good qualities are:
i) Her worth is far above rubies (31:10)
ii) Her husband safely trusts her, because she keeps working (31:11)
iii) She does her husband good all her life (31:12)
iv) She makes material to be a seamstress ( 31:1 3)
v) She is a trader of food and gifts from merchant marines (31:14)
vi) She is not hesitant to get up early to work and feeds her house and workers ( 31:15)
vii) She buys real estate and multiplies her business (31:16)
viii) She works hard and increases her strength (31:17)
ix) She is diligent with her stewardship and works hard (31:18)
x) She is open and a blessing to others (31:19)
xi) She is not afraid of bad weather and prepares her family for it (31:20)
xii) She works with good material and is not a vagabond (31:21)
xiii) She works more diligently, so her husband can disciple others (31:23)
xiv) After clothing herself and family, she sells clothing to others (31:24)
xv) Her inner character is more important than outer flash (31:25)
xvi) She is a woman of truth and wisdom (31:26)
xvii)She is diligent about discipling her family (31:27)
xviii) Her children honor her (31:28)
xix) She has great inner beauty (31:30)
xx) She is well-known by her works in life (31:31)
b) Some people are troubled by this passage, it seems, because they do not see how they could possibly do all that this woman does. None of us can do what Jesus does either, but that does not prevent me from seeking conformity to the image of Jesus (Rom. 8:29)
Making application from the message:
5) How well are mothers fulfilling their role of training up children, so that children take their position as spiritual leaders in the world? What evidence influences your thinking?
a) Based on the number of children in America who have turned from God, not very well. It would seem mothers in America are more concerned with just biological growth of their children than spiritual growth.
b) There are great spiritual leaders in America, but American is more greatly influenced down the spiral, than up the upward path of life to God’s holiness.
6) What are three things you could do for young moms at church to determine its future? in other words, how can you help young moms raise their children, so they will be spiritually strong and effective in building God’s kingdom?
a) Develop a relationship with her boys (and children) to affirm them in their masculinity. I counseled one family for a year in a “Peace-making” curriculum.
b) Encourage the mom by coming alongside her rather than ignoring her. Talk to her and listen to her talk about her children.
c) Help her when she has a need at home. Make a visit there to see where she lives and how the children are living. Include her children in activities at church so they are a part of the normal growth of the body and they are connected, being equipped and are becoming multipliers for the kingdom, especially if there is no dad in their lives.
7) Make a list of 31 things your wife/mother does for you and the family. Make a point of thanking her specifically for one on each day of the coming month. On each day of the following month pay her a new compliment on one of her good attitudes, character qualities, habits or talents. Be prepared for a better relationship than you’ve enjoyed in quite a while!
a) You’ll have to make this list for your wife/mother!
b) Follow through and we’ll all be amazed.
Shepherding Truth 