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Following on from last week’s study on “Christian Families” we now focus on Christian Mothers.

1. Discuss in your group

What is your definition of a Christian mother?
Is motherhood reserved only for women with biological children? What about women married or single who never had any natural children? Can they still be mothers in some way?
What are the responsibilities of a mother?
Is motherhood the sum total of a Christian woman’s responsibilities or does she have others?

2. Biblical Mothers

Let’s now look at a few of the mothers mentioned in the Bible and ask the following questions about them:

A. Jochebed

was the mother of Moses. Her appearance is short and we are not told much about her. Read about her predicament and what she did in Exodus 1:22-2:10, Numbers 26:59.
What strong trait stands out demonstrated by her actions? As we consider the life of her 3 children Aaron, Moses and Miriam what does this tell us about their upbringing what she and her husband Amram taught them?
What does this story tell us about God’s sovereignty.

B. Hannah

Read 1Samuel 1:1-28, 2:18-21.
What strong traits stand out about her relationship with God demonstrated by her actions and God’s resulting blessings in her life? How did she respond to grief?

C. Mary mother of Jesus

Read about the angel Gabriel’s appearance and Mary’s response. Luke 1:26-56 and discuss the following about her lie:

Mary was the mother of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. She was a willing servant, trusting in God and obeying his call.

The angel told Mary in Luke 1:28 that she was highly favored by God. This phrase simply meant that Mary had been given much grace or “unmerited favor” from God. Even with God’s favor, Mary would still suffer much.
Although she would be highly honored as the mother of the Savior, she would first know disgrace as an unwed mother. She nearly lost her fiance. Her beloved son was rejected and cruelly murdered. Mary’s submission to God’s plan would cost her dearly, yet she was willing to be God’s servant.

God knew that Mary was a woman of rare strength. She was the only human being to be with Jesus throughout his entire life—from birth until death. She gave birth to Jesus as her baby and watched him die as her Savior.
Mary also knew the Scriptures. When the angel appeared and told her the baby would be God’s Son, Mary replied, “I am the Lord’s servant … may it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38). She knew of the Old Testament prophesies about the coming Messiah.

Ress more at: www.thoughtco.com/mary-the-mother-of-jesus-701092

Read Acts 1:14 for further insight into the godly woman Mary was 34 years later after Jesus had returned to heaven.

D. Lois and Eunice grandmother and mother of Timothy.

Read what Paul said about them in 2 Timothy 1:5, 3:14-15 and Luke in Acts 16:1.
Discuss what we learn about them and the influence they had on Timothy’s life?

E. All women

with or without biological children.
Read and discuss Paul’s words in Titus 2:3-5 and about Deborah’s influence in Israel.

The Bible does not reserve motherhood only for women with biological children. Judges 5:7 identifies the prophet and judge Deborah as “a mother in Israel,” but she was also a mother to Israel. She provided wisdom (Judges 4:5) and, under God’s leading, showed Israel the way they were to go (verse 6). She even tried to encourage her “grown child” to follow God on his own, without her constant presence (verses 8-9). Because of Deborah’s wisdom and guidance, Israel enjoyed a rare period of peace (Judges 5:31). All women can follow Deborah’s example to encourage, nurture, and train those around them to live mature, effective, and God-honoring lives.

Read more at www.compellingtruth.org/Bible-Christian-mothers.html

What lessons can we learn from the above women’s lives?

3. Further reading on the role of mothers

Being a mother is a very important role that the Lord chooses to give to many women. A Christian mother is told to love her children (Titus 2:4-5), in part so that she does not bring reproach on the Lord and on the Savior whose name she bears.

Children are a gift from the Lord (Psalm 127:3-5). In Titus 2:4, the Greek word philoteknos appears in reference to mothers loving their children. This word represents a special kind of “mother love.” The idea that flows out of this word is that of caring for our children, nurturing them, affectionately embracing them, meeting their needs, and tenderly befriending each one as a unique gift from the hand of God.

Several things are commanded of Christian mothers in God’s Word:

Availability – morning, noon, and night (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

Involvement – interacting, discussing, thinking, and processing life together (Eph. 6:4)

Teaching – the Scriptures and a biblical worldview (Psalm 78:5-6; Deut. 4:10; Eph. 6:4)

Training – helping a child to develop skills and discover his/her strengths (Proverbs 22:6) and spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12)

Discipline – teaching the fear of the Lord, drawing the line consistently, lovingly, firmly (Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 12:5-11; Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15-17)

Nurture – providing an environment of constant verbal support, freedom to fail, acceptance, affection, unconditional love (Titus 2:4; 2 Timothy 1:7; Ephesians 4:29-32; 5:1-2; Galatians 5:22; 1 Peter 3:8-9)

Modeling with Integrity living what you say, being a model from which a child can learn by “catching” the essence of godly living (Deut. 4:9, 15, 23; Prov. 10:9; 11:3; Ps. 37:18, 37).

The Bible never states that every woman should be a mother. However, it does say that those whom the Lord blesses to be mothers should take the responsibility seriously. Mothers have a unique and crucial role in the lives of their children. Motherhood is not a chore or unpleasant task. Just as a mother bears a child during pregnancy, and just as a mother feeds and cares for a child during infancy, so mothers also play an ongoing role in the lives of their children, whether they are adolescents, teenagers, young adults, or even adults with children of their own. While the role of motherhood must change and develop, the love, care, nurture, and encouragement a mother gives should never cease.

read more at www.gotquestions.org/mothers-Christian.html

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Bible Study Motherhood