Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

IN MEMORY OF CHRISTIAN MOTHERS

1. A national Memorial Day:
   1. A time for the American people to pay their respect to the memory of worthy American mothers.
   2. A time for reflection upon the devotion and sacrifices of motherhood.
2. The church of God has good reason to use this occasion to give emphasis to the memory of God-fearing mothers in all ages:
   1. Christ set the pace for Mothers' Day with His dying words, "Behold thy Mother" - John 19:26, 27
   2. The Bible chronicles the memory of God-fearing mothers.
   3. Eternity alone will bring to light the life story of the mothers in Israel.

1. Ancient Israel had the life of many godly mothers as the background to its glories:
   1. In a time of national crisis, God used mothers to carry the day -
      1. Jochebed, the mother of Moses - Gen. 2:1-4
      2. Jael, Heber's wife - Judg. 4:21
      3. Deborah, the wife of Lapidoth - Judg. 4; 5;
   2. In judicial service -
      1. Huldah - a judge in Israel - 2 Ki. 22:14
      2. Deborah - Judg. 4:4
   3. Noble characters -
      1. Naomi and Ruth - Ruth 1:1-22
      2. Elisabeth - Luke 1:5, 6
2. Notable women that adorn the history of America: Mary Lyon; Clara Barton; Frances Willard; and many other noble characters that have contributed to the fame of America.
3. Motherhood is the embodiment of love and sacrifice:
   1. A typical example is found in Rizpah - 2 Sam. 21:8-12
   2. Moses' mother is another example - Ex. 2:1-9
4. It molds the life, and, in many cases, determines the future of the children: EXAMPLES -
   1. Eunice has much to do with the life of her son Timothy - 2 Tim. 1:5
   2. Josiah, one of the kings in Israel, was prepared for that service by his saintly mother Jedidah - 2 Ki. 22:1, 2
   3. Abraham Lincoln attributed his success to his stepmother.

1. Their faithfulness and sacrifice is worthy of note by all of us:
   1. I think of my sainted mother, who sacrificed her very life out of love for her children.
   2. On a very cold night she took her own quilt and covered me, and she took a sheepskin coat and covered herself with it.
   3. My own wife has, on many occasions, taken her own food and given it to the children.
2. Let me enumerate some of the blessings Christian mothers are to be remembered for:
   1. Love: The love of a Christian mother comes nearest to expressing the love of God.
   2. Patience: Who has more patience than the mother that has to raise a family and keep them happy and contented?
   3. Prayerfulness: What can be more effective than the prayer of a loving and God-fearing mother!
   4. Some years ago I conducted a revival meeting in one of our schools when many students gave their hearts to Christ. At one of the testimony meetings about 95% of the students thanked God for their praying mothers!
   5. Implicit and unshakable faith in God and in the potential of their children! Most every mother sees a glorious future in the life of her children.
   6. Lovers of the Bible, the Word of God! My dear mother planted her love into my very life--the Bible--I love it! This was the charter of her life.