Sermon Central
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Recipe For A Great Mom
Contributed by Ted Sutherland on Mar 8, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: Recipe: 1 Great Woman A discerning amount of hospitality A pinch of Godly Contentment A Trusting Husband A little Child raise (don’t just let rise) until the child is grown.
A wealthy Texan was in the habit of giving his mom unique gifts on Mother’s Day. One year it was lessons on hang-gliding. the year before that it was the entire record collection of Slim Whitman’s hits. But this past year he felt he had outdone himself. He purchased a rare kind of talking bird that could speak five languages and sing “The Yellow Rose of Texas” while standing on one foot. The talented bird cost ten thousand dollars, but he felt it was worth every penny. This would be a Mother’s Day gift his mom would never forget.
A week after Mother’s Day he called his mother. “Mom, how did you like the bird?” His Mother responded, “It was delicious!”
2 Kings 4:8 And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.
1st ingredient — 1 great woman
Great food needs the best ingredients. Good fruits and vegetables
You don’t produce great moms out of women without character and integrity.
We are not producing women of great character as often as we once did. David Barton p. 30 ff.
2nd ingredient—A generous portion of hospitality
9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.
10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
The Bible says a lot about hospitality.
Lev. 19:33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.
34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Hebrews 13:1 Let brotherly love continue.
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
1 Peter 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
One of the major reasons for writing the book of 3 John was to confront a man who wasn’t showing Christian hospitality.
The Scripture gives clear commands in this area. Can I ask you, how many folks have you had in your home so far this year?
Every congregation thinks their church is loving. That’s because the people who think it is unloving aren’t there! Ask typical members, and they will say, “Our church is very friendly and loving.”
∙ What they usually mean is, “We love each other. We are friendly and loving to the people already here.” They love people they feel comfortable with, but that warm fellowship doesn’t automatically translate into love for unbelievers and visitors.
The command to love is the most repeated command in the New Testament, appearing at least 55 times. If we don’t love people, nothing else matters.
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
When asked why people joined a certain church their answer was not: “Because of your theology, your beautiful buildings, your full calendar of activities.” Instead most often it was, “I felt an incredible spirit of love toward me that drew me in.”
Pastors say, “I love to preach!” It may just mean they enjoy the attention or adrenaline rush they feel from being in front of people.
∙ The question ought be, “Do you love the people you preach to?”
1 Cor. 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.
10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.
Good chefs can perceive the difference between poisonous mushrooms and the edible mushrooms.
Great moms know what kind of ingredients they want in their home.
∙ Notice to whom she was hospitable. It was Elisha the man of God. You must have spiritual perception or discernment to know the difference.
Spiritual perception or discernment starts at salvation. 1 Cor. 2:14
So, a great mom needs to be saved! Kids have a right to a Christian home.
We can use some discerning moms, moms with spiritual perception who know what kind of people and things to be brought into the home. Refer to vs. 9 and 10.
