Moms, Show Them Faith (2 Timothy 1:5)

VIDEO

 Moms, Show Them Faith (2 Timothy 1:5)

GIST: Have a dwelling faith that shines.

-Start with testimony time about things you’re thankful for about your mom?

I have openly shared that Mother’s Day messages are often a challenge for me. I never want to sound cliche’ or trite. I want to honor moms because they’re awesome and they deserve a day of recognition. I also want to make sure I’m continuing to faithfully present God’s Word to the entire church even on days when we set aside time to celebrate a particular group. This year, I was drawn to a passage that is really one of the classic Mother’s Day passages, 2 Timothy 1:5. There is a good reason it is: it’s one of the coolest testimonies about the impact of mom’s we have in the Bible. I thought it was especially cool because last week we started talking about a passage in 1 Thessalonians that mentions Timothy’s ministry. We’ll finish that up next week. But as we pause this week to think about our moms, but what cooler passage to come to that a passage that specifically addressed Timothy’s mom and grandma!? This might be the 1,000th Mother’s Day message you’ve heard on this passage, but let’s look at it prayerfully with fresh eyes.→

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”

The impact of a mom is immeasurable. That’s a fact rehearsed frequently this time of year—even though it’s probably never fully appreciated. Often, much of this warranted attention is directed toward mothers as nurturers. And that’s not without reason. They wipe our tears and kiss our boo-boos. They’re the ones we want to be able to run to when the world is too scary or too out of our control. They’re our rocks—if our rocks could be simultaneously solid and comforting.

All this is true of good moms, and that designation isn’t limited by biology either. Countless women have worn this mantle elegantly without ever physically giving birth. On behalf of all the recipients of this grace, I want to say, “Thank you.”

Nonetheless, moms are not just comforting. Oh, they are so much more! In this passage, Paul reminds his dear companion Timothy of the legacy of faith that sprang from his grandma and mom. He was a third-generation Christian less than 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus. That in itself is incredible! Think about that. Timothy’s grandma would have been one of the earliest converts after Jesus’ resurrection. It seems like she and her daughter (and maybe even Timothy) accepted Jesus on Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 14). Timothy then also grew to become like a son to the apostle Paul and was instrumental in the gospel spreading throughout Asia Minor. Because of his close connection to Paul and his ministry, he comes up in the New Testament quite a bit. His testimony has been one that has been used to impact countless others. Who laid this foundation? Two women who took their faith seriously enough to model it! And that’s our gist this morning. And really, it’s only two points, so you’ll get the Mom-Dad gift of an extra short sermon. This encouragement definitely applies to all of us, so no one is off the hook, but moms, if I could encourage you with anything this morning, it would be this: Have a dwelling faith that shines.

I. Have A Dwelling Faith

The passage says this faith dwelled in them. It wasn’t surface-level. They had drunk deeply from the well of Jesus’ truth. Simply put, they took their faith seriously. It wasn’t something they just did in name only. They had the kind of rich walk with Jesus we all want for our kids. I know I have said this often, but kids cannot imitate what you don’t show them. 

How does this happen? It makes me think of the abide in Me passage from John 15:4-11. “4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. 9 As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

There is so much in that passage, but I want to just make a few quick observations:

1. Full Christian lives are focused on Jesus. That means we are intentional about turning our hearts by filling our time with Him. We read His word. We think about it. We pray. We’re looking for ways to learn more and love more. We’re striving to live vibrant lives looking at this world through His eyes.

2. Empty lives aren’t. Because they’re just about us. 

3. The result of focusing on Him is abiding is truth, love, and joy. 

The empty life is by far easier, but which would you prefer? Which would you want your kids and the people around you to experience with you?

II. That Shines

Faith started in them, but it didn’t stop in them. Eventually, it ended up in Timothy. We all know faith doesn’t actually “rub off”. You’re not saved by the belief of your family. Salvation is definitively personal. However, the witness of a Godly family goes a long way because they show us what it looks like to live it. Faithful witnesses also teach us how to understand God’s word and apply them in our lives. That’s a blessing.  

See, Timothy lived in a world hostile to Christianity. He watched Paul and his friends persecuted because of their faith. Paul was even stoned and left for dead outside Timothy’s hometown (Acts 16)! This could have shaken his faith… much like seeing so much of the world turning away from Jesus today could shake ours…but he ended up devoting his entire life to Jesus. How did he see this and still long to be used by God? He was able to grow up seeing first-hand, in his own house, what life-changing faith looked like even in the midst of all this. 

Why? Again, because these women lived it. They weren’t casual believers. They weren’t Sunday morning attendees. They weren’t cultural Christians. They were true lovers of Jesus who shared that with their children, and it made all the difference. They didn’t rely on others to share Jesus with their child. They took that responsibility upon themselves. This is no knock to Sunday School—you know how vital I think that time of discipleship is—but if you are relying on the church to teach your kid what you won’t live at home, you are sitting them up for an uphill battle.

One of the other famous Mother’s Day passages hammers this home Proverbs 22:6 reads: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." Training up implies actually and actively showing them how something is supposed to work. I heard Pastor Chuck Swindoll point out this week that this term “child” is translated throughout the Bible to refer to children of any age as long as they are still under their parents’ roof. The idea—as long as you have them—feed them the truth. Don’t just lecture— I know, that comes easiest to me too—let them see you wrestle with understanding His word and His will. Walk with them through this life and point them again and again to Jesus. Don’t just say His name though, teach them His Word and way—which you’ve learned because you’ve been digging deep! 

Moms, please keep wiping those noses. That’s invaluable. But dig deep into Jesus even more. Let your faith be something that dwells. That legacy? Amazing grace.

TAKEAWAYS

1. Take your faith seriously.

2. Share your faith actively.

3. Thanks, moms.

Do You Love With The Gentle Compassion Of A Mom? (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8)

VIDEO 

Do You Love With The Gentle Compassion Of A Mom? (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8)

GIST: Impactful Christian living is gentle, compassionate, and steadfastly devoted to sharing the gospel and serving wholeheartedly.

The past few weeks, we’ve been walking through 1 Thessalonians chapter two and discussing this picture Paul paints of an impactful Christian life. We’ve looked at the gospel-driven boldness that should move us to share hope even in the face of personal hardships. We also talked about living a life that is true, pure, pleasing to God, honest, self-sacrificing, and humble. And in all these, we’ve noted that this lofty standard is the direct result of striving to emulate Jesus Christ. 

As the passage continues, we come to these beautiful verses which really seem more fitting for Mother’s Day than the week of Palm Sunday. However, the connection between the two is actually there, which is why I’m excited we were landing here anyway. 

“7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.”

As we consider the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, His compassion and humility are on full display. On Palm Sunday, the King of the Universe, humbled Himself and came riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. He came not as a conquering warlord, but as the Prince of Peace who, though He would return one day to judge the world for sin, came first to provide us rescue from our naturally sinful selves. To secure this, He went to the cross, bore Hell in our place, and then rose again victorious over our foe (death was no threat to Him). Now, remember that as we consider what Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians have to say about what our Christian lives should radiate. Here’s our gist:  Impactful Christian living is gentle, compassionate, and steadfastly devoted to sharing the gospel and serving wholeheartedly.

I. Gentle

“But we were gentle among you…”

He starts by saying they were gentle. This word is interesting because it can actually refer to being childlike. When they came, they weren’t bullish or arrogant. They didn’t lord over them or demand their attention. Instead, they came with humility and visible compassion. From my experience, this doesn’t always line up with the public perception of how Christians live. However, though useful tools, steamrollers aren’t very helpful when performing open-heart surgery! 

If that picture doesn’t help though, let me just say this. Godly gentleness should be reflected in the way we live as well. It doesn’t mean we should be embarrassed of or apologetic about the truth we bear. Instead, we should openly share the truth while love permeates how we live. 

II. Compassionate & Steadfastly Devoted

“...like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.”

That’s actually what he explains when he moves into the thrust of this part of the picture. Further developing this picture of a gentle demeanor, he compares himself to… a nursing mom. Truthfully, in my childish brain, I can’t help but chuckle at the picture of Paul in this position, but I’m sure you are all far more mature than me, so you probably jumped straight to the more serious implication as presented in this comparison. And, in all seriousness, they are profound. 

Though I have never personally nursed any children, my wife is a pro, and I’ve been blessed to see this special bond with all four of our kiddos. There is an intimacy and dedication in this that is unlike anything else. The nursing mother is literally giving of herself, but it’s not just physical. She is choosing to devote her time and energy to keeping this child alive, to letting them know they’re cared for, to providing for them when they are most in need. This is compassion at its finest. What the mom is doing here which we should all strive to do in our lives is loving without condition and pretext. This baby offers nothing in return (except for cuteness and cuddles), but the mom gives everything out of love. Yes, that’s probably easier with an adorable child, but that doesn’t change the reality that Paul is saying this should be how we love all the people Jesus puts into our path, all the people we’re blessed with the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus’ incredible rescue with. 

And that flows into the second observation I want to make here, too, about the nature of this compassion. In our house, we’ve always believed in an equal division of labor. Because of that, we’ve both been very hands-on with the raising of our kids. But, when it came to nursing, there was literally nothing I could do. So anytime the baby was hungry, Melissa had to be ready. She did this with a steadfastness and devotion that is absolutely admirable because that’s what moms do. And that’s how we’re supposed to love.

Now, let that sink in a bit. This is how Paul is telling us to love as Christians—with steadfast devotion, with a sincere desire to see people growing in Christ. This isn’t a love of words; it’s a love of actions. It’s loving even when it’s inconvenient, or you’re tired, or it takes you away from your other plans. And we could just leave it with that because it seems vaguely inspirational, but, praise the Lord, Paul actually goes on to give us a little description of what those actions looked like. 

III. To Sharing The Gospel & Serving Wholeheartedly

“8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.”

He says he was affectionately desirous of them. This essentially means he was “so loving” that he… well, that’s actually the cool part. He loved them so much that he couldn’t help but do two things: share the gospel and serve them in love. 

I know we talk about this pretty often, but there will never be a point when this isn’t relevant. We’ve been blessed with the privilege of sharing life-changing grace with the world. I know you’ve probably all heard the comparisons to having the only antidote to a terminal illness and just keeping it to yourself. Even though I know that sounds like some kind of ploy to guilt people into telling others about Jesus, there is still so much truth in that statement…and it convicts me deeply. Paul said he loved them so much he was ready to share the gospel with them. It was love that motivated him because nothing is more loving than pointing people to the truth that can save them from the self-destructive path we’re all naturally on. Love. Not agenda. Not savvy arguments. Love. I know there is a famous quote that floats around admonishing us to share the gospel and “when necessary” use words. It’s always necessary. Our morality doesn’t save people. Jesus does.

And it is His love that also drives us to live like Him and serve others, for the cause of Christ, tirelessly. This doesn’t mean you can’t ever say no. That’s another conversation for another day. But it does mean that our lives should be filled with lived-out compassion directed toward the people around us.

Ok, I’ll just wrap up today with a long(ish)→

TAKEAWAY

If we’re going to live lives that make a difference, we should be gentle, filled with compassion, and steadfastly devoted to telling people about the loving rescue of Jesus while also willingly serving those around us with humility and grace.

Yeah. We need to let that sink in.

Thanks, Mom (1 Corinthians 1:4-9)

VIDEO 

Thanks, Mom (1 Corinthians 1:4-9)

GIST: Dear Moms Striving To Shine The Light Of Christ: thank you; don’t give up; hold on to hope; and please know it’s worth it!

Preaching Mother’s Day messages are hard for me. I approach them with the same desire as every Sunday—to faithfully share God’s Word. However, there is an added expecation I feel ill equipped to fulfill: speaking specifically to a mom’s heart. That’s why we started today’s message with a series of messages from moms to moms (and it’s also why my sermon is, by design, a bit short this morning because of that  ☺️).

And that term, “mom”, encompasses a wide variety of experiences as well. It can speak to both those who have raised ten children and those who have never had any. It reaches out to those doing midnight feedings while newborns snuggle in their arms and those offering midnight prayers for grown children who have lost their way. Motherhood is more than changing diapers and wiping noses; it’s the nurturing compassion which defines so many and impacts even more. It’s a big deal.

That being said, as I prayerfully struggled with what to share with moms on their special day, I kept coming back to 1 Corinthians 1:4-9. These verses were originally written to a church which, honestly, had it’s share of problems. Nonetheless, when Paul first greats them, he focuses in on the blessing of their salvation and all God is doing in their lives despite the struggles they were facing. Therefore, there is undoubtedly a broader application here which reaches to all of us. However, it also expresses what I’d like to say to my mom, the beautiful mother of my four children, and to all those who take time to carry the love of Jesus like they do.

“4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge-- 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you-- 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Ok, so let’s take this as our gist→ Dear Moms Striving To Shine The Light Of Christ: thank you; don’t give up; hold on to hope; and please know it’s worth it! Let’s break that down a bit. 

1. Thank You! As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth,  “4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge-- 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you…” Your path isn’t easy, but you’re not alone. Please don’t forget this. Hearts of various sizes look to you for direction and affirmation, but above all else, you are a preciously loved recipient of Jesus’ amazing grace. 

Now, this is a mother’s day message, and the passage says you have enriched speech and all knowledge, so we could go crazy with this  ☺️. I’m sure you speech is sometimes very enriched, and I definitely learned from a young age that arguing with my mom was a futile as fighting the Borg  ☺️. But that’s not what this is talking about, right? Remember, Corinth wasn’t a church that had it all figured out. They were broken people, like us! However, because of His unfailing love, our imperfection can be used to speak life and provide guidance as He displays His grace through us! Moms who love Jesus, even if you feel like you’re stumbling through this process— and,again, this cannot be said enough—thank you!

2. Don’t Give Up! Paul continued by saying, “7 so that you are not lacking in any gift…” Every day probably feels like a Red Panda halftime show. You’re peddling through life on a unicycle, and you’re pretty sure you lack the acrobatic prowess to balance all the plates that keep getting thrown at your head. Come to think of it, you’re probably not too sure about the unicycle either! And if that analogy misses for you completely, please hear this. Regardless of what stage of life you’re in, you’re carrying a lot. However, what God calls you to He also equips you for. If you’re feeling like you’re not enough, remember, He is! 

3. Hold On To Hope! Paul follows this up with a little contextualization: “as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ…” Waiting implies a process. Waiting means it’s not over. Waiting points to the possibility of growth! And we’re all meant to be waiting in eager expectation for… Jesus. This points not only to His glorious return but also to His work in our lives. Wherever you are, whatever burden you’re bearing, whatever anoints your prayers with tears; this is not the end. He hears those babies crying. He knows the hearts of your prodigals. He sees those scars. In fact, His understanding of scars is precisely why you can hope! 

4. It’s Worth It! You’ve been called to walk through this life with the one “8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” Your path might seem long, but the end that is coming is secure because of His grace, and believe me, it’s more than worth it! 

TAKEAWAYS

1. Thank you!

2. Don’t give up!

3. Hold on to hope!

4. And please know it’s worth it! Because moms who love Jesus make all the difference in the world.

How Are You Influencing The Next Generation? (Acts 16:1-5, 2 Tim 1:5)

VIDEO

How Are You Influencing The Next Generation? (AM Sermon Notes)

Mother’s Day 2019

GIST: If you want to make a difference in lives, let Jesus completely change yours.

SCRIPTURE: Acts 16:1-5

Happy Mother’s Day! Let me start by just thanking all the moms here. That comes in all shapes and stages. You might be raising kids now, or playing the role of grandma. You might never have had any biological kids, but you’ve taken many under your wings. Your influence has made a difference. Your compassion and dedication and sacrifice have touched lives. Thank you. And because I know my mom and mother-in-law both read this blog and watch these videos (they might be the only ones!), let me just say I am blessed beyond measure!

This morning, I want to speak specifically to moms… but not exclusively. There is something here for the rest of you, too! (In case you were tempted to start drifting☺️.) We’re going to briefly skip the end of chapter 15 (which we would have been covering last week), and move into just the first five verses of chapter 16. What we’ll see here as Paul tags a young Timothy for the second missionary journey has implications for both moms and anyone who wants to leave an impact on the next generation. (And, yes, I chose that specific title so I could use a Star Trek picture for our opening slide☺️.) Let’s read Acts 16:1-5.

"1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily."

This is a short passage, so it might be a short message, as well. But the truth I want to address here is huge. I know it’s one every mom needs to hear. I’m not a mom, and I know it’s one of which I need constantly reminded, as well. So many of us want to make a difference. Here’s our gist: If you want to make a difference in lives, let Jesus completely change yours.

Now, I know it might seem like I’m just grasping for a point here, but let’s break down what’s happening in this passage and what led to it happening specifically to Timothy. Then, you can tell me I’m still crazy at the end if need be ☺️. First, let’s consider→

I. What’s Happening Here?

The Mission Continues. The passage opens with Paul and Silas leaving for the second missionary journey. (Next week we’ll address why it’s Silas and not Barnabas who accompanies Paul this second time around.) On their first recorded stop here, they pick up this young man named Timothy who had likely been saved on the first journey about five years previously. So→

An Associate Is Added...and Circumcised! Why is this happening? Well, the first part is easy to address. Paul saw in him the potential to be used by God, so he took him under his wing. But the circumcision? If you were with us two weeks ago, you know Paul had just fought a very significant battle against people who were trying to make circumcision a requirement for salvation. Then, after helping the Church realize it was all grace and not works that save you, he finds this young man...and circumcises him! Why? Paul isn’t being hypocritical here. This isn’t about Timothy’s salvation; it’s about his witness. Just because circumcision wasn’t required for salvation didn’t mean it wouldn’t be a hindrance when Paul went from city to city proclaiming the gospel in Jewish synagogues. To the Jews, this was a HUGE deal. In fact, they wouldn’t have even let Timothy in if he was uncircumcised. At this point, he seems to have gained a reputation amongst the Christians in the area, so his name would be circulating. With that name would have come the knowledge that while his mother was a faithful Jew who now believed in Jesus, his father was a Gentile who seemed to have had nothing to do with either Judaism or Christianity. Therefore, to remove any barriers that might have prevented Timothy from being able to share the gospel, he was circumcised.

This is kind of a takeaway, but let’s just pause there for a second. This might not seem very Mother’s Dayish, but if there is something in your life that gets in the way of you sharing the gospel with the people God has placed in your life, get rid of it...even if it’s not sinful. Let’s just talk superficial first because it’s a comfortable starting point. When I preach, I dress up a bit. I don’t have to, but I feel it is the best way to express the seriousness with which I take what I’m doing. However, when I’m here for VBS, or am out talking to people in the park, or playing basketball with kids on Wednesday nights or at the Children’s Ranch. I don’t dress like this. Could I? Sure. Would it get in the way of my witness (and my game☺️) in some of those settings though? Yeah, it would. In the same way, if we have habits or preferences that make witnessing more difficult, we need to be willing to lay them down. Timothy demonstrates incredible willingness here, but we’ll come back to that in a second.

The last thing we see in this passage is that after picking up and prepping Timothy→

Souls are Saved. Look back at verses 4-5. “4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.” They go throughout the towns where Paul had been before strengthening the churches by pointing them all the more to Jesus. Specifically, they’re talking about the decision that was just made at Jerusalem which had confirmed that salvation was God’s gift of grace! As a result, even more people were saved!

This is the context in which we’re introduced to Timothy→ sharing the gospel. He becomes the most referenced individual in Paul’s letters. He becomes like a son to him. But what brought him to this point?→

II. Why Is This Happening To Timothy?

God was working in his life and shaping him. When we encounter him, he’s already→

A Well-Respected & Willing Servant. Where’s that coming from? The passage tells us he was well-spoken of by the early Christians in this area. He has a Godly reputation. Then, Paul shows up, wants to take him along (which is kind of a big deal), and Timothy willingly allows himself to be circumcised….as a young man! He’s open here to some radical change. I’m not going to get into the TMI aspects of this, but let’s just say this was no little sacrifice, let alone risk, on his part!

We could speculate on what God used to bring him to this point, but we know this much for sure, he was→

Influenced By The Faith of Faithful Moms. Look at 2 Timothy 1:5. Melissa sometimes gives me a hard time about never using “traditional passages” for special event Sundays, but here’s a classic Mother’s Day one for you, and it’s so good! “5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”

Let me just make a few observations. First, the faith we’re talking about here is one that is sincere. The word here means a faith that is literally not fake! It’s real. It’s genuine. This isn’t just a superficial or nominal faith. It’s the life-changing faith that only comes from knowing Jesus as your personal savior. It’s the free gift of God for all who believe in sincerity. It’s not going to church on Sundays; it’s being radically in love with Jesus!

Now, notice that Paul says this faith first dwelt in his grandmother and his mother and now dwells in Timothy, as well. This is not saying that he was saved by their faith, but he witnessed it, and that impacted him.

Let’s camp out here for just a second. This is what we should all want for our children—sincere faith, a faith that can face this broken world with hope—a real, lasting hope! We can’t save them, but we can show them what life-changing salvation looks like. If you want them to have a walk with Jesus that is vibrant, show them!

Why was Timothy a young man who willingly followed Jesus even when it came a personal cost? He’d seen that model in the life of his mom and grandma. Keep in mind, there is no mention of Timothy’s Gentile father being involved in this at all. Being a woman in this ancient civilization and going against the beliefs and guidance of your husband would have been no small task, but her faith was real enough Paul took note of it. Timothy did too.

I saw this quote attributed to Charles Spurgeon on “the facebook” a few weeks back. I don’t know if he really ever said this or not, but it’s a powerful truth. “Train up a child in the way he should go - but be sure you go that way yourself.” You want to make a difference in the lives of this next generation, mom or otherwise, let Jesus make all the difference in your life.

TAKEAWAYS

I know this is shorter than usual this morning, but this one driving truth is more than worth our consideration. Let’s close with these quick “recap” takeaways.

1. Don’t let there be barriers to your witness and strive every day to be an influence for Jesus.  These could be two takeaways here, but I couldn’t separate them in my mind. If you’re serious about people coming to know Jesus, you’ll be serious about how you live your own life for Him. He’ll be your priority. He’ll take precedence over your time, talents, and money. He’ll be what you talk about. He’ll be so central to who you are that if anything stops people from seeing Him in you, regardless of the personal cost, you’ll willingly give it up. If you really love Him, you’ll want desperately for your kids (those you’re raising directly and indirectly) to see Him in your life!

2. Thank those who have been used as influences for you. God used people to prepare Timothy for being used. He did the same thing in your life. Take time to thank those people. You wouldn’t be here without their willingness to put Jesus first.

3. Love your mom! It’s great to have a mom. But let me just speak from personal experience here, having a great mom is immeasurably better. If you’ve been blessed with a mom who loves Jesus, never forget how blessed you are!