Model of an anonymous mother

Topics: mothers, Mother's Day

I. Who is she?

*Moms can often feel anonymous and unappreciated!

1. Then two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him. The one woman said, "Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. It happened on the third day after I gave birth, that this woman also gave birth to a child, and we were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, only the two of us in the house. This woman's son died in the night because she lay on it" (1 Kings 3:16-19).

2. "So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead son in my bosom. When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead; but when I looked at him carefully in the morning, behold, he was not my son, whom I had borne." Then the other woman said, "No! For the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son." But the first woman said, "No! For the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son." Thus they spoke before the king (1 Kings 3:20-22).

II. Where is she?

*Moms are determined and relentless to help their children!

1. Then the king said, "The one says, 'This is my son who is living, and your son is the dead one'; and the other says, 'No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.' "The king said, "Get me a sword." So they brought a sword before the king. The king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other" (1 Kings 3:23-25).
2. Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply stirred over her son and said, "Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him." But the other said, "He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him!" (1 Kings 3:26).

III. What is she?

*Moms are willing to sacrifice for the well-being of their children!

1. Then the king said, "Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother" (1 Kings 3:27).
2. When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice (1 Kings 3:28).

Mother's Day Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins May 14^th, 2023

Life group flow and discussion questions

Model of an anonymous mother

An important Guideline of Life Groups: Did your Mom help "train your mind and discipline your behind"? Encourage everyone to share about their home life as they were growing up and their relationship to their Mom.

Getting Started:

1. Where do you get your identity from? Is your sense of individuality based on who you are, Whose you are or what you do?
2. What stood out to you about this mother's passion for her child (1 Kings 3:16-28)?

Discussing Truths:

1. Solomon asked the Lord for "an understanding heart to judge . . . to discern between good and evil" (1 Kings 3:9). Have you prayed to God for divine wisdom with sincere faith (James 1:5, 6)?
2. How can we encourage single moms in their difficult role to know that God the Father is listening when they bow before the King of kings?
3. Did you have a praying mother or grandmother or spiritual mother that impacted your life? Have you thanked her?
4. What do you think was required for this "harlot woman" to get an audience with the king of Israel?
5. What do you think is the real test of admirable motherhood? Do you see how willing "sacrifice" may be the real test? Are you willing to sacrifice for your children and spiritual disciples?
6. When Solomon declared those 4 words, "She is his mother!" - how did that transcend her harlotry into compassionate motherhood?
7. What do you see as the redemptive value of influencing future generations?

Now What? Application:

1. Do you need to press on in your prayers and your protection for your children and your spiritual children? Make a plan to influence them for the glory of God!
2. Can you articulate Who you are, Where you are and What you are from a biblical worldview? Remember that you're not anonymous, but precious to God!