Bethesda Chapel 2002
SG Bible Study #7

A Tribute to Mothers

Suggested Opening Song:

We're Together Again
We're together again
Just praising the Lord
We're together again
In one accord
Something good is going to happen
Something good is in store
We're together again
Just praising the Lord

We Are Gathering Together Unto Him
We are gathering together unto Him
We are gathering together unto Him
Unto Him shall the gathering of His people be
We are gathering together unto Him

Sharing as desired on an individual basis (Optional)
The past week would have been filled with eventful and uneventful happenings. Is there something that fellow members can bear you up in prayer? Or is there a blessing or two to encourage others?

Prayers
As the situation warrants, pray in twos, threes, or as a group pertaining to the sharing made.

Scripture Reading
1 Thessalonians 2:1-9

Background: 

1.       Look for the various "misdeeds" of Paul that he and his fellow workers were accused of.   List them out.

 2.      Paul had one goal in mind (see vs 1-4) .  Repeating it twice, he call it 'the gospel'. In our private study, what did Paul have in mind when he mentioned this word?

 Point One:         Thank God for a Mother's Gentle Care
 Note:
            The word translated as "Gentle" (vs 7) is in some other places translated as "Baby". 
            For the more adventurous, look up the commentary and find out why the difference. 
            Share with your group. 

           Point Two:         Thank God for a Mother's Spiritual Commitment
           Note:
                        Look up Acts 16:12-40 and have a glimpse of the circumstances that Paul went 
                        through in the course of imparting the gospel.

  Point Three:      Thank God for a Mother's Unreserved Commitment
  Note:
               Consider the repeated assertion of Paul in 1 Th. 2:1, 5, 11 (What is it?). 
               Think of what Paul points to as that which proves their sincerity.

Discussion

1.             Warm up. What are your feelings about Mother's Day? A time for people to cash in? A time to celebrate? Just another day? What did you do? In what ways can the celebration of Mother's Day be seen from a negative standpoint? Looking at today's children, is it too much to expect from a mother to care with gentleness? If not, how may this be balanced with firmness?

2.             Does the presence of maids "erode" in any way, the responsibility of a mother? Or does it help a mother to carry her multi-varied tasks more efficiently?

3.             A father should be the priest in the house. But it seems that in many cases, it is the mother who provides the spiritual nurture. (Please feel free to disagree with this statement in your discussion) How might both father and mother have a joint effort in providing the much-needed spiritual nurture?

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