Sermon Title: Honoring Mom – How to honor the mothers in our lives in ways God desires.
Scripture: Various
Engage:
Speaking to 50,000 at the University of Texas spring ceremony on May 6, 2023, keynote speaker and solar-energy entrepreneur Hayes Barnard used the opportunity to honor his single mom, Diane Barnard. He told graduates she “worked two and even sometimes three jobs” and still found the energy to walk to the laundromat every night to wash his grass-stained football uniform. Barnard called her “my hero,” then led the stadium in a standing ovation for every parent who sacrifices in the shadows after bringing her on the stage with him.
Moments like that remind us that mothers are worthy of honor, and we are to value them. If a stadium will stand for human mothers, how much more should the church honor them? But as followers of Christ, the question goes deeper: How do we honor them in a way God desires? Only when we honor mothers and mother-like figures in a way that honors the LORD do we truly honor them meaningfully.
TRANSITION:
As Focus on the Family points out, motherhood is underappreciated in today’s culture. We praise achievements in the workplace but often overlook the everyday heroism of moms who wipe tears, pray in the dark, and pour themselves out for others.
At the same time, Proverbs 31 Ministries reminds us that even godly moms can feel invisible—overwhelmed by dishes, diapers, or distance from adult children. While the Bible commands us to honor our mothers, our hearts often forget.
If we—husbands, sons, daughters, and the Church—stay silent, we join the chorus of neglect. But when we give mothers biblical honor, we push back against a culture of self-focus and point the world to the God who treasures sacrificial love.
I pray that this morning, we can see how to honor the mothers in our lives—our moms, living and deceased, the mothers of our children, and the women who are mother-like figures in our lives.
BOOK:
1. A greater affection for Jesus than for ourselves
“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12, NLT)
“Each of you must show great respect for your mother and father, and you must always observe my Sabbath days of rest. I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:3, NLT)
Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3, NLT)
When it comes to honoring the mothers in our lives, the heart of the matter is the matter of the heart…
The Old Testament repeatedly links love for God with obedience to His commands, mirroring Jesus’ words in John 14:15 (“If you love Me, keep My commandments”). One of the clearest parallels is:
“…showing love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
— Exodus 20:6 (also repeated in Deuteronomy 5:10)
Other closely related passages:
- Deuteronomy 7:9 — “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.”
- Deuteronomy 11:1 — “Love the Lord your God and keep His requirements, His decrees, His laws and His commands always.”
- Deuteronomy 10:12-13 — “What does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands…?”
These verses show that from Sinai onward God tied genuine love for Him to practical obedience—exactly the principle Jesus restated to His disciples in John 14:15.
When we honor the mothers in our lives we honor the God of our lives. When we dishonor the mothers in our lives, we dishonor the God of our lives. When my desire is to love God supremely, I am going to love my neighbor – my wife, my mom, my mother-in-law, and mother-like figures as I love myself.
When my heart is determined to love God supremely, I’ll honor the women of my life in the following ways regardless of what it cost me because I want to love the One it cost everything in order to save my life by obeying His command to honor “mother and father.”
2. Do acts of service
When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26-27, NLT)
Often times I hear men say that I am too tired when I get home from work to do anything. After a long day I don’t feel like doing anything at home. Sometimes I am tempted to use this reason too but when I think about Jesus – about to die – honor His mother by making sure her needs are met for after He is gone, any reason I may be weary at the end of the day fades.
If Jesus after a stressful and sleepless night, being beaten within an inch of His life with a flagrum, loosing a great amount of blood, suffering from deydration, excruciating pain from the nails rubbing against the nerves in His ankles and wrist, and fighting against succumbing to death through suffication, could serve His mother through this act of arranging future provision – I’ve got no excuse.
I’ve got nothing. I have no valid reason for not pausing and contemplating on what God’s command through Paul looks like for that specific evening after walking through the door and reading the family’s current situation.
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. (Philippians 2:3-5, NLT)
Illustration: Mac made a book for Ms. Alice with all the information she needed about finances, accounts, policies, etc., in case he passed before she did.
Application:
- For those with aging mothers, schedule or provide practical care—rides, repairs, medical help, chores—before she has to ask.
- For those who have wives with younger children, help the kids with homework, bathe them, put them to bed, and play with them. If the children are older and able, teach them how to do chores like yardwork and cleaning. (Do these things without expecting anything in return, including bedroom activities.)
- Provide space for her to rest.
- Provide space / time for her to spend growing in her relationship with Christ.
3. Speak words of affirmation
Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. (Proverbs 31:28-31, NLT)
Supporting texts: Proverbs 18:21; Ephesians 4:29
Practicing Proverbs 31:28 — “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” — means making intentional choices to honor, appreciate, and affirm mothers and wives both in word and deed. Here are practical, everyday ways to live this out:
Application
- Speak words of blessing daily
- Say, “Thank you for everything you do for us.”
- Tell others what makes your mom special.
- Write her a note of gratitude
- A handwritten card or even a sticky note can be deeply meaningful.
- Pray for her out loud or text her prayers
- A simple, heartfelt prayer for her strength, joy, or walk with God is powerful.
- Praise her in front of the children or grandchildren
- Example: “Aren’t we so blessed to have a mom who works so hard and loves us so well?”
- Publicly affirm her
- Tell others (at church, among friends, or on social media) how grateful you are for her character and efforts.
- Give her meaningful compliments
- Be specific: “I’m amazed at your patience with the kids this week” or “You handled that hard conversation with so much grace.“
4. Give the gift of attention
Tell me, my love, where are you leading your flock today?
Where will you rest your sheep at noon?
For why should I wander like a prostitute
among your friends and their flocks?
Young Man
8 If you don’t know, O most beautiful woman,
follow the trail of my flock,
and graze your young goats by the shepherds’ tents. (Song of Songs 1:7-8, NLT)
Shulammite can hardly wait to see her husband again, so she comes right out and asks three playful questions: “My love, where are you grazing your sheep today? Where do they rest at noon? Why should I wander around, veiled and alone, near the flocks of your friends?” Solomon is away on ordinary duties—pictured here as a shepherd caring for his sheep—and she misses him terribly. Noon, when the animals nap and the other shepherds relax, would give them a perfect window for a private meeting, free from distractions. Even while she aches for his presence, she’s already planning a creative midday rendezvous under a shade tree or in a simple field shelter. Loving someone means spending time together, and she wants that time now.
Wearing a veil and drifting among other shepherds would send the wrong message. In their culture, a veiled, unaccompanied woman could be mistaken for a prostitute or a mourner. Shulammite refuses to let anyone doubt that Solomon is her man and she is his; their exclusive commitment is worth any cost.
Solomon’s first words in the Song answer both her insecurity about her looks and her worry about his absence. He begins with praise, calling her “beautiful”—a compliment he will repeat often—and then tells her how to find him. It’s as if he invites her into a playful, intimate game of hide-and-seek along the well-worn paths he travels. Their secret countryside escape, far from the noise of the city, becomes the first of many such getaways. Regular moments alone together, away from daily pressures, are a healthy tonic for any marriage.
“The best expression of love is often time and attention.” – Rick Warren
Illustration: K-Love mentioned that mothers’ preferred gift for Mother’s Day has evolved from flowers to simply spending time with their children and families. This change applies to all generations.
How to be present:
- Put the phone face-down or in another room during conversations.
- Maintain eye contact; nod or ask follow-up questions to show engagement.
- Repeat back, in your own words, what you heard them say for clarity.
- Plan Regular One-on-One Moments
- Be aware of non-verbal communication – facial expressions and body language.
- Do you want my input, or do you need me to listen?
5. Teach your children to adore her
“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7, NLT)
Faithful parents are called to etch God’s commands deep into their children’s hearts. The Hebrew term translated as repeat them again and again pictures a blade being honed on a whetstone—sharpened for purpose. Likewise, as sons and daughters grow, parents are to shape them into keen, willing instruments ready for God’s use.
We must intentionally and repeatedly teach our children how to adore their mothers and grandmothers. Learning is caught instead of taught, in other words do as I do and not simply do as I say (but don’t do) is our lesson plan.
Illustration: 1967 Antismoking Ad
Andy Stanley calls “Honor your mother” a keystone rule that shapes how children will treat everyone else.
Focus on the family reminds us that “the best Mother’s Day gift is training our children to show Mom the respect she deserves all year long.”
How do we teach our children to adore their mothers?
As husbands, grandfathers, mentors, and the church, we must physically model what it looks like to adore mothers tangibly.
- Thank her regularly (and encourage children to do the same). Don’t assume she knows—say it.
- Respect her words and time. Speak kindly. Listen attentively.
- Celebrate her achievements or progress in front of your children.
- Redirect your children when needed in their interaction with their mother.
- Serve her in tangible ways and invite children to help / Model what it looks like to serve their mother for that particular life stage (Dad and Mammaw).
- For those whose moms are no longer with us.
- Share memories of your mom with your children, grandchildren, or others.
- Keep your mother’s legacy alive by emulating those characteristics of her life that you admire.
TRANSITION:
Thes five ways will help us honor the mothers in our lives and honor Jesus at the same time. We are called to honor them more than just a day out of the year.
REFLECTION / INSPIRATION
Perhaps after listening to the ways husbands, sons, and daughters can honor the mother-like figures in their lives you can joyfully smile because you see these ways or at least some of them used to honor you as a mother regularly. On the other hand, some of you have heard how Scripture practically tells us to honor you as a mother and maybe you have become more frustrated, angry, or sadened because none of these ways are faintly visible in your family’s relationship with you. For those who find themselves in the latter category, here are some reminders, a few truths to hopefully encourage you while you wait on those you so sacrficicially serve to love the LORD supremely by honoring you in ways He desires.
If you’re struggling for any reason today and doubting your ability and value as a mom, hear this: God has faith in your ability to mother His children. Have faith in yourself.
God knew the struggles you would face and even the mistakes you would make, yet He still made you the mom of your kids.
You are the only one — the best one — for the job of raising your children.
You are the one whose unconditional love for them is powerful.
You are the one God called to guide them through every easy and difficult season of life and to simply love them with your whole heart, even on the hardest of days.
ACTION:
1. Follower –
So what about you? Can you say that you love your wife, the mother of your children, your mom, the mother-like figures, and dare I say your mother-in-law in these ways? If not, today is a great time to start making some lifestyle changes.
The real question today is simple but challenging:
How will you measurably honor the mothers in your life this week?
2. Far from God – be reconciled to God
Last December a Texas mom, Giovanna Cabrera, woke to flames racing through her Houston home. She rushed her 9- and 6-year-olds to safety, then sprinted back inside for baby Gabriel. She never came out. Firefighters later awarded her the Carnegie Medal for Heroism because, in the words of Houston’s fire chief, she “entered extreme danger to save her child”
The sacrificial love Giovanna Cabrera is an example of Christ’s love for you. He entered the “burning house” of our sin, died to rescue us, and rose to offer new life. Trust Him today, and step into a family where perfect love begins.
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