“Gold Star Mothers” LiveStream Service (9:25AM, Sunday, May 10)

The May 10th Mother’s Day sermon entitled “Gold Star Mothers” will be “live streamed” at our normal worship service time of 9:30AM Sunday. However, we encourage you to login at 9:25AM to get settled in and enjoy the piano prelude music. Once again, you are invited to view or listen to our Sunday morning sermon in one of 4 ways.

1) Watch live on the church Facebook page at 9:30AM, SUNDAY by going to: facebook.com/srcmarion Please “like” our Facebook page for future notifications.

2) Watch the same recording later on Facebook at a time more convenient for you: facebook.com/srcmarion

3) Watch the same recording later on our newly created YouTube channel. Just type in “Second Reformed Church of Marion” when you go to: youtube.com Or you can click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo3ZNP8OgRarSQXfqzGcn-Q

4) Listen to the audio recording and see sermon outline on our church website: sermons.srcmarion.org

GOLD STAR MOTHERS

I. Introduction

A. American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.

B. Shaking the Earth (Hebrews 12:26-29)

C. Panning for Gold (Job 23:10)

II. Purpose- We can endure hard providences and come forth as gold by emulating 3 Gold Star Mothers in the Bible.

A. Gold Star Mom 1- Hagar

  • First Runaway Crisis (Genesis 16:1-16)
  • Near Death Experience (Genesis 21:10, 14-21)
  • Gold Nugget- Hagar was shaken and swirled in the pan of desperation and discovered God as “The God Who sees me.”

B. Gold Star Mom 2- Naomi

  • Famine, Husband & Sons Death (Ruth 1:1-5)
  • Naomi = Pleasantness / Mara = Bitterness (Ruth 1:13, 19-21)
  • Pleasantness and Nourishment Restored (Ruth 4:14-17)
  • Gold Nugget- Naomi was shaken and swirled in the pan of hardship and God turned her bitterness into joy.

C. Gold Star Mom 3- Mary

  • Shame, Pending Divorce & Possible Stoning (Matthew 1:19)
  • 5 Moves in 12 Years (Nazareth > Town in Judah > Nazareth > Bethlehem > Egypt > Nazareth)
  • Losing Boy Jesus for 3 Days (Luke 2:41-51)
  • “A sword will pierce through your own soul also” (Luke 2:34-35)
  • Watching Her Son Be Crucified (John 19:25)
  • Servant and Magnifier of the Lord (Luke 1:38; 46-55)
  • Gold Nugget- Mary was shaken and swirled in the pan of hard providence which revealed a worshipping servant heart of gold.

III. Conclusion

A. Summary

B. Application

  • Which Gold Star Mom inspires you the most to endure hardships so you can come forth as gold?
  • These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. (I Peter 1:7)
  • Closing Prayer

SERMON BASED QUESTIONS

  • Describe the greatest hardship you have ever experienced?
  • Can you recall a time when God revealed Himself in a deeper way and helped you through a crisis?
  • What can we learn from the example of Hagar?
  • If you are currently in a desperate situation, do you believe that God sees you?
  • What does the life of Naomi teach us?
  • Are you experiencing a bitterness right now where you will trust God to restore and nourish you?
  • What encouragements flow from the way in which Mary endured hardship?
  • In the midst of your hard providence, will you keep serving and worshipping God through it?
  • Which Scripture spoke to you the most and why?
  • What is your biggest “take away” from this sermon?