Like as a Mother

Driving home: You talk about a switch from the masculine to the feminine. Here it is. We were gentle among you as a mother nursing the very fruit of her own womb.

The analogy of a wet nurse nourishing a child, especially her own, illustrates the deep, life-sustaining, and intensely tender disposition Paul had towards the Thessalonians, going beyond mere duty.

Now the word nurse here comes from a root word, which means to nourish with food. And literally, Paul is saying, we were gentle among you as a wet nurse, we would call them in our day. Someone who is actually sustaining life with her own life. Someone who is nourishing the life of another from her own breast.

9:43 - 10:04 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Now, you see, there's a difference between imparting something I possess and imparting myself.

The postman delivering a letter without personal involvement is contrasted with Paul's ministry, showing that Paul not only delivered the gospel message but also gave himself to help with the dilemmas it brought.

When the postman comes and delivers a letter, whatever that message is, he faithfully delivers it. But he doesn't give himself. In that letter might be some heartbreaking news. He couldn't care less.

15:44 - 15:59 Read in full sermon

The point: Be a true minister to children, neighbors, and others, recognizing that God's love is communicated through a vessel that knows the involvement of love.

Martin recounts his grandmother's tearful plea for his salvation, illustrating how the 'involvement of love' personally impacted him and demonstrated someone cared deeply.

As I told the ladies in the ladies class, When my grandmother who'd prayed for me for years, With tears in her eyes, Took me by the shoulders as a fourteen-year-old fellow, Fighting God and fighting the scriptures in my heart, And fighting God's prickings in my conscience, Rebelling against light. When the involvement of love led her to take me by the shoulders, And look me in the eye with tears, Come her down her eyes, Saying, O Albert, be true-hearted, whole-hearted. I knew. That somebody was involved in love with me.

29:42 - 30:17 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin applies the principle, arguing that just as God's elect are beloved in eternity, they are often called through the involved, self-sacrificing love of God's servants, using…

The story of Elmer praying with tears for his coworker Ernie Riesinger, even foregoing supper, illustrates the deep, self-denying involvement of love that leads to salvation.

Those of you who've heard Mr. Riesinger's testimony, You remember how Elmer, his work companion,

30:19 - 30:25 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin applies the principle, arguing that just as God's elect are beloved in eternity, they are often called through the involved, self-sacrificing love of God's servants, using…

A classical mythology story of a sculptor falling in love with his statue and praying for it to come to life illustrates how deep affection and involvement can bring life to something cold and lifeless.

There's a story that comes out of classical mythology That illustrates this beautifully.

32:05 - 32:09 Read in full sermon

The point: When faced with the demands of ministry that require self-denial, embrace the cross of flesh and deny self to minister, rather than backing off.

The example of people watching an old woman being mugged on 8th Avenue in New York City without intervening illustrates the widespread reluctance to get involved due to fear of personal cost.

You and I know, We've read it in our papers, It's amazed and astounded sociologists and psychologists, They can't understand what's behind it fully. When someone can walk down 8th Avenue in New York City, An old woman, Unable to defend herself from a child, And two thugs will come up and grab her, And snatch her pocketbook, And beat her to the ground, And people will stand 20 feet away, And they'll watch.

39:16 - 39:43 Read in full sermon