Sermon Outline. M O T H E R S DAY May 8th 14th The Difference a Mother Can Make I. INTRODUCTION. 1 Samuel 1:1 20

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2 M O T H E R S DAY May 8th 14th Sermon Outline 1 Samuel 1:1 20 There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. 3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. 6 Because the Lord had closed Hannah s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not I. INTRODUCTION A. The name Hannah means grace or gracious and this Hannah was one of the most gracious women who ever lived. B. She lived in terribly difficult circumstances, for years was unable to have children, but God chose her in the fullness of time to be mother to one of the great prophet leaders in Israel s history. When God wanted to impact a family and a nation he chose a woman like Hannah to make a difference. II. WHAT DID GOD SEE IN HANNAH THAT MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE? A. Hannah s life made a difference because she had a genuine faith. (1 Samuel 1:4-12a) 1. Like Hannah, moms (and dads too) can make a difference by their prayers and faith example. 2. Kids learn and adopt the values and faith they see lived out in their parents and other adults who shape their lives. 3. When hardship threatened to overwhelm Hannah she pressed closer to God in whom she found her hope. (1 Samuel 1:10,12a; 1 Peter 1:3-9) 4. She chose to trust God in her circumstances just like Jesus did. (1 Peter 2:19-23) 5. Hannah prayed for a purpose beyond herself and God answered by giving her Samuel. a. 1 Samuel 1:10-11; 20 b. Samuel means God hears or God has heard.

3 Mother s Day eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say 6. Samuel grew up to lead Israel and to anoint David as King through to her, Hannah, why are you weeping? whom would eventually come the Messiah, Jesus! Why don t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don t I mean more to you B. Hannah s life made a difference because she had a godly character. (1 Samuel 1:12-20; 24-28) than ten sons? 1. Hannah chose to live for God, love her husband, not retaliate against 9 Once when they had finished eating her rival and to keep her word to God and man. (1 Samuel 1:11, 21- and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood 28; Matthew 5:33-37) up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on 2. She also lived by her convictions (1 Samuel 1:12-17), so much so that his chair by the doorpost of the Lord s even the old priest Eli was prompted to worship God by her godly house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah example (vs 28). prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, Lord 3. Women who live for God and have a genuine faith and godly character make a difference that Almighty, if you will only look on your matters. servant s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head. 12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not III. CONCLUSION heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine. 15 Not so, my lord, Hannah replied, I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief. 17 Eli answered, Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him. 18 She said, May your servant find favor in your eyes. Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast. 19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, Because I asked the Lord for him. A. Most women, especially moms, never feel like what they do is successful or significant. B. God says that what women and moms do in faith and godly character makes them an instrument that God uses to impact generations and nations for His glory. C. Proverbs 31:30-31 Sermon Notes

4 Mother s Day WA R M U P In 1 Samual 1:10 11 Hannah s prayer may appear selfish but in reality, it s very God-centered. Hannah was willing to relinquish the very thing she was asking for. What a heavy price she paid. When Samuel was born she only had him to herself for a couple of years before giving him up to Eli. After that she only saw him once a year when she and Elkanah went up to Shiloh for the annual sacrifice. Was the outcome worth the price? Hannah thought so because as she released Samuel into Eli s hands she prayed another poetic prayer of triumph exalting God! Have you ever experienced a time when you prayed with all your heart about something but it seemed to you like God wasn t answering? What happened? How did your heart respond? What do you think it means to pour out your soul to the Lord? Is this different than other kinds of prayer? How so? Hannah s Cupboard A ministry of Barbara Lardinais DIG I N Read 1 Samuel 1:1 20 (Excerpt) 9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head. 12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine. 15 Not so, my lord, Hannah replied, I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.

5 Mother s Day REFLECTIONS 1 Samuel 1:1 20 What would you say is the greatest challenge facing parents today in raising up godly children? In 1 Samuel 1, we saw that Hannah lived under terribly difficult circumstances. How did she choose to respond to those circumstances that made such a difference? Hannah had a rival named Penninah who made life miserable for her. Jesus had many rivals who opposed and falsely accused Him. How do Hannah s example and Jesus example in 1 Peter 2:19 25, give us insight into the handling of unjust accusations and suffering? Many times suffering and trials push people away from God and they stop praying. Hannah did the opposite, she kept on praying. Notice how she addresses God in 1 Samuel 1:11. How does our view of God affect our responses in times of difficulty? TAKE IN Ask Yourself In summary, what kind of people does God desire to use to make the greatest difference in the world for Him? What does that say about the priorities of your life?

6 Mother s Day PRAY UP Ask God To help you connect with Him from your very soul. To show you how He uses you in a powerful way. To help you live for Him no matter what the outcome of your prayers. Prayer Requests