The Rock that Moved: A Living Word

Message based on 1 Peter 1:21-2:3.  On this Mother’s Day we give thanks for our moms. Cyprian said, “No one has God for their Father who does not have the church for their mother.” My mom took me to church and taught me the scriptures. The children we dedicate today will be nourished with food so that they can grow up. Just so, all of us need to be fed the truth from God’s message to us. The same risen Lord who gave us new birth through his word feeds us so that we grow up in Christ. For what do we hunger today? Taste and see that the Lord is good.Quotes:Cyprian: No one can have God as his Father who does not have the church as his mother.Augustine: Look, mother church is in labor; see, she is groaning in travail to give birth to you.John Calvin: May [Christians] be guided by her maternal care until they grow up to adulthood, and, finally, attain the perfection of faith …. To those whom [God] is a Father, the church must also be a mother.Duane Brooks: the church can help transform us so that we can lead the next generation into transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. Mother Teresa: I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no more hurt, but only more love.Robert Fulghum : Share everything.  Play fair.  Don’t hit people.  Put things back where you found them.  Clean up your own mess.  Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody . . . And it is still true, no matter how old you are:  When you go out into the world it is best to hold hands and stick together.Gerald May:  After twenty years of listening to the yearnings of people’s hearts, I am convinced that all human beings have an inborn desire for God.Thomas Merton: To be an acorn is to have a taste for being an oak tree.Andrew Peterson in a song he wrote to his son:  “You’ll find your way . . .” And I know you’ll be scared when you take up that cross and I know it’ll hurt cause I know what it costs.  And I love you so much and it’s so hard to watchBut you’re gonna grow up and you’re gonna get lostJust go back, go back to the ancient paths.Lash your heart to the ancient mastAnd hold on, boy whatever you doTo the hope that has taken hold of you, and you’ll find your wayIf love is what you’re looking forThe old roads lead to the open doorAnd you’ll find your way back home.To discover more messages of hope, go to tallowood.org/sermons/.Follow us on X and YouTube @tallowoodbcFollow us on Instagram @tallowood.baptistFollow us on FaceBook @tallowoodbaptist