Sermon Notes / Transcript

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7:10-16
Speaker: Daniel Coughlin

Sermon Transcript (Mother’s Day)

Text: 1 Corinthians 7

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Scripture Reading

Our scripture reading today is 1 Corinthians chapter 7. So if you have a Bible, open it up with me. If you don't have a Bible, there are Bibles in the pews. There should be. If there's not, raise your hand and we'll get you one.

I'm taking a break from Mark this morning because it's Mother's Day, and so we're going to talk about mothers and motherhood. This is 1 Corinthians chapter 7. We're going to start at verse 12. Actually, let's back up. We're going to start at verse 10, so the slides will be wrong.

The slides should be good now—so verse 12:

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. For otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave.

The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

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Prayer

Let's pray.

Heavenly Father, may the words of my mouth and the thoughts of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redemption. We ask this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

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Introduction: The Cultural Devaluing of Motherhood

We did this last year, so this is my inclination—to take a break from our normal routine and talk about mothers and fathers on the days that our nation celebrates them.

And it's important because we live at a time where motherhood especially—well, motherhood and fatherhood—are culturally denigrated.

If you are a kid at a school and they ask you, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and you answer “a mother” or “a father,” can you imagine the response?

“Yeah, a mother—and what?”
“A father—and what?”

Like there must be something more.

And so part of what I want to do is restore in your minds the value and the goodness of motherhood.

Because motherhood is good.

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Creation Before the Fall (God’s Good Design)

If you haven't read Genesis recently, read Genesis. There’s the creation account and a short window where Adam and Eve are in the garden and life is good—no, very good.

Before the fall, before sin and corruption twist everything.

Gary used that word in Sunday school this morning: twist—bend and corrupt what was meant to be straight.

What’s glorious about this is that these early commands are universal—they apply to all mankind.

So:

• Be fruitful and multiply
• Fill the earth
• Work and rest

Six days of work and one day of rest—that is God’s pattern.

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God’s Design of Life

God uniquely equipped Eve and all her daughters to bear children.

He has made men and women biologically different. He plants the seed; she receives the seed—and that’s as far as I’ll go in that.

If God blesses that union:

• A new life begins
• Its DNA is new
• It begins developing immediately

Every one of us started from a single cell.

That one cell—that was you.

This is a glorious thing.

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After the Fall: The Problem

But we live after the fall.

The command continues, but so does the curse.

From Romans 5:

Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin—so death spread to all men.

Death spread to all men.

So here’s the tension:

• God says, be fruitful and multiply
• But all are born into sin and death

It almost feels like we are just spreading death.

And yet God reaffirms the command—to Noah and beyond.

We are not to stop having children because of sin or suffering.

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The Key Text: 1 Corinthians 7:14

“Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.”

This speaks to something every mother feels:

You don’t want your children unclean—you want them holy.

Not physically, but spiritually.

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The Central Question

What is a Christian mother’s duty toward children born under sin?

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Biblical Foundation for Parenting

Genesis 18:19 (Abraham)

• Command his children
• Lead in righteousness and justice

Ephesians 6

• Bring them up in discipline
• In the instruction of the Lord

Scripture consistently calls parents to train their children.

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The Unique Situation: Mixed Marriage

1 Corinthians 7 addresses:

• A believing spouse
• An unbelieving spouse

Instruction:

• If they stay → remain
• If they leave → let them leave
• God has called us to peace

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Why This Is Hard

Becoming a Christian changes:

• Affections
• Priorities
• Words and thoughts

So Paul says:

If the unbelieving spouse consents to remain...

Because this introduces tension.

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The Impact of a Christian Parent

Paul says:

• The unbelieving spouse is sanctified
• The children are holy

A Christian mother is a powerful thing.

If there were no Christian parent, the child would be unclean—but now, holy.

Not saved automatically—but set apart.

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What a Christian Mother Does

1. Discipline

• Sin is measured by God’s law
• Not whether the child “got away with it”

2. Instruction

• Teaching Scripture
• Bringing the word of God into the home

3. Prayer

• Praying constantly for her children

4. Formation

• Children imitate what they see
• Habits, attitudes, speech

Even unintentionally—including her sins as well as her faith.

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The Difficulty: An Unbelieving Husband

Her duty does not depend on his agreement.

But she must still:

• Pursue peace
• Honor the marriage

Key Principle

Her influence is strongest when:

• She is generally submissive
• But firm in spiritual matters

Example:

“I am taking the children to church.”

This stands out precisely because it is not her general habit to resist.

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Why This Matters

Her life shows:

• A higher authority
• A clear line of obedience

She submits—to God.

It is the husband who is out of alignment with God’s design.

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Practical Challenges

She must navigate:

• When to teach Scripture
• How to discipline
• Church attendance
• Giving and stewardship

There is no formula.

It requires wisdom.

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Warning: Passive Parenting

Some say:

“I don’t want to force my children.”

But this can lead to neglect:

• Not requiring worship
• Not teaching truth
• Early independence in spiritual things

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Biblical Warning: Eli

• Knew his sons were wicked
• Did not rebuke them
• Judgment followed

Failure to discipline brings consequences.

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Responsibility of Parents

If God gives you children, He calls you to:

• Train them
• Discipline them
• Pray for them
• Model godliness

Neglect risks judgment.

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Encouragement: God’s Faithfulness

Philippians 1:6

He who began a good work in you will perfect it.

God is at work in your obedience.

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Example: Timothy

• Grandmother Lois
• Mother Eunice
• Father was a Greek

Yet:

• Became a faithful servant
• Partnered with Paul

God produces fruit—even in difficult homes.

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Final Exhortation

To Mothers

• Your role is good
• Your work is hard
• Your responsibility matters

You are called to:

• Teach
• Discipline
• Pray
• Model faith

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To the Church

• Support families
• Men: act as spiritual fathers

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Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, strengthen these women to be mothers—to love their children, to love their husbands, and to walk that line.

Give them faith for the tension, the distress, and the conflict. Give them faith to remember your work—that you do work, and that you have worked through the faith of even one believing parent.

Father, we are vessels of your mercy.

It is not that a mother saves her children, or a father saves his children—but you, in your mercy, work through believing parents to care for, teach, and discipline.

How shall they believe if they have not heard?

And so the one who is given care of them most closely has the word and the Spirit.

What a glorious thing.

Give us faith to trust that you are active and good through all of this.

We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.