• Mother’s Day – Celebrating Gods design and those who live it out.
• Celebrating the women in my life – My grandmother—mother—mother-in-law, aunts, wife, sisters, mothers and sisters in the church – daughter in laws – The strength of having women living according to Gods design sets up the next generation to know what they should be rather than the worlds version.
• Not every woman has physical children, but they can help fill the absence of spiritual motherhood.
• So many women amazing women to choose from in the rest of the series.
• The Battle between the sexes started with the fall of mankind.
• The world/Devil seeks to draw us into the wrong places.
• Feminism –
• Example: Gender distinctions don’t exist, or one is more valuable than the other
• No such things as women –or women are sex objects or are supposed to do whatever they want or anything a man can do, I can do.
Titus 2:3–5 (NIV) Romans 12:1–2 (NIV) 1 Peter 1:17–19 (NIV)
Beginning in this series with Proverbs 31 –The context:
• All of Proverbs is meant to teach wisdom to Solomon’s Son
• In this case this chapter is from a mother’s perspective to her son.
• Much of it is poetry – principles not formulas.
• Written in an acrostic – 22 Hebrew letters in order.
• In the beginning of the chapter – stay away from alcohol -be sober minded.
Proverbs 31:1 (NIV) 1 The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him. Proverbs 31:10–31 (NIV) 10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
1. Notice she tells her son a noble wife (noble character) is rare—worth searching for and finding.
• Son: This is who you should look for—
• Daughter this is what you should strive for
• People of God –this is the kind of woman you should celebrate.

2. Who Can Be a Proverbs 31 Woman? —seeking the ideal to find and to be
• Men since we are the bride of Christ we should grow in these characteristics as well.
• One reason a woman might skip past Proverbs 31 is that not all women marry, and not all who marry become parents. Unmarried women or a wife with no children still aspire to the qualities of a Proverbs 31 woman.
• Why? A virtuous – noble woman
• A proverbs 31 woman is unattainable if perfection is required—just as there are no perfect men other than Jesus.

3. Qualities of a Proverbs 31 woman

A) Devoted/committed to her family—consistently other centered
• 11-12;15a, 21, 27
Vs 11 Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household…
Vs 21 She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.
1 Timothy 5:8 (NLT)
B) Diligent in her labor—using her gifts and abilities for the good of the Lords work and others
Vs 15b …and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
Vs 16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
Vs 17 She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.
Vs 18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.
VS 27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.

C) Dedicated to godly speech
• Speaks well of her husband.
Vs 23 Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders.
Vs 26 When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

D) Dressed with care
Vs 25a She is clothed with strength and dignity,…
1 Timothy 2:9-10 (NIV)
Vs 31 Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

E) Dependent on God—the source of power and stability in her life –from that it overflows
• 25b and 30
Vs 25b …She laughs without fear of the future.
Vs 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised.

Our part in this –celebrate better things than the world celebrates —people aspire to what is celebrated.
Vs 28-29 Her children stand and bless her. –Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

Remember to constantly remind Gods women that the worlds perspective is not true and does not lead to life – show them that Gods way of doing things does –by being an encourager – don’t take them for granted –
• Give her encouragement.
• What is her love language?
• Acknowledge that her service is appreciated and makes a difference.
• Those who have benefitted from spiritual mothering (not your physical mothering)—bless them and celebrate them too.

For Small Group Discussion
Opening Question: Who is a woman that you really admire and why?
Main Point: There are many godly men and women in the Bible. We will spend some time looking at a few women from whom we can all learn about the image, character, and person of God.
Main Scripture: Proverbs 31
Head Questions
• What character qualities stand out the most to you from Proverbs 31?
• Which of those qualities do you think is most lacking in our current culture?
Heart Questions
• Which of these qualities do you feel a conviction to grow in (not guilt and shame that you will never measure up)?
• How do you personally struggle against feelings of not being good enough?
Hands Questions
• The Proverbs 31 woman was industrious – What skills/abilities do you bring to the table that benefits your family or those closest to you?
• What does it look like practically to fear the Lord in all spheres of your life? (Verse 30)
Additional Scripture: Proverbs 1:7; Ephesians 4:17-32
Tips and Resources: We, both men and women, are the bride of Christ. We can all look at the qualities listed in Proverbs 31 as attributes to pursue.
To watch Jim and the Sermon Team on The Overtime Podcast, go to: https://bit.ly/RLOvertime
To find additional resources go to: https://realliferesources.org/current-series/