Dr. Barclay - Something to Think About
Theme: Our thinking and thought process needs to reflect God and not this world.
We all have different perceptions about things. The way we look at the bible is often clouded by our own perceptions.
God cares about our physical bodies and wants us to be healthy, however our minds are also of great importance and what we allow to go into our minds and feeds our thinking and shapes our thought process.
We need to remember our bodies are the temple of God.
1 Corinthians 6:19
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
We are spirit beings who have a body. The outside of the body we paint, wash and decorate. The inside of the body is the mind and soul. If we keep the inner man healthy, the outer man will be in good shape.
1 Timothy 4:8
8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
We need to continually guard our hearts and minds so our thinking is in tune with God and not the common and callousness of this world.
Roxann Spicer -
Theme: God is always leading us into something new, to take us to greater heights for him.
God wants to do something new in our lives.
Romans 12:2
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
God should be the focus of our every pursuit. God wants to take us into the unknown. He is leading us into something new. We can trust in God with confidence. We can choose to believe in God based on passed experiences. God has not failed us before and he will not fail us in the future.
Isaiah 26:3-4
3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:
We should be prepared for when people say we are different. Salvation changes our disposition to be more like Jesus. Our thinking influences our behavior, and our behavior influences other people. We need to welcome challenges and stretch ourselves for God, allow him to make improvements in us and refine us for his glory.
As the congregation was leaving, Roxann passed out her challenge:
Renew Your Mind
Challenge
Pray before reading the scriptures or considering the questions posed
here. Ask the Lord to open your mind to see things as He sees them. Answer the
questions honestly and then ask the Lord to show you what changes He would
make.
Romans 12:1-2
In what ways have the patterns of the world’s thinking influenced how
you think?
Consider what you hold as ideals, expectations, or desires.
Do these patterns of thinking prove the good, perfect, acceptable will
of God?
Romans 12:3-8
What do you believe your God given gift is? Have you considered that
you even have one?
Do you feel free to exercise this gift with confidence?
Does the idea of the responsibility to share this gift with others
frighten you?
Romans 12:9-11
There is much to digest in this passage of scripture.
What parts of it do you find easy to practice?
What parts are the most challenging for you?
Have you considered how the world’s influence on your thinking may
cause you to respond as you do to both the easy and the challenging?
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