Here is an outline transcript of the sermon from today:
I. What does it mean to love the Lord with all our mind
A. Having a worldview that is shaped by scripture—thinking Christianly, thinking biblically, thinking rightly about the world and life as we know it being evaluated through the lens of scripture
B. Guarding against wrong ways of thinking, wrong worldviews, wrong philosophies, false teaching—being able to interact mentally with philosophies that are contrary to God’s Word (cf. Acts 17)
1. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
2. Colossians 2:8 – Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ
C. Thinking deeply about God—his purposes, ways, nature, character—having a biblical theology—growing deeper in our knowledge of God by being instructed and informed by scripture—it’s about loving and growing in Jesus more and more and more
1. Philippians 3:7-10 - But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
II. The exhortations in scripture to cultivate a Christian mind
A. Matthew 22:37 – greatest affection of our mind is God
B. Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things -- meditating on things that reflect the character and nature of God
C. Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect – it is the process being transformed in our minds away from the corrupted ways of thinking offered by the world and being enlightened in our understanding of God’s truth by the HS (cf. Ephesians 1:18-22)
D. 1 Peter 1:13 – preparing our minds for action
III. How can we cultivate a mind for God ready for action
A. Know, love, read, hear, memorize, examine, analyze, study, meditate on God’s Word
1. Having our minds and hearts saturated with scripture is the foundation of a Christian mind
B. Be willing to be stretched and challenged in our thinking and our theology
C. Be willing to interact with those who think differently than we do
D. Read other books that challenge our mind and deepen our understanding
E. Prayer – resting in God’s grace/relying on the Holy Spirit (cf. John 16:13)
IV. What are the results of cultivating a mind for God ready for action
A. Spiritual discernment—grow in our ability to discern truth/error, right/wrong, good/evil
1. Hebrews 5:12-14 - For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
B. A thinking faith—a mind ready to confront the ideologies and philosophies of the world with confidence in the scripture and empowered by the HS ready to give a defense of the hope that we’ve been given in Jesus having our minds prepared for action—have a biblical worldview through which we can evaluate the world system in its hostility toward God
May God use this to encourage us to think deeply about the Faith.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
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God is so good to me
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Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Taking up a cross
I just read Henry Blackaby's devotion for today at http://www.blackaby.org.
The scripture was Luke 9:23 - If anyone desire to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Dr. Blackaby reminds us that we often want to follow Jesus, but without a cross. We insist that Jesus do all the dying.
What we fail to realize is that true life comes only as we die with Him (Romans 6).
Here is a portion of the devotional:
"Your “cross” is God’s will fo ryou, regardless of the cost. Taking up your cross is a choice; it is not beyond your control. You may have health problems or a rebellious child or financial pressures, but do not mistake these as your “cross to bear.” Neither circumstances you face nor consequences of your own actions are your cross. Your cross will be to voluntarily participate in Christ’s sufferings as He carries out His redemptive purposes_(Phil. 3:10). Paul said he rejoiced in his sufferings because he knew that by them he was able to participate in the suffering required to bring others into Christian maturity (Col. 1:24)."
What cross are you bearing for the glory of Jesus? Have you taken up your cross in the power of the Holy Spirit?
The scripture was Luke 9:23 - If anyone desire to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Dr. Blackaby reminds us that we often want to follow Jesus, but without a cross. We insist that Jesus do all the dying.
What we fail to realize is that true life comes only as we die with Him (Romans 6).
Here is a portion of the devotional:
"Your “cross” is God’s will fo ryou, regardless of the cost. Taking up your cross is a choice; it is not beyond your control. You may have health problems or a rebellious child or financial pressures, but do not mistake these as your “cross to bear.” Neither circumstances you face nor consequences of your own actions are your cross. Your cross will be to voluntarily participate in Christ’s sufferings as He carries out His redemptive purposes_(Phil. 3:10). Paul said he rejoiced in his sufferings because he knew that by them he was able to participate in the suffering required to bring others into Christian maturity (Col. 1:24)."
What cross are you bearing for the glory of Jesus? Have you taken up your cross in the power of the Holy Spirit?
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