Glynlea Grace United Methodist Chruch

Scripture

  Core Idea, Challenge & Summary

Core Idea: In order to develop the character of Christ, we must allow the Holy Spirit to transform our thinking.  

Challenge: To challenge Christians to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to transform their minds.

Summary: The primary goal of every Christian is to develop the character of Christ, to become like Jesus. The closer we come to this goal, the less we’ll conform to the sinful characteristics of this world. We’ll stand out and become a light. In order for this to happen, however, we must undergo a total transformation of the heart. The very essence of who we are must change. In this way, we become the people God created us to be. This total transformation of the heart begins with the renewal of our minds.

In order to develop the character of Christ, we must allow the Holy Spirit to transform our thinking. We must dump the ‘stinking thinking’ as taught by the world and embrace ‘right thinking’ as taught in Scripture. As our thoughts go, so goes our hearts.

Worship, personal and group Bible studies and prayer are, of course, vital for the renewal of our minds. We can, however, do even more to cooperate with the Holy Spirit to renew our minds. We can start memorizing passages of Scriptures. As we memorize Scripture, the way we think and see the world changes. We can also become active in a small group that supports us in our efforts to walk closely with God. The Spirit will use the members of a small group to teach ‘right thinking’. Iron sharpens iron. If we actively worship, pray, study Scripture, memorize Scripture and participate in a small group, our thinking will change. Our hearts (desires) will follow our thinking and we’ll become more like Jesus.

The Sermon

I. Introduction: The importance of having a goal in life

     A. Having a goal kept me on the right track

• In middle and high school, I had the goal of attending the United States Military Academy at West Point
• Although I never achieved this goal, it motivated me to make good decisions and kept me from making bad decisions.
• I didn’t attend drinking parties and never got drunk during high school. I didn’t experiment with any illegal drugs – I didn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize my chances of getting into West Point
• I competed in the Swimming & Wrestling teams, participated on the Forensics team, served in the Civil Air Patrol and became an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts – All so I could have something to put on my West Point application.
• Although my grades and SAT score weren’t good enough to get into West Point, they were good enough to get into the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and I still became an Army Officer. – All because I had a goal of going to West Point.

     B. We all need a goal for our lives

• Having a goal gives us purpose and direction
• As Christians, we have the highest goal any human could ever hope to achieve

     C. The goal for every Christian

• It’s not simply going to heaven. That’s secured the moment we receive God’s forgiveness through faith in Jesus
• The goal for every Christian is developing the character of Christ, to become like Jesus

II. The Christian goal of developing the character of Christ, becoming like Jesus

     A. Requires a total transformation of the heart

• The very essence of who we are must change
• Our sinful nature must die and be replaced by a nature ruled by the Spirit.

     B. As we become more like Christ, we become a light in this sinful and dark world

• We do not conform to the sinful practices of this world but stand against these practices
• “Do not conform to this world but be transformed…..” (Romans 12:2a)

     C. This transformation begins with the renewing of the mind

• “…by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2b)
• What we think influences who we are. As the mind goes, so goes the heart.
• In order to develop the character of Christ, we must allow the Holy Spirit to transform our thinking.  

     D. ‘Stinken thinken’ vs. ‘right thinking’

• The world teaches us ‘stinken thinken’. We grow up learning this. The ‘stinkin thinken’ is the cause of most of our troubles.
• God uses Scripture to teach us ‘right thinking’
• We must replace our ‘stinken thinken’ with ‘right thinking’.

III. Examples of replacing ‘stinken thinken’ with ‘right thinking’

     A. Have you heard a wife say, “You can look but you can’t touch”

• This is ‘stinken thinken’ because it encourages men to look at ladies as objects to fulfill their physical desires. Men are more likely to commit the physical act of adultery when they fantasize about what they would like to do with a pretty lady. Actions begin with thoughts.
• ‘Right thinking’: Matthew 5:28 – “But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Instead of looking at women as objects to satisfy their physical desires, men should look upon women as humans created and loved by God.

     B. The old saying, “Fight fire with fire”

• This is ‘sticken thinken’ because it encourages people to react to hate with more hate and to react to violence with more violence. Adding more fire to a fire only creates a bigger fire. Reacting to hate with hate only creates more hate. “Fighting fire with fire” is extremely illogical, yet that’s what the world teaches. (You don’t see firemen running around with flamethrowers.)
• ‘Right thinking’: Jesus teaches us to ‘fight fire with water’ – Fight hate with love and evil with goodness. – Matthew 5:44-45 – “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. – Romans 12:21 – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

• This is ‘stinken thinken’ because words do hurt!!!! They pierce into people’s souls and convince people that they are worthless. They can also destroy the reputations of good people. Words can be deadly!!!
• ‘Right thinking’: James 3:6 & 9-10 – “And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell…. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.” We must be careful and use words to build up rather than tear down.  Words are powerful!!!!!

IV. Cooperating with the Holy Spirit to replace our ‘stinken thinken’ with ‘right thinking’

     A. Obvious yet vital ways to cooperate with the Spirit to change the way we think.

• Participating in worship
• Personal devotions
• Bible studies
• Prayer
• Avoid movies, television, books, music and other media that perpetuates ‘stinken thinken’

     B. Two ways to really accelerate our change in thinking

• Scripture memorization: Memorize entire passages, not just a verse. As you memorize passages, your understanding will increase and the passage will become a part of you. The way you see the world will change and you will think differently. You have the rest of your life to work on this. There’s time to memorize lots of Scripture if you’re will to start now and keep at it.
• Participating in a small group: A group of 2-10 Christians who meet either weekly or bi-weekly. They support each other in their efforts to walk closely with God. They share their struggles with each other and pray for each other. The Spirit will use the members of a small group to teach ‘right thinking’. Iron sharpens iron.