Living Beyond Sunday - Changing the Way We Think

We continue the series: Living Beyond Sunday.

Today let’s look at:  Changing the way we think.

Romans 12:2 (NLT) 

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Paul told us not to copy the behaviors and customs of this world.  Accepting Jesus’ Lordship of our lives, requires us to think differently than our culture. Why did Paul need to tell us to change the way we think?  Jesus’ contemporaries had expectations of who the messiah would be.  Their thinking kept them from seeing Jesus for who he really was.  

The old rulebook didn’t match up with His actions.  

Many followers ran away in fear when things didn’t go as they thought it should.  They wanted him to be someone that he wasn’t.    Someone rising from the dead didn’t align with what they knew.
 
BUT – He did raise from the dead (if unsure: read or watch The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel). He is alive today. He is impacting lives all over the planet. If you have become a follower of Christ, everything about you should be changing, including your thinking.   To be under His lordship, you will become like Jesus and Jesus definitely did not copy the behaviors and customs of this world.

Here’s what we know from scripture:

Paul struggled with his thinking Romans 7:15-25

Renewal of our mind helps us turn from sin Ephesians 4:22-24

We are to be in the world, not of it John 17:14-16

God provided a list of things to fix our thoughts on Philippians 4:8

What does this mean:

Applying our faith to our WHOLE LIFE – involves changed thinking.

Prayer is a game changer for our mind.

God knew the struggle of our thinking – and provides guidance in scripture.

Things to think about:

The Joy Model by Jeff Spadafora gives us some great steps

Our lives won’t change until we change what we focus on and put our energy into.

Our focus and energy won’t change unless what we value in life changes.

Our values won’t change unless our thinking changes.

Our thinking won’t change unless we start putting the right stuff into our brains in the first place.

What do I focus my thinking on now?

How do I start putting the right things in my brain?

What things do I value? Do my behaviors support that? My checking account? My calendar?

I want my life to change, to be more like Jesus, what is my first step?

Paul said we are to be in the world but not of the world.  If we don’t put this “Changing” into action we risk living pathetic “Christian” lives and missing what God is doing around us.

What is your first step in changing the way you think?

Philippians 4:8New Living Translation (NLT)

8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

About the Author, Jim Brangenberg

Jim's Mission: We are called to be examples of Christ to those around us. With that in mind, Jim is passionate about helping Christ followers connect their faith to their work!