Focusing on God: A Call to Spiritual Renewal
Summary
The sermon begins with an emphasis on the significance of the Sacred Scriptures and the voice of God speaking through them. The speaker encourages the congregation to focus on heavenly things, as outlined in Colossians chapter 3, and to put to death earthly desires that lead to negative consequences. The importance of a healthy mental diet is stressed, with the speaker urging the congregation to feed their minds with the word of God to counteract the enemy's attempts to discourage them with negative thoughts.
The speaker then delves into the practical application of scripture in daily life, urging believers to live out the teachings of the Bible rather than just quoting them. The message is clear: prioritize spiritual matters over earthly concerns and choose Christ over culture, even when it contradicts societal norms. The speaker also touches on the importance of holidays like Thanksgiving as opportunities for worship and gratitude, and extends an invitation to those seeking to know Jesus or find a church family.
A personal story is shared about a boy who is advised by his father to focus solely on climbing a tree, which he does successfully. This story serves as an analogy for the spiritual life, where believers are encouraged to focus on Jesus and not be distracted by fears or failures. The speaker also warns against allowing politics, gaming, sports, and other distractions to take precedence over one's relationship with Jesus.
The sermon concludes with a call to action for believers to intentionally focus on God throughout the week, not just during church services. The speaker challenges the congregation to consider if Jesus is worthy of their focused attention and to make God's word at home in every area of their lives. The importance of a healthy mental diet is reiterated, with the speaker emphasizing that what we put in our minds can predict our future.
Key Takeaways:
- The Sacred Scriptures are not just historical texts but the living voice of God that speaks to us every time we engage with them. This divine communication is essential for guiding believers to focus on heavenly realities over earthly distractions, setting the tone for a life oriented towards spiritual growth and maturity. [45:38]
- A healthy mental diet, consisting of the word of God, is crucial in a world filled with quick and shallow information. The speaker highlights the need to be vigilant about what we feed our minds, as it shapes our thoughts, beliefs, and ultimately our destiny. This mental nourishment is a powerful defense against the enemy's attempts to sow discouragement and feelings of inadequacy. [57:02]
- Living out the teachings of the Bible requires a conscious reorganization of our lives around eternal truths, rather than temporal cultural influences. The speaker emphasizes that true transformation and intimacy with God come from aligning our values and actions with His word, choosing Christ over culture, and not minimizing the significance of any sin. [01:12:54]
- The analogy of changing clothes after a workout is used to illustrate the transformation expected after accepting Jesus. Believers are called to shed their old behaviors and mindsets, embracing a new lifestyle that reflects their renewed relationship with Christ. This change is not merely behavioral but is deeply rooted in maintaining intimacy with Jesus and aligning with His truth. [01:18:50]
- Our minds are battlegrounds, not playgrounds, where the enemy actively sews negativity and lies. The speaker urges believers to be intentional about the content they consume mentally, as it has a profound impact on their spiritual health and future. By downloading and saving the word of God in our minds, we can prevent mental and spiritual degeneration and predict a future aligned with God's will. [53:06]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Colossians 3:1-17
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Colossians 3:1-2 instruct believers to set their hearts and minds on?
2. According to Colossians 3:5-9, what are some of the earthly desires and behaviors that believers are urged to put to death?
3. In Colossians 3:12-14, what virtues are believers encouraged to "clothe" themselves with?
4. How does the speaker describe the importance of a healthy mental diet in the sermon? [53:06]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize setting our minds on things above rather than on earthly things in Colossians 3:1-2? How does this align with the speaker's message about focusing on heavenly realities? [47:52]
2. What might be the significance of the analogy of changing clothes after a workout in relation to Colossians 3:9-10? How does this illustrate the transformation expected of believers? [01:18:50]
3. How does the speaker's personal story about the boy climbing the tree relate to the concept of focusing on Jesus and not being distracted by fears or failures? [01:28:51]
4. What does it mean to let the message of Christ dwell among us richly, as stated in Colossians 3:16? How does this concept play out in the speaker's call to make God's word at home in every area of our lives? [01:23:05]
#### Application Questions
1. Colossians 3:2 urges us to set our minds on things above. What are some practical steps you can take this week to focus more on heavenly things rather than earthly distractions? [47:52]
2. The speaker mentioned various distractions like politics, gaming, and sports. Identify one specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on Jesus. How can you minimize this distraction this week? [01:03:15]
3. Reflect on the virtues listed in Colossians 3:12-14 (compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love). Which of these virtues do you find most challenging to embody, and what is one practical way you can work on it this week?
4. The speaker emphasized the importance of a healthy mental diet. What are some negative thoughts or influences you need to counteract with the word of God? How can you incorporate more scripture into your daily routine to combat these negative influences? [53:06]
5. The analogy of changing clothes after a workout was used to illustrate spiritual transformation. What old behaviors or mindsets do you need to "take off," and what new behaviors or mindsets do you need to "put on" to reflect your renewed relationship with Christ? [01:18:50]
6. The speaker challenged the congregation to consider if Jesus is worthy of their focused attention. Reflect on your current priorities. Is there an area of your life where you need to give Jesus more focused attention? How will you make this change? [01:07:28]
7. The speaker shared a story about a boy focusing solely on climbing a tree. What is one goal or task in your spiritual life that you need to focus on without being distracted by fears or failures? How can you maintain this focus? [01:28:51]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Communication for Spiritual Focus
The Sacred Scriptures are a conduit for God's voice, guiding believers to elevate their focus from the transient to the eternal. Engaging with the Scriptures is not a passive act but a dynamic interaction with the divine, steering one's life towards spiritual maturity and away from earthly distractions. [45:38]
Hebrews 4:12 - "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
Reflection: How can you make reading the Bible a more active part of your daily routine to ensure you are focusing on heavenly realities?
Day 2: Nourishing the Mind with God's Word
A healthy mental diet, rich in the word of God, is essential to withstand the barrage of negative influences in today's world. By filling one's mind with divine wisdom, one can combat discouragement and cultivate a resilient spirit that is anchored in truth. [57:02]
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Reflection: What are some practical steps you can take to ensure your mental diet is more nourishing and less influenced by the world's negativity?
Day 3: Christ Over Culture in Daily Living
True discipleship involves a deliberate choice to align one's life with the teachings of Christ, often in stark contrast to cultural norms. This requires a conscious effort to reevaluate and reorganize priorities, ensuring that every action reflects a commitment to eternal truths over temporal influences. [01:12:54]
James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where cultural norms challenge your Christian values. How can you actively choose Christ in this area?
Day 4: Embracing Transformation in Christ
Accepting Jesus calls for a profound transformation, akin to changing clothes after a workout. This change is not superficial but a deep-seated shift in behavior and mindset, reflecting a life that is in harmony with Jesus' teachings and love. [01:18:50]
Ephesians 4:22-24 - "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: What old behaviors or mindsets do you need to shed to better reflect your relationship with Christ?
Day 5: Guarding the Mind as a Spiritual Battleground
The mind is a spiritual battleground where the enemy sows seeds of negativity and deceit. Believers must be vigilant in guarding their thoughts, intentionally filling their minds with God's word to fortify themselves against spiritual attacks and to shape a future that aligns with God's will. [53:06]
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
Reflection: What are some specific ways you can guard your mind against negative influences and fill it with the truth of God's word?
Quotes
"The enemy is always sewing seeds of discouragement, constantly replaying the low lights of your life instead of the highlights." [57:02]
"I have to focus my mind on the things that are above, that's what it means to be born again. We are born from above." [59:07]
"Every time we focus our mind on the things that are above, we are reminded of the fact that we are connected to a God who can do in and through us and with us exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask, think, dream, or imagine." [01:36:58]
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." [49:43]
"I'm not just quoting scripture I'm walking scripture that's two different things." [01:12:54]
"I've got to choose Christ over culture and that's tough because the culture is constantly screaming." [01:13:33]
"let the message of Christ dwell among you let it dwell in your hearts you know what that means that means to let the word be at home to welcome the word to let it go into every room of your life" [01:23:05]
"Our Christ is there and in order to see him and download his perspective and embrace his priorities, I've got to look above not just on Earthly things." [59:50]
"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you... I want you to seek the king of the Kingdom." [01:01:18]
"Your mind is not a playground; it's a Battleground." [54:52]
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