Navigating New Media with Kingdom-Focused Discernment
Summary
In our time together, we explored the profound impact of new media on our lives and how, as Christians, we can navigate this digital landscape with discernment and purpose. The essence of our discussion was to challenge the comforted and comfort the afflicted, urging us to grow into mature, discerning individuals who use media wisely. We live in an era where discernment is not just about distinguishing truth from falsehood but also truth from half-truths. This skill is crucial, not only in the world but also within the church.
We delved into seven kingdom-focused filters to guide our use of new media. First, we must strive to make the most of our time, being disciplined and deliberate in our media consumption. This involves taking every thought captive to obey Christ, ensuring that our digital interactions align with our faith. Secondly, we should set our minds on heavenly things, using media to draw us closer to God rather than being consumed by earthly distractions.
The third filter is to use media to edify the body of Christ. Our online presence should build up and encourage others, stirring them to love and good works. This doesn't mean avoiding difficult conversations but approaching them with love and truth. Fourth, we must maintain unity and purity within the church, using media to foster peace rather than division.
Fifth, we are called to subdue the earth, using technology as a tool for God's glory. This involves discerning whether our media use serves the kingdom or becomes a hindrance. Sixth, our media interactions should glorify God, both personally and corporately. Finally, we should use media for the kingdom of God, not for personal gain, ensuring our motivations align with advancing His kingdom.
In this digital age, we are reminded that everything we do should be for God's glory. Our tweets, posts, and emails should reflect our commitment to His standards and ordinances. As we navigate this brave new world, let us be thoughtful and intentional, using all that God has given us for His glory.
Key Takeaways:
1. Discernment in Media Use: Discernment is crucial in distinguishing not only truth from falsehood but also truth from half-truths. This skill is vital in navigating the digital landscape, ensuring our media interactions align with our faith and values. [00:46]
2. Making the Most of Our Time: We are called to be disciplined and deliberate in our media consumption, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. This involves evaluating how we spend our time online and ensuring it aligns with our spiritual goals. [04:07]
3. Setting Our Minds on Heavenly Things: Our media use should draw us closer to God, setting our minds on heavenly things rather than being consumed by earthly distractions. This focus helps us remain spiritually grounded in a digital world. [10:52]
4. Edifying the Body of Christ: Our online presence should build up and encourage others, stirring them to love and good works. This involves speaking truth with love and using media to foster unity and peace within the church. [13:02]
5. Glorifying God Through Media: Our media interactions should glorify God, both personally and corporately. We must ensure our motivations align with advancing His kingdom, using technology as a tool for His glory rather than personal gain. [21:04]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction and Purpose
- [00:46] - The Need for Discernment
- [01:14] - Engaging with New Media
- [02:15] - Traditional Values and New Media
- [03:41] - Seven Kingdom-Focused Filters
- [04:07] - Making the Most of Our Time
- [06:25] - Deliberate Media Use
- [08:02] - Walking Wisely
- [09:32] - Responsible Media Consumption
- [10:52] - Setting Minds on Heavenly Things
- [12:34] - Edifying the Body of Christ
- [14:20] - Maintaining Unity and Purity
- [17:02] - Subduing the Earth
- [21:04] - Glorifying God Through Media
- [23:12] - Using Media for God's Kingdom
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
2. Ephesians 5:15-16
3. Hebrews 10:24
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Observation Questions:
1. What does 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 teach us about taking every thought captive to obey Christ, and how does this relate to our media consumption? [04:07]
2. According to Ephesians 5:15-16, how are we instructed to walk, and what does it mean to make the best use of our time in the context of new media? [08:02]
3. How does the author of Hebrews 10:24 encourage us to interact with one another, and what role does media play in stirring one another up to love and good works? [13:02]
4. In the sermon, what are some examples given of using media to edify the body of Christ? [12:34]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How can the concept of taking every thought captive in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 be applied to our daily interactions on social media? [04:07]
2. What does it mean to walk circumspectly as described in Ephesians 5:15-16, and how can this be applied to our use of digital platforms? [08:02]
3. In what ways can our online presence either build up or tear down the unity and purity of the church, as discussed in the sermon? [14:20]
4. How does the sermon suggest we balance the use of new media for personal enjoyment versus kingdom purposes? [21:04]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current media habits. Are there specific areas where you feel you need to exercise more discernment? How can you begin to address these areas this week? [00:46]
2. Consider your daily schedule. How can you be more disciplined and deliberate in your media consumption to ensure it aligns with your spiritual goals? [04:07]
3. Identify one way you can use your social media presence to edify the body of Christ this week. What specific action will you take to encourage others online? [13:02]
4. Think about a recent online interaction that may have caused division rather than unity. How could you have approached it differently to maintain peace within the church? [14:20]
5. Evaluate your motivations for using new media. Are there any personal gains that might be overshadowing your desire to glorify God? How can you realign your intentions? [21:04]
6. Is there a particular distraction in your digital life that prevents you from focusing on heavenly things? What steps can you take to minimize this distraction? [10:52]
7. How can you use your digital platforms to advance the kingdom of God rather than your own personal kingdom? Identify one specific way to do this in the coming week. [22:18]
Devotional
Day 1: Discernment in the Digital Age
In today's world, discernment is more than just distinguishing between truth and falsehood; it involves recognizing the subtle differences between truth and half-truths. This skill is essential for navigating the digital landscape, where information is abundant and often misleading. As Christians, it is crucial to ensure that our media interactions align with our faith and values. By being vigilant and thoughtful, we can protect ourselves from being swayed by deceptive narratives and instead focus on what is true and edifying. [00:46]
"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." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to ensure that your media consumption aligns with your faith and values?
Day 2: Intentional Time Management
We are called to be disciplined and deliberate in our media consumption, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. This involves evaluating how we spend our time online and ensuring it aligns with our spiritual goals. By being intentional with our time, we can avoid the trap of mindless scrolling and instead use media as a tool for growth and connection with God. This discipline requires constant self-reflection and a commitment to prioritize what truly matters. [04:07]
"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: How can you restructure your daily routine to prioritize time with God over digital distractions?
Day 3: Heavenly Focus in a Digital World
Our media use should draw us closer to God, setting our minds on heavenly things rather than being consumed by earthly distractions. This focus helps us remain spiritually grounded in a digital world that often pulls us in different directions. By intentionally choosing content that uplifts and inspires, we can cultivate a mindset that is aligned with God's purposes and remain steadfast in our faith. [10:52]
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:1-2, ESV)
Reflection: What changes can you make in your media habits to ensure they draw you closer to God rather than distract you from Him?
Day 4: Building Up the Body of Christ
Our online presence should build up and encourage others, stirring them to love and good works. This involves speaking truth with love and using media to foster unity and peace within the church. By being intentional about the content we share and the conversations we engage in, we can contribute to a positive and uplifting online community that reflects the love of Christ. [13:02]
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:23-25, ESV)
Reflection: How can you use your online presence today to encourage and build up someone in your community?
Day 5: Glorifying God Through Media
Our media interactions should glorify God, both personally and corporately. We must ensure our motivations align with advancing His kingdom, using technology as a tool for His glory rather than personal gain. By being mindful of our intentions and the impact of our digital footprint, we can use media as a platform to share God's love and truth with the world. [21:04]
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can use your media interactions today to glorify God and advance His kingdom?
Quotes
It was Spurgeon, and I heard it via John MacArthur, who said, “Discernment is not only a matter of discerning truth from falsehood, but also a matter of discerning truth from half-truth.” And discernment has all but disappeared from the landscape today, not only in the world but also in the church. [00:57:38]
The first kingdom focused filter, if you will, is this, as Christians we should strive to use new media to make the most of our time. We need to be both disciplined and deliberate in the use of our time. First of all, Paul teaches in Titus 1:8 regarding elders and qualifications for elders, we are to be hospitable, lovers of good, self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined, and this call and these qualifications aren’t only for elders but for all the people of God to strive. [03:54:07]
Paul writes in Ephesians, chapter 5, verses 15 and 16, that we’re to look carefully then how we walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of our time because the days are evil. Now Paul is addressing both our walk and our time. He says to walk circumspectly, to walk carefully. [07:49:69]
The question is, does our use of new media cause us to set our minds merely on earthly things or on heavenly things as well? Paul writes in Philippians 3:19, speaking of false teachers, “Their end is destruction, whose god is their bellies, whose glory is in their shame, and who set their minds on earthly things.” We as the people of God are to set our minds on heavenly things. [10:57:68]
C.S. Lewis in his classic work, Mere Christianity, writes, “The Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.” It is since Christians have begun thinking less of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this world. [12:20:55]
The third point, as Christians we are to strive to use new media to edify the body of Christ. John Piper really was the inspiration for me getting on Twitter to begin with. I examined it for several months and tried to discern, is this a good use of my time? I’m called to serve God, and as I’m called to serve God, I’m called to serve His people as a pastor in a local community. [12:34:29]
Paul writes in Ephesians 4, “Therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain… striving, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.” We need to be careful to guard our unity and our peace with the brethren. [14:34:32]
Friends, Twitter and the blogosphere is not the primary venue for airing our grievances and our complaints and our criticisms. Thoughtful, careful, Biblically governed and theologically grounded, careful words of challenge and rebuke can appear through these various media. But it is not the primary means, and it’s not the best venue all the time for airing these grievances. [15:04:03]
Now, Mr. Larson, my dear friend, just quoted for us from Genesis, chapter 1 about the business of subduing the earth, taking all that we have whether it’s been invented by Christians or not, and looking at it, examining it and saying discerningly, “Is this something that we can use for the building up of the body and for the fulfillment of the Great Commission that Christ has given us?” [16:51:11]
And by His Holy Spirit and by working in us His great work in our hearts, using us to take His word and His gospel to the ends of the earth. So let us subdue the earth and use all these things for God’s glory. George Downame in the 17th century, a Puritan preacher and Cambridge fellow wrote this, listen carefully, “Let us use worldly things as wise Pilgrims used their staffs and other necessities convenient for their journeys. [19:28:49]
And lastly, as Christians we should strive to use new media for the kingdom of God and not for our own personal kingdoms. Paul writes in 11… Romans 11:36, “For from Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever.” David Livingstone wrote this, “I place no value on anything I have or may possess except in relation to the kingdom of God. [21:30:38]
Everything we do as God’s people should be for His kingdom, and thus according to His standards and His ordinances, His means that He has given us. Because if God is the one to be glorified, then everything we do, everything we say, everything we think, everything we text, everything we tweet, everything we email, everything we blog, everything we write, whether it’s books, articles, whether it’s blog posts, whatever it is, dear ones, let it be for the glory of God. [23:32:46]
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