Transforming Thoughts: Thinking and Living Like Jesus
Summary
Over the past four weeks, we have been on a transformative journey to become more like Jesus. Our aim is to reflect our Savior in our actions and conversations, so that when the world looks at us, they see Him. This journey requires us to examine ourselves in the mirror of God's Word and make necessary changes to align our lives with the example of Christ. This process is not limited to our gatherings but extends into our daily lives, which is why we have initiated life groups across the city. These groups provide a platform for discussion, encouragement, and mutual edification as we strive to live out our faith.
Today, we focused on the importance of thinking like Jesus. Our thoughts are the seeds from which our actions grow. To pray, serve, and live like Jesus, we must first learn to think like Him. Our thoughts stir our affections, direct our wills, and conceive our actions. Therefore, it is crucial that we think about the right things in the right way.
We explored several key areas of thought, comparing our perspectives with those of Jesus. We considered our thoughts about sin, life, people, and ourselves. Jesus saw sin as a serious issue, not to be taken lightly. He focused His thoughts on the kingdom of God, His life's purpose, and did not allow worry to consume Him. When Jesus looked at people, He did so with compassion, desiring to help them. And when it comes to how Jesus thinks about us, He sees us as valuable and loved, so much so that He endured the cross for our sake.
To align our thoughts with those of Jesus, we must renew our minds. This involves developing new neural pathways by consistently thinking thoughts that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. We must take every thought captive and measure it against these standards, feeding the good thoughts and killing the bad ones.
In closing, we were reminded that right thinking leads to right living. Our thoughts should fuel our actions, and we must prepare our minds for action. By surrendering our thoughts to the Holy Spirit, we allow Him to transform us and guide us in thinking like Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
- To think like Jesus, we must regularly audit our thoughts and assess whether they align with His perspective on sin, life, people, and ourselves. This self-reflection is not about self-condemnation but about growth and transformation. As we align our thoughts with Christ's, our actions will naturally follow suit. [01:10:44]
- The renewal of our minds is a process that requires active participation. We must intentionally develop new neural pathways by focusing on thoughts that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy. This practice will gradually replace negative thinking patterns with ones that reflect the mind of Christ. [01:16:10]
- Taking every thought captive is a discipline that involves scrutinizing every thought that enters our mind and determining whether it should be nurtured or discarded. This is not a one-time event but a continuous practice that helps us maintain a mindset that honors God and fosters spiritual growth. [01:17:33]
- The concept of "fixing our thoughts" has a dual meaning: correcting wrong thinking and affixing our minds onto the right things. By doing so, we ensure that our thoughts are anchored in what is true and godly, which in turn influences our actions and character. [01:21:26]
- The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the transformation of our thought life. While we do our part in taking thoughts captive and renewing our minds, we also rely on the Holy Spirit to empower us, correct us, and lead us into all truth. Our cooperation with the Spirit is essential for thinking and living like Jesus. [01:36:59]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 4:23 (NLT): "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."
2. 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."
3. Philippians 4:8 (NLT): "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."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Proverbs 4:23, why is it important to guard our hearts? How does this relate to our thought life? [59:25]
2. In Romans 12:2, what does Paul say is the result of letting God transform us by changing the way we think? [01:15:20]
3. Philippians 4:8 lists several qualities that our thoughts should have. Can you name them and explain why each is important? [01:21:09]
4. What did the pastor mean by "taking every thought captive" and how does this practice help in aligning our thoughts with Jesus'? [01:17:22]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of guarding our hearts in Proverbs 4:23 connect with the idea of auditing our thoughts as discussed in the sermon? [59:25]
2. Romans 12:2 speaks about transformation through the renewal of our minds. What practical steps can believers take to allow this transformation to happen? [01:15:20]
3. Philippians 4:8 encourages us to fix our thoughts on specific qualities. How can focusing on these qualities change our daily behavior and interactions with others? [01:21:09]
4. The sermon mentioned that Jesus viewed sin as a serious issue. How does this perspective influence our understanding of sin and its impact on our lives? [01:10:07]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current thought patterns. Are there specific areas where your thoughts do not align with the qualities listed in Philippians 4:8? How can you begin to change these thought patterns this week? [01:21:09]
2. The pastor emphasized the importance of taking every thought captive. Can you identify a recurring negative thought in your life? What steps will you take to capture and replace it with a positive, Christ-like thought? [01:17:22]
3. Jesus viewed people with compassion and love. Think of someone you find difficult to love. How can you change your thoughts about this person to reflect Jesus' compassion? [01:12:09]
4. The sermon discussed the importance of thinking about our purpose and not being consumed by worry. What is one area of your life where worry tends to dominate your thoughts? How can you shift your focus to God's purpose for you in that area? [01:11:00]
5. The pastor mentioned the need for a thought audit. This week, take time to audit your thoughts. What did you discover about your thought patterns, and how can you make adjustments to think more like Jesus? [01:02:01]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of "fixing your thoughts" on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy into your daily routine? Share a specific strategy you plan to use. [01:21:09]
7. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in transforming our thought life. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to help you in your thought transformation process? What specific prayer or practice will you implement to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance? [01:36:59]
Devotional
Day 1: Auditing Thoughts for Christlike Alignment
Self-reflection is a powerful tool in the journey of spiritual formation. It is through this introspection that individuals can assess whether their thoughts mirror those of Jesus, particularly in areas concerning sin, life, people, and self-perception. This is not an exercise in self-condemnation but rather one of growth and transformation. By examining one's thoughts and comparing them with the perspective of Christ, a believer can begin to understand where adjustments are needed. As thoughts become more aligned with those of Jesus, actions will naturally follow, leading to a life that more accurately reflects the character of Christ. This alignment is a continuous process, requiring regular check-ins and adjustments to ensure that one's thought life remains on the right path [07:40].
"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." - Philippians 4:8
Reflection: What specific thought patterns do you recognize in your life that do not align with Jesus' perspective on sin, life, people, and self-worth, and what practical steps can you take to begin aligning them with His?
Day 2: Cultivating a Mind of Christ
The renewal of the mind is an active and intentional process. It involves the deliberate focus on thoughts that embody the virtues of truth, honor, righteousness, purity, love, admiration, excellence, and praise. This practice is akin to cultivating a garden where negative thoughts are uprooted, and positive, Christlike thoughts are planted and nurtured. Over time, this intentional cultivation leads to the development of new neural pathways, which replace old patterns of negative thinking. As believers consistently immerse themselves in thoughts that reflect the mind of Christ, they will experience a transformation not only in their thought life but also in their overall character and actions [07:40].
"Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." - Colossians 3:9-10
Reflection: Identify one negative thought pattern you struggle with and choose a corresponding virtue from Philippians 4:8 to focus on this week. How will you intentionally cultivate this virtue in your daily life?
Day 3: Discipline of Captive Thoughts
Taking every thought captive is a spiritual discipline that requires believers to scrutinize each thought that enters their minds. This involves determining whether a thought is in line with God's truth and deciding whether it should be nurtured or discarded. This practice is not a one-time event but a continuous effort that helps maintain a mindset that honors God and promotes spiritual growth. By regularly examining their thoughts and holding them against the standard of God's Word, believers can prevent harmful patterns from taking root and encourage a healthy, godly thought life [07:40].
"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." - 2 Corinthians 10:5
Reflection: What is one thought that you have allowed to dwell in your mind that is not obedient to Christ, and how can you actively take it captive today?
Day 4: Fixing Thoughts on the Eternal
The concept of "fixing our thoughts" carries a dual meaning: it involves both correcting wrong thinking and firmly setting our minds on the right things. By ensuring that thoughts are anchored in truth and godliness, believers can influence their actions and character to be more in line with Christ's. This practice of fixing thoughts on the eternal truths of God's Word allows believers to navigate the challenges of life with a perspective that transcends the temporary and focuses on the everlasting. It is a conscious choice to direct one's mental attention to what is truly important and lasting [07:40].
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." - Colossians 3:2
Reflection: What are the "things above" that you need to set your mind on, and how can you practically fix your thoughts on these things throughout your day?
Day 5: Empowered by the Spirit in Thought
While believers play an active role in renewing their minds and taking thoughts captive, they are not alone in this endeavor. The Holy Spirit is a crucial partner in the transformation of the thought life. As believers surrender their thoughts to the Holy Spirit, they allow Him to empower, correct, and lead them into all truth. This cooperation with the Spirit is essential for thinking and living like Jesus. It is through this divine partnership that believers can experience the fullness of a transformed mind, one that is capable of discerning God's will and reflecting His character in the world [07:40].
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you." - John 14:16-17
Reflection: In what area of your thought life do you need the Holy Spirit's guidance today, and how can you open yourself up to His leading and correction?
Quotes
1) "And so today I want to plead with you. If you're going to take every thought captive, sometimes you need to say no brain. OK, and so we're going to take these thoughts captive. We're going to explain what that means in a second. But then we're going to fix our thoughts." [01:21:26]
2) "We've been on a little bit of a journey over the last four weeks in becoming more like Jesus, because what we want is that when the world would look at us and what we do, what we talk about, that they wouldn't just see us. They would see reflection of our savior." [57:05]
3) "It's from our thoughts that our actions are derived, right? From our thoughts come the things we do. So if you want to pray like Jesus, what do you need to do first? You got to think like Jesus. If you want to serve like Jesus, what do you got to do first? You got to think like Jesus." [58:11]
4) "Above all, be careful what you think. Why? Because your thoughts control your life. And if our thoughts control our lives, then we probably need to spend a little bit of time thinking about our thoughts a little bit more and paying more attention to where our thoughts are leading us and how they're controlling us." [59:48]
5) "You've got to remember that right thinking leads to right living. Right thinking leads us to right doing. We don't want to just think like Jesus. We want to live like Jesus. The whole point of this is not for us to become more intellectual, where we can just sit in a room and talk about our deep thoughts all the time." [01:33:04]
6) "Jesus thinks you're awesome. He thinks you have value. So much so that he numbered the hairs on your head. And I recognize that's way more impressive for some people than it is for others. But literally Jesus thought you were to die for." [01:14:11]
7) "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by what? By the renewal of your mind. And so when my thoughts and Jesus' thoughts don't line up, I need to change my mind, not try and change his mind." [01:15:17]
8) "You do the work of comparing it to Philippians 4.8. You do the work of killing bad thoughts and letting them stay dead. You feed the good thoughts. You do the work that you can do. And when you still fall short, which all of us do, that's when the Holy Spirit comes in." [01:36:59]
9) "But those who live following the Spirit are thinking about what the Spirit wants them to do. If your thinking is controlled by your sinful self, there is spiritual death. But if your thinking is controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace." [01:35:44]
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