Sermon Sketch for Sunday, February 3

Stimulating My Mind
Being intentional about my thoughts and attitudes.

1. Our Minds Have Limits
Psalm 131 (A song of ascents. Of David.)
1 My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2a But I have stilled and quieted my soul…
Ecc. 12:11b-14
12b Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. 13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments...

2. Our Minds Should Not Be Idolized
1 Cor. 3:18-20
18 Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight...
Prov. 26:12
"Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."

3. Our Minds Can Be Hurt
Romans 1:21-23
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ...
Romans 1:28,32
28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

4. Our Minds Are to Be Used
Acts 17:1-3 (Thessalonian Jews)
2As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.
Acts 17:11 (Berean Jews)
11...with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Acts 17:17 (Athenian Jews & God-Fearing Greeks)
17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
Acts 17:18-31 (Athens – Epicurean & Stoic philosophers)
27God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

5. Our Minds Are to Mature and Be Stimulated
Prov. 15:14
"The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly."
1 Cor. 13:11
11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Prov. 4:18-19
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. 19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Luke 8:16-18
16 "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."

5. Our Minds Are to Be Directed
Phil. 4:8-9
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.