Reframing Your Mind

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

APRIL 1 at 5pm - “Thanksgiving Meal”

April 9th at 10am - Resurrection Sunday

We need people willing to model SACRIFICE on Resurrection

Pray (in the garden)

Invite (at the cross)

Serve (take care of others - Jn. 19:26-27)

*CHURCH UPDATES: Digital and paper connect Card

DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

SVCC is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, and we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit.

Prayer for...

INTRODUCTION:

Review: Our Mind is the Battlefield (cf. Rm. 7-8)

WHY?…

Romans 12:2 “2 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.”

TODAY: Reframing our thoughts

Series Credits: Craig Groeschel; Curt Thompson, MD; Dr. AJ Swoboda; Dr. Jim Wilder

Opening Scripture:

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 ESV

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

“Divine power to destroy strongholds”

Destroy by taking “every thought captive to obey Christ”

We all look at life through various lenses

Lenses = filters

We can have the same facts but see things differently because of our filters

Examples:

-We can all look at a coin but some are seeing the head and some the tale

-ILLUSTRATION: Color lenses

-Left Hand: “poop hand” vs. sign of intelligence

-Bountiful & Beautiful vs. Fortified & Fierce (Num. 13 - 2+10 Spies)

-Elephants vs. Rabbits (how do we view discipleship)

Same situation—Your lenses—Determines how you see it.

***Not just a lens but a FRAME***

Reframing—Creating a different way of looking at a situation or relationship

...by changing its meaning.

EXAMPLES: The picture seen through the camera LENS can be changed to a view that is closer or further away. By slightly changing what is seen in the camera, the picture is both viewed and experienced differently.

Paul’s framing of his imprisonment:

Philippians 1:12–13 ESV

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

“to advance the gospel”

“my imprisonment is for Christ”

Philippians 1:14 NLT

14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear.

“because of...” CHAINS

“gained confidence and boldly speak” (reframed!)

Reframing:

1) Thank God for what didn’t happen

Example: “Fender bender”...-Expensive-...Reframed: no one hurt

2) Pre-frame it

Our Thoughts or Frames—Shape what we experience

Example:

-Going to dentist…-“waterboarding”-...pre-frame: clean teeth

-____ going to be...-hard-...reframe: an opportunity to grow

3) Look for God’s goodness

Example:

-Want to see Bad, Negative, Challenges

-Want to see Good, Positive, Opportunities

Conclusion/Reflection:

If God works in all things for good - Reject unhealthy Default Frames. (Loser, Failure, Not smart)

Reframing - Not passively receiving circumstance—Actively interpreting.

Not interpreting God thru circumstances! Interpreting my circumstances thru goodness of God!

You can’t control everything that happens to you. But you can control how you frame it.

Romans 8:37-39 “37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”