One Way to Think and Act (4:8-9)

One Way to Think and Act: Philippians 4:8-9 Pray & Intro: What sets us apart from all other creation? An awareness of our consciousness. • Rene Descartes: je pense, donc je suis (French) cogito ergo sum (Latin). I think, therefore I am. (I am thinking, therefore I exist.) • The life you live in your mind is the life you live. • Our Christian thought-life is controlling factor for our relationships, for our joy and peace in God, and for our obedience to Him in godly living. Read & Discuss: (start at v. 4) I. Our text: A. 6 virtues or ethical qualities followed by a dual summary – Think about these things. B. Paul then presses them to practice in godly living what they have learned of God and received in the gospel, what they have heard and seen by example (the example he has set of following Christ’s example). C. Paul takes the concept of a virtue list (from popular moral thinking in his day) and employs it to focus on the character of God, particularly as revealed in Christ Jesus, and therefore the character that we too ought to emulate. D. Think: Logical deliberation and the conclusion drawn from it (Aaron C. Fenlason). II. Straight to the point: (Things which take into consideration the details of this text, that are consistent with the context of Paul’s letter to the Philippians and all of scripture.) A. Think and act like God is the single most important pursuit for your own existence. B. Think and act like Jesus is ultimately the only model for a life well-lived. 1. In relationship to God 2. In relationship to self 3. In relationship to others a. Those in the family of God b. Those still separated from God (who haven’t yet embraced his offer of restoration to him through Jesus) C. Review some key texts in Paul’s letter to the Philippians III. The list and it’s connection to our major premises: A. True – real 1. The truth of God – “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” ― A.W. Tozer 2. And the gospel of Jesus Christ – The gospel changes everything.  How we view the world around us (moon, language); how we think about the problem of evil, how we think about ourselves and others 3. What is true about me (b/c of what is true about God)? a. I belong to God. I am His. b. More specifically and more personally – My mission in life is to preach and reach, to love and learn and lead… with the passion of a sinner God has saved, by the power of God’s Holy Spirit, from the pages of God’s word, for the purity of Christ’s church, to the praise of God. 4. They need Jesus as desperately as I do. B. Honorable, noble – worthy of respect, dignified  In Gk literature this term was applied to the gods to express how they were worthy of respect, to describe that they were holy (set apart). So you do you think Paul intends for us to apply the term to? (digno, worthy, digno de alabanza) 1. Think on what is worthy of awe and adoration in the God who is completely and totally holy. 2. All acceptance of truth about God should result in worship of God. C. Just/right – correct, righteous, innocent – “in accordance with the divine standard, and thus fulfilling all obligations to God, others, and themselves1” D. Pure – without moral defect E. Lovely (pleasing) – (only time this word is used in N.T.) that which inspires love  What could be more love-inspiring than the gospel itself (and the God of the gospel)? – see Christ-hymn, early verses of ch. 2  In it’s passive sense it means agreeable, amiable. – focus on what is kind and gracious F. Commendable – what is winsome as opposed to offensive (the cross is foolishness and a stumbling block to those who do not perceive the goodness, grace, and glory of God in it – their hearts remained darkened) – but you see the cross of Christ as beautiful and the sacrifice of Christ as infinitely commendable and the character of God revealed in it IV. The ending summary and catch-all  if there is anything good/virtue and deserving of praise – not intended to be an exhaustive list V. What you have learned and received, what you have heard and seen, put into practice (act) A. To put God and the gospel of Jesus on display. (true, noble, just, pure, lovely, commendable – excellent and praiseworthy) B. Take care what you listen to (what you buy into), and read, and watch. (What you think about is who you are.) 1. Rom. 8:5-6 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 2. Mt. 16:23 “But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” [see Mt. 16 – on either side of this passage] C. Where do we get what we need to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things, to keep seeking the things that are above, to put to death what is earthly in us and to put on the things of God (Col. 3)? – God’s revelation to us… as a source of growing intimacy with God himself.  Seek God in the devotion of your heart. VI. The God of peace with you. Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace     whose mind is stayed on you,     because he trusts in you. VII. The life you live in your mind is the life you live. You are what you think. And the most important thing about you is what you think about when you think about God. – So [Review main points.] A. We have the mind of Christ. – 1 Cor. 2:16 (quoting Is. 40:13) 1. Rom. 11:33-36 2. John 15:15 B. Where is your head at today?