Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

As we begin another year, we often evaluate where we have been, where we are now, and where we would like to be.

Where would you like to be a year from now?

In your job?

In your relationship with Christ?

In your relationship with your spouse and kids?

Do you know you can not only set goals for where you want to be a year from now, but you can also make sure you are on the right track to attaining the goal or goals you have set for yourself.

For instance, I know that all of you would say, in your context, in your job, in your family, it can be really challenging at times.

Am I right?

Is it challenging sometimes?

It can be that way.

And when times get tough and challenging, we tend to allow our thoughts run wild.

I want to say right now that your thoughts matter more than you can imagine.

Your posture, even right now, it tells us so much about the direction of your life.

Have you come expecting God to do the unexpected or have you come because going to church is what you are supposed to do on Sundays?

Write this big thought down on your notes and that is this,

"Our lives move in the direction of our strongest thoughts."

Your life is moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts.

Your life is moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts.

If your thoughts are full of faith, full of God's truth, you are becoming more like Christ every single day.

If your thoughts are negative, toxic, polluted, I promise you, you will not live in victory.

I promise you, you will struggle in your actions because your thoughts are far from God's truth.

Our thoughts, our lives, move in the direction of our strongest thoughts.

Let’s look at what Paul says about our thoughts in :

He said, "Those who are dominated by the sinful nature," what do they think about?

All of our churches, let's say it loud.

What do they think about.

"They think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit," what do they think about?

"They think about things that please the Spirit.

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death, but," this is important, "But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace."

Our lives are moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts.

Your inner dialogue matters!

I don't know how many of you talk to yourselves.

How many of you would say that you actually talk to yourself?

I talk to myself from time to time and sometimes, my inner dialogue is very pleasing to God.

Other times, my inner dialogue can be very destructive.

I want to ask you the question:

Is your inner dialogue dominated by sinful, negative, and critical thinking?

Or would you say that your mind is controlled by the spirit of God, consistent with God honoring Christ-directed thoughts?

In fact, let me give you just a couple of different scenarios to help you answer this question.

Regarding your thought life, is it more God-centered, or would you say it is more negative-based?

I’m going to give you two scenarios and be honest with yourself as to which scenario best describes you.

Scenario number one would be more God-centered.

When you wake up, is the common direction of your mind during the day this, "My God is with me, my life matters, I've got a great calling, I'm full of faith, my mind is full of life and peace, I've got divine energy to do everything that God has called me to do, I'm excited about this day, today I'm going to make a difference for the glory of God?"

Does that represent something along the lines of your thinking?

Scenario number two would be more self-centered:

Or do you kind of wake up and think, "Snooze!

I'm tired.

Where's the coffee?

Why can’t the kids take care of themselves?

Oh my Gosh, here we go again.

It's a tough week, too much to do, wish I had an extra day in the week.

Tired, go to my stupid job, work with stupid people.

Life's overwhelming.

Whatever I do, I just can't get ahead."

Now obviously, I'm probably exaggerating a little on both sides, but if you're really honest, what would reflect the general dialogue that you have with yourself in your mind?

I want to make a statement and I'm going to ask a question.

I want you to really think about this.

Statement: your life is moving in the direction of your strongest thoughts.

Question: are you excited about the direction your thoughts are taking you?

I had to ask myself those questions and I answered quite honestly, "No I'm not.

I don't like my thoughts or self-conversation."

Let me tell you really honestly what I found myself saying over and over and over again.

What I found myself saying was, "Man, I've got too much to do.

I can't get it all done.

I don't know how long I can keep this up.

This is just too overwhelming."

This is what I said over and over and over again.

I'm not proud of it, but that was my inner dialogue.

What I recognized is I needed God to help change my thinking.

If God could change my thinking, that could change a lot about me.

Paul tells us in :

He said, "Don't copy the behaviors and customs of this world, but let God," do what?

"But let God transform you."

Let God change you.

"Let God transform you into a new person," by doing what?

"Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think."

This is not me changing me.

This is God changing me by renewing my mind, by stopping the negative lies and replacing them with Godly truth.

This is me working to align my thoughts with God's thoughts and when I think God thoughts, God changes me not into a better version of me, but a new person.

Let God change you into a new person by changing the way you think because like it or not, so much of life isn't about what happens to you, but so much life is how you think about what happens to you.

Let me say it this way.

When something bad happens to one person, they fall apart.

When that same bad thing happens to someone else, they're like, "Well I just got closer to God because of this."

It's not so much what happens to you.

It's how you think about what happens to you.

It's the same with your stress.

This is something I learned recently as well!

Stress is not about how much you have to do.

Stress is how you think about what you have to do.

When you recognize that God is with you, His power is real, His grace sustains you.

When you're weak, He carries you.

In your weakness, His strength is made perfect.

Suddenly, what used to seem like stress becomes an opportunity to tap into His power.

It's not about all that you have to do, it's how you think about all that you have to do.

Paul unpacks this powerful thought in second Corinthians chapter 10, verse 3.

He says this and this will be encouraging to you.

"Though we live in the world, we don't wage war as the world does."

He's going to get into some cool language.

He says, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world."