Inspired Christian Psychology
Notes
Transcript
Text: Phil 4:2-9
CIT: How should the Philippians practice their faith? They should agree, guard their mind, and reflect on what is good.
CIS: Christian Faith inspires our psychology.
SO: Prove - Christianity is not against reason (science, esp. psychology) or beauty, but for it. Authentic Christianity requires significant mental/psychological efforts.
Intro:
Beginning Bible School with a disdain for psychology and certain taboo intellectual subjects.
Have you ever heard of/experienced/believed this Christian perspective to psychology?
Began to like and learn a ton from the subject and today it has a ton a bearing on our ministry
Psychology is the study of mind and behavior. It encompasses the biological influences, social pressures, and environmental factors that affect how people think, act, and feel.
God is Lord of all and all that is true come from him.
Trans: Let’s learn what God has to say about how our faith should effect our Psychology.
Pray
Scripture Reading
Context
Paul
Christian Press: There is certain amount of exertion that is necessary (though not determinative of our salvation) in our faith.
Sort of a physical expectation.
Euodia and Syntyche
Leaders of the Church at Philippi (ref. Acts 16 Lydia)
True Companion
Lots of speculation (Lydia, Ephaph, Luke, Paul’s Wife), unknown
Clement
Linked by Origen (2nd/3rd cent); Ireneaus (2nd) not explicit
Agree & Reconcile in the Gospel
Agree & Reconcile in the Gospel
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Exp:
Importance suggested by listing the names in a book addressed to the entire church
Do you think these were leaders?
What do you think the nature of their disagreement was?
They labored side by side (v.2) with Paul for the ___? What does the imply about the subject and key to the disagreement?
Apply:
So what is the Gospel?
Who God is
What he’s Done
What we do now
Do we agree?
Where there is irreconcilable differences between a perspective and biblical faith, the perspective is not truly Christian.
Trans: But true Christian faith inspires our Psychology; It does not reject is outright.
Guard your Mind and Heart: Rejoice, Reason, Request
Guard your Mind and Heart: Rejoice, Reason, Request
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Exp:
This is a well-known portion of the Scripture
Rejoice!
Reasonableness:
Thinking
Interpersonal Interaction
What do these look like?
e.g. theological differences (amongst Christians/to unbelievers), style, work, life
Request: Prayer/Supplication with thanksgiving
What’s God’s promise? (v.7)
Apply:
Last week we learned that Christian faith requires a measure of effort. Some of these efforts are psychological (mental/interpersonal).
How should our faith affect our psychology?
Is our faith inherently against reason (esp. psychology)
Trans: Christian faith inspires our psychology.
Reflect on Good
Reflect on Good
8 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. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Exp:
We need to identify where these things are in our lives. It’ll keep us thankful and in awe.
Where are these in your life?
Paul served as an example for the Philippians. Who are our role models?
Apply:
Where can we invest more reflection on the good?
God is the creator of all good things, so what can we learn of God in the good that he created?
Let’s find out as we live with a God inspired Psychology.