Geoff Hohneck
LIVING THE CHANGED LIFE
Heavenly Thinking
Colossians 3:1-4
02 February 2014
The text before us today points to the consequences of having a new heart and being born again. It’s critical that we get to the bottom of it because everyone needs to a new heart and new mind in order to please God. After all, our inherited and personal sin drives us away from God to such an extent that we are unable to return to Him of our own accord.
What’s more, the consequences of having a new heart, as suggested by the text, is having a mind that is set on heavenly things. And that’s important to note. Because the mind is never in neutral; it never believes in ‘nothing’. Every mind is wired to be actively engaged in making choices and decisions for and against things. The key question is, are those choices and decisions aligned to heavenly, Christ-centered thinking?
CH Spurgeon sums it up well —“Whatever a man depends upon, whatever rules his mind, whatever governs his affections, whatever is the chief object of his delight, is his god.”
SERMON OUTLINE:
1. Why should our minds be engaged in heavenly things? (vs1-4)
2. What does 'setting our minds in things above' really mean?
3. How do we develop a pattern of heavenly thinking?
- Deliberately turn God’s way first
- Make time to read the scriptures
- Pray without ceasing
- Ponder God’s awesomeness
- Behold His creation and praise Him
- Consider people from God’s perspective