Renovation of the Heart

1. Renovation of the Heart Session 6: Transforming our Thoughts

2. Introduction to Part 2 • For the rest of the quarter we will examine how to renovate our life from the inside out • Thoughts, Feelings, Will, Body and Relationships • Examine each part of this renovation using VIM (Vision, Intention, Means)

3. Transforming our Thoughts • The goal of renovation of the heart is to become like Christ • If we truly want to become like Christ we need to first examine our thoughts • Why are our thoughts so important? • Temptation begins as a thought • Thoughts control feelings to some degree • Thoughts are prerequisites to everything we do

4. The 4 “i”s of Thinking • Ideas: • Memories • Planning • Critical Thinking • Creativity

5. The 4 “i”s of Thinking • Ideologies • Underlying belief and/or value system • Cultural values (freedom, democracy, pursuit of happiness) • What one finds as “common” or “natural” • System of values that grew up with us from childhood

6. The 4 “i”s of Thinking • Images • External symbols that represent ideas or ideologies • Images bring can bring ideas and ideologies to mind • Images are connected to emotion • Images of Christian faith • Wrong images can distort ideologies

16. The 4 “i”s of Thinking • Information • We can only think about what we know • Lack of information leads to error in decision making • We cannot know Christ without the facts and information in the gospel

17. VIM and Our Thoughts • Vision- what does Scripture say should be the kind of thought life we should have? • Intention- Do we want to live this way? • Means- How do we make it happen?

18. Scriptures for and on thought • Romans 12:1-2: 1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

19. Scriptures for and on thought • 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 4 “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

20. Scriptures for and on thought • Matthew 16:21-23: 21“From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

21. Scriptures for and on thought • Philippians 4:8-9: 8“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

22. Dangers in Our Thoughts • Pride or overconfidence in our ideas, ideals, images, and images • Biased thinking – our desires influence our thinking and in turn how we perceive things • Ignorance of important information • We must be careful about what images we allow into our minds, even if its just “entertainment.” • Beware worldly wisdom

23. Means to a Transformed Thought Life • Living in the Scriptures • Memorization • Surround yourself with godly images • Pictures • Scriptures • Spend time with godly influences • Godly friendships • Mentors