It’s All In Your Mind: Part 1: Transformation
Welcome to our new series- It’s all in your mind

“Our mind is the control center of our attitudes, our thoughts, our perceptions, our feelings, our affections, and our actions.”
What we think about matters!

-We are focusing this series on the battle in our minds. We believe God gives us victory in this battle. We will not waste another day losing a battle we can win.-There are a lot of ways God’s Word could challenge us to be transformed, but it clearly states we are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2).-Most of life’s battles are won or lost in the mind.-This transformation isn’t optional – only for some people – but for anyone who wants to mature in the faith. It’s for anyone who wants to experience victory.-Without a renewed mind we are adrift, not able to know the Will of God.-When we are in Christ, we have access to the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).-A transformed mind isn’t just your mind cleaned up a little – it’s HIS MIND IN YOU.-Our declaration of truth: Change your mind, change your life.

It’s All In Your Mind: Part 1-Transformation
Welcome to our new series- It’s all in your mind

“Our mind is the control center of our attitudes, our thoughts, our perceptions, our feelings, our affections, and our actions.”
What we think about matters!

How is your thought life right now? Where would you land on these scales?
Worried 1 2 3 4…8 9 10 Peaceful
Pessimistic/negative 1 2 3 4…8 9 10 Optimistic/hopeful
Worldy/temporary 1 2 3 4…8 9 10 Jesus/eternal

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬‬
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world”
We are not to “fall into line” with the worlds way of thinking or doing things.

“But be transformed by the renewing of your mind”
Rather than conforming to the ways of the world we are to be completely, categorically made new in Christ.

The renewing of our minds is a renewal of…
1.The seat of our emotions and affections
2.Our modes of thinking and feeling
3.Our disposition, our right and wrong decision making
4.Our perception, our understanding
5.Our ability to discern and judge

“Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

The result of a transformed life and a renewed mind is that we can navigate our world and our thoughts with the ability to test and know what God’s will is.

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭2:16‬‬
for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

We can have the disposition of Christ, His understanding, his perception, his thoughts.

Because we have the mind of Christ, we can be transformed into His image.

Will you take a stand in the battle of your mind?
To change your mind is to change your life…

Will you pray this prayer of transformation?
“Lord, change my mind, change my life”

http://bible.com/events/48747337

Stand

Brian Charette unpacks Ephesians 6:10-14 and a biblical approach to standing firm in our time.

Pastor Kerry’s Message – 8/8/21
This morning is a kind of Part 2 to Pastor Kerry’s message last week as we fill in for Pastor Adrian who is away for a much-needed vacation. We encourage you to watch that message when you have a chance. You’ll find it here:
https://vimeo.com/584581193

Ephesians 6:10-14a
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then…

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:16‬‬
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

The Greek word, histemi (throughout the Ephesians 6 text) is an important one throughout the New Testament as it relates to how a believer is to act. It means “make a stand,” “stand before/among others,” “rise up,” “stand unshakeable,” etc.

Standing Lessons
1. Standing is standing as individuals together – in unity

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:1-2‬‬
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

Just as in the church at Ephesus, there were those in Philippi taking stands against each other instead of the real enemy.

‭‭John‬ ‭17:22-23‬‬
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Standing Lessons
2. Standing is sacrificing

‭‭Acts‬ ‭14:8-20‬‬
In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: “Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them. Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

Standing Lessons
3. Standing is an expression of love

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:10-13‬‬
At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

‭‭John‬ ‭15:13‬‬
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Ultimately, to stand firm – to take your stand – in a biblical sense, is to love.

And perhaps, in the middle of a love drought, those of us carrying living water are needed more than ever.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭21:19‬‬
Stand firm, and you will win life.

Burning Questions: What do you mean you don’t believe “once-saved-always-saved”?
Burning Questions part 3: What do you mean you don’t believe once-saved-always-saved?

Burning Questions:
“What do you mean you don’t believe in once-saved-always-saved?

So, what’s with this question? What’s it about or what’s behind it?
a.This question is about a doctrine commonly held within the Reformed or Calvinist tradition, for example think Baptists, Presbyterians or United Church of Christ.
b.This doctrine or belief states that once you have been saved, you can never lose your salvation.
c.The belief is that God’s grace will always keep you, and that no matter what you do, you will be finally saved and spend eternity with Christ

Salvation becomes like that sign you see at the store “All sales are final, absolutely no returns.”

Scriptures that seem to uphold this view:
John 10:28-29
1 Peter 1:5
Philippians 1:6

So, Whats the Big deal? I think we can encounter a two-fold problem.

First, if we are leaning heavy into the idea that once we are saved, we are automatically saved forever, our corrupt sinful nature will cause us to put too much emphasis on what we did in the past, rather than how we live currently.

Secondly, to lean heavily on the idea that we are once saved and always saved is to minimize or ignore the many, many scriptures that point to the necessity of believers growth, persistence, and continued response to the call of Christ.

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:12-14‬‬
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3:12-14‬‬
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.

Jesus argued against once saved always saved, giving us a very clear warning about falling away and the urgency of persistence in our faith.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:12-13‬‬
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

So, do you believe in once-saved-always-saved?

We believe that those in Christ can rest assured that they are saved, that those who love Him and desire to surrender to Him don’t have to worry that God will abandon them. We believe that a person’s relationship with God is just that – a relationship. And that a person can, sadly, choose to abandon that relationship.

As with many of our questions throughout this series, we are challenged to evaluate our own hearts, our own “position” if you will on the matter.

How is your relationship with Jesus? Right now?
How is your race of Faith going today? are you still in it?
Has the cooling wind of lawlessness cooled your once white-hot devotion to God?

The beauty of all of this is that you can decide right now to love Jesus actively. Your love doesn’t have to grow or remain cold.

http://bible.com/events/48743010

Redeemed and Restored

Pastor Kerry Willis brings the word from Mark 2:1-12

[1] Several days later Jesus returned to Capernaum and the news of His arrival spread quickly through the town. [2] Soon the house where He was staying was so packed with visitors that there wasn’t room for one more person, not even outside the door. [3] Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. [4] They couldn’t get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above His head. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. [5] Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.“ [6] But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there said to themselves, [7] “What? This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins!” [8] Jesus knew what they were discussing among themselves, so He said to them, “Why do you think this is blasphemy? [9] Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? [10] I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, [11] “Stand up, take your mat, and go on home because you are healed!” [12] The man jumped up, took the mat, and pushed his way through the stunned onlookers. Then they all praised God. “We’ve never seen anything like this before!“ they exclaimed.

Capernaum was the town where Jesus set up His Galilee ministry. It was His new “hometown.” 

The faith of the 4 friends pleased God the Son. (Note Hebrews 11:6 — “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”)

The doctrine of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark is recorded in Mark 10:45, Jesus speaking: “For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served, but to serve others and to give my life as a ransom for many.”

Will we be friends, even in these days, with a fervent faith that will focus on bringing our lost and “paralyzed friends” to encounter the Savior and Healer, Jesus Christ? 

Do we have faith to begin bringing our friends back to church — to our Jesus gatherings?