How we should view the world and approach life as a Christian.
~~ Watch the Video ~~
Scripture:
Romans 12:2
Psalms 118:8
Luke 12:6-7
Proverbs 18:1
Proverbs 18:24
1 Corinthians 13:7
Philippians 4:13
Deuteronomy 31:6
2 Corinthians 10:5
Romans 8:1-39
Romans 8:1
Romans 7:3-4
Matthew 5:17
Romans 8:2-4
Romans 8:5-8
Romans 7:21-25
Acts 15:10-11
Romans 8:9-13
Romans 8:14-17
Colossians 3:23-24
Romans 8:18-25
1 John 3:2-3
Romans 8:26-27
Romans 8:28-30
Romans 8:31-34
Romans 8:35-39
Outline:
Seeking Wholeness Intro
The Story You Tell Yourself Review
Practical Steps to Healing Review
Therapy vs Theology
Christian Mindsets
God Forgives You of Your Sins
Your Value isn’t Dependent on Your Works
Don’t Focus on Fleshly Goals
The Spirit of God is in You
You are a Child of God
Your Future is Bright
The Holy Spirit Helps Me to Pray
God is Using it All for Good
God Wants You to Succeed
Nothing Will Stop Jesus from Loving You
Summary
Memory Verses
Romans 12:2
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Seeking Wholeness
We are in our series called Seeking Wholeness
Wholeness is about being _______ healthy
spiritually
emotionally
mentally
Dealing with life’s current stresses and also being healed from past experiences/wounds
Traits of Wholeness
Authenticity
Honesty
Kindness
Not seeking external approval / validation
Living by values and principles
Setting Boundaries
Living with Purpose and Passion
Optimism
Confidence
Healthy relationships with both genders
Not losing control of your emotions
Free from addictions
Addressing Conflict
Vulnerability
Non Judgmental
Not jealous
Genuinely applaud the success of others
Forgive those who have wronged you in the past
Accept that God loves you as you are
Not afraid to fail
Free from irrational fear, worry, and anxiety
Selfless encounters with others
Not manipulating others trying to control their actions/reactions
Empathetic
You genuinely care about how others feel
The Story You Tell Yourself Review
The thoughts we think and the stories we tell ourselves are influenced by
Our past experiences
Past relationships
These stories impact:
How we view ourselves
How we view Others
How we view God
The company you keep
The opportunities that you make yourself available for
The decisions that you make
The current state of your life is a direct result of
the stories you tell yourself
what you really believe is possible
not what you say is possible, but what you believe deep down in your core
Common Stories
The Dependence story
I can’t cope with being alone
I can’t trust my own judgment
I need someone to take care of me and make me happy
Life is too overwhelming to cope with on my own
Psalms 118:8
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
Than to trust in man.
The Unworthy/Defective Story
I’m flawed
I’m unlovable
I am damaged
I am less than
If people knew me they would reject me
Luke 12:6-7
6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.
7 “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
The Disconnection Story
No one understands me
I rarely feel close to people
I feel like there’s an invisible barrier between me and other people
I don’t get the love I need
Nobody cares about me or even tries to meet my needs
Proverbs 18:1
One who separates himself seeks his own desire;
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
Proverbs 18:24
A person of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
The Mistrust story
Most people will use, hurt or take advantage me
I need to stay on guard to protect myself
People only do or think nice things when they want to get something out of me
People will reject me
People will not be there when I need them
1 Corinthians 13:7
7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
The Failure Story
I don’t measure up
I am not able to succeed
There’s no point in trying because I’m just going to fail
I never seem to get things right
What if people realize I’m not as good as they think I am
Does your definition of success align with your value system?
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
The Abandonment story
People don’t really care about me
No matter how good things seem it will never last
I am destined to end up alone
I worry about people I care about leaving or dying
Everybody leaves
I knew they weren’t going to stay anyway.
It was just a matter of time
Deuteronomy 31:6
6 “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
Limiting Beliefs
Our beliefs can be what is holding us back in life
Common limiting beliefs include:
I have to be perfect
My life is harder than everyone else’s
If I can do it anyone can do it
“If I ignore it, it will go away.”
“I’m too young, or I’m too old.”
I’m just not that type of person
Happy, emotionally expressive, outgoing, serious
Perception is Reality
Perception is your ultimate reality even if it’s not an ultimate truthYour reality dictates your actions
Practical Steps to Healing Review
2 Corinthians 10:5
5We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
Earn your own trust
When you don’t trust yourself that means you can’t trust your own internal cues
Keep the promises you make to yourself
Stop doing things in secret
R.A.I.N.
Recognize
Identify the negative self talk
Pause
Allow
Stay with the painful experience
Don’t try to distract yourself or self medicate
Investigate
Examine the thought
You are examining your reaction to the emotion
Pay attention to what’s going on
What’s going on in my body and my heart right now
Recognize how painful it is
Nurture
Don’t judge yourself negatively for having the thought
Ask Jesus to comfort you
Coping Statements
Replace the thoughts with coping statements.
These are premade thoughts that you can use
Create the statements when you are not in a state of distress or negative thinking
They need to sound like your own voice
Examples
My emotions do not reflect reality
I’m allowed to struggle... It’s OK not to be OK
I don’t have the answer, but I can tolerate uncertainty
I accept who I am while I continue to improve myself
I am enough just as I am
My past doesn’t define me
Whatever happens I will handle it
God loves me just as I am
The Practice of Gratitude
Count your blessings before you go to sleep
Pay attention to the good things that are happening to you throughout the day
Conscious Community
Healthy relationships serve as a buffer against stress
Find a group of people that:
Share vulnerabilities
Mirror back to each other goodness and appreciation
Face inevitable conflict to deepen understanding
Listen deeply
Bring a presence to your communication
Spiritually aligned
It makes us more capable of
Empathy
Forgiving
Embracing ourselves and each other
Example
Growth group
AA
12 step
Unchained Disciples
Focus on Strengths
Begin to assess your strength
Think of how you’re using that strength
Think of how you can use it more
When we use our strength each day
happiness goes up
levels of depression go down
allow you to jump into opportunities that terrify you
Stop being ashamed of who you are not
Lets you love who you really are
Caution: Don’t want to use a hammer for every situation
This isn’t talking about taking on more responsibility at work
Journaling
Write your thoughts in a journal
Recognize the patterns
Envisioning Activity
What does a healthy relationship look like?
Presence versus abandonment
Acceptance versus rejection
Emotional support/compassion versus emotional unavailability
Trustworthiness versus untrustworthiness
Safe versus harmful
How can you…
Create this relationship with yourself?
Create this relationship with others?
Therapy vs Theology
In the past two lessons we looked at:
The source of the stories we tell ourselves
Childhood
How that looks in our lives
Practical therapeutic steps to changing ourselves
This week we will look at
Practical biblical steps to renewing our mind
Allowing the Holy Spirit to change us
Our goal is to make lasting changes in our lives...to renew our minds
Approaches
Reframe
Replace
Human Wisdom
It is not wrong to use human wisdom
Only when it contradicts God‘s wisdom
We want to know when The Bible had an opinion on the topic
Example: is it wrong for Christians to take medicine instead of praying for healing?
Vanessa cured of breastfeeding cancer
Christian Mindsets
Lots of theology
Denominations
Romans 1-7 Paul told us that we were sinful and couldn’t follow the law
But because of Jesus’ sacrifice we are dead to the Law
Romans 8
Romans 8:1-39
1Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. 15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body. 24For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
26Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; 30and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36Just as it is written:
“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE REGARDED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” 37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God Forgives You of Your Sins
Romans 8:1
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
katakrima: penalty
Usage: punishment following condemnation, penalty
We aren’t under condemnation because Jesus Took on the condemnation
You Died to the Law
Romans 7:3-4
3 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.
If a woman has a husband she can’t sleep with another man
If her husband is dead she can
We are dead to the Law
We are dead to the law
The law was the rule over the flesh
Jesus Fulfilled the Law
Matthew 5:17
17“Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.
Example: driving in the carpool/commuter lane
Costs $500
Jesus paid the county already
The law didn’t change
The penalty still exists
You just don’t pay it
You might still get pulled over
There may be some natural consequences
There may be things that the enemy uses it for
Your Value isn’t Dependent on Your Works
Your works don’t save you
Your works don’t define how good of a Christian you are
Your works aren’t the evidence of your salvation
Romans 8:2-4
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,
4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
The Law
In verse two is using the word “law“ as a power over you
like the law of gravity
“The Law” - definite article
The requirements of the law are not filled by us, but they are filled in us by God as we walk and keep in step with Spirit.
It is not by your obedience
If you live by the law you will never know if you measure up or not
Read NLT
Example: Catholic priest don’t know if they will go to Heaven
Don’t Focus on Fleshly Goals
Focus on things of God
Romans 8:5-8
6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Don’t Focus on Fleshly/Carnal Desires
Sex
Success
Money / Riches
Power
Appearance
Weight
Grades
Promotions / Title
Status
Spouse
Sin
Focus on spiritual things versus pleasing yourself
Walking in the Flesh
Romans 7:21-25
22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Earning Salvation
Walking in the flesh is when I think that I can please God through my own carnal endeavors
Doesn't just mean sinning
Trying to earn your salvation
My discipline to try hard and do good
If you are focused on sin you will be obsessed with it
It will either make you self righteous or make you depressed
You shouldn’t judge your Christian walk by your efforts in the flesh
You’re not
dependent on yourself
Impressed with yourself
Disappointment with yourself
It is not about me at all
It’s not about
How I’m feeling
The thoughts I’m having
Even focusing on not sinning is setting your mind on the flesh
To think continually about the flesh is death
Constantly thinking about how to please the flesh and satisfy the flesh
It is impossible to be single-mindedly focused on the flesh and please the Lord
Acts 15:10-11
10 “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?
11 “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
The Spirit of God is in You
You are not in the flesh
Romans 8:9-13
9However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12So then, brothers and sisters, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13for if you are living in accord with the flesh, you are going to die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Self Worth
You can’t believe that working harder will make you more valuable.
You have to believe that you are valuable because God made you.
Anything that you are striving for, aiming for, going for… It’s not the core of who you are.
So if one of those things fails, it doesn’t kill you as a person because you are not rooted in that.
Your self worth should not hinge on how well you followed the law
Otherwise leads to shame
You are a Child of God
Romans 8:14-17
14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. 15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
My identity is in Christ
Even if I do fleshly things, that’s not the world I live in
Proper Logic
Not
If I sin => I am in the flesh => I am not a child of God
Yes
I am a child of God => I am in the Spirit => I am not ruled by the flesh
Don’t focus on your behavior focus on your identity
Have your identity in Christ
Example: You’re a Loritts
You are representing our entire genealogy
Because of who you are you should act accordingly
Your actions don’t define you
Inheritance
Little kids don’t have to prove that they are worthy to be a Son or daughter
When you’re saved
Born again
Change your nature
Adopted
Change your genealogy
We Can’t lose our status as sons of God
Colossians 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,
24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
Your Future is Bright
Romans 8:18-25
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23And not only that, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, the redemption of our body. 24For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Our Hope Changes Us
The essence of the gospel is bound up in the hopes that we have for Jesus
1 John 3:2-3
2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.
3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Our hope in Jesus has a purifying affect in our lives.
It changes the way we live today.
The Holy Spirit Helps You to Pray
Romans 8:26-27
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Like a cheat code
Helps: synantilambánomai (Greek)
to give assistance with full initiative because closely-identified – supplying help that exactly corresponds to the need.
- to join in with the burden
The Spirit Prays God’s Will
The spirit intercedes according to the word of God
We often intercede with our own will
Prayer
The Holy Spirit helps when you are praying.
Not when you aren’t
Prayer is not a means to get my will done
Prayer is the vehicle for God‘s will to get done through you
Prayer is reporting for duty
God is Using it All for Good
Romans 8:28-30
28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; 30and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
Trust God
Trust that God will work it to your best
Learn to think positively
God Can You Use Bad and Good Situations
This doesn't mean God caused everything
He can use bad and good
Not necessarily for your happiness
Those Who He Foreknew
God knew that you would give your life to him
God is not centered in time
You were forgiven before you sinned
We are human beings with the free will and we had to choose him
Both truths are in the Bible
We were chosen from the foundation of the earth
We have to choose Christ
God Wants You to Succeed
Romans 8:31-34
31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
If God be for us who can be against
We got Jordan, Lebron, Stef Curry, Shaq and Kobe on our team
We’re playing against an elementary school team
They can pick who they want
Jesus Intercedes for Us
Oh and Jesus is gonna help me coach and can sub in if I need Him
Nothing Will Stop Jesus from Loving You
Romans 8:35-39
35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36Just as it is written:
“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE REGARDED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” 37But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
You Can’t Sin Your Way Out of God’s Love
God’s love has nothing to do with you
It is only dependent on Him
You cannot sin your way out of God’s love
These circumstances don’t separate you from God
The circumstances don’t prove that you are separated from God
Nothing can separate you from the love of God
There’s nothing you can do to make God love you any more
There’s nothing you can do to make God love you any less
Summary
Christian Mindsets
God Forgives You of Your Sins
Your Value isn’t Dependent on Your Works
Don’t Focus on Fleshly Goals
The Spirit of God is in You
You are a Child of God
Your Future is Bright
The Holy Spirit Helps You to Pray
God is Using it All for Good
God Wants You to Succeed
Nothing Will Stop Jesus from Loving You
Paul starts the chapter saying that there is no condemnation
He ends the chapter saying that there is no separation
Memory Verses
Say these when thoughts come up
Romans 8:1
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
5For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are in accord with the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good
Romans 8:31
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
References
Learn How to be Set Free From Self Destruction
Rick Warren
Romans 8 Part 1
Calvary Chapel Ontario
Romans 8
John Courson
How to Change Your Story - Tony Robbins
