Some Thoughts About Right Thinking

I. Introduction (Matthew 22:37)

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

A. Oh that we Christians were a right-thinking people!

1. Not just emotion-led
2. Not constantly offended
3. But thinking people

B. Modern Thinking Has Problems

1. Left to the elites and “scientists”
2. Reduced to just getting along
3. No independent thinking allowed

C. This has wrecked our society, our children, and our homes!

1. People don’t learn to think at church anymore
2. Most people have already made up their minds
3. The world heads faster to hell

D. The battle today is for the mind

1. Not for money, land, or power
2. But for how we think
3. The real war is in our heads

E. What kind of thoughts go on in your head?

1. Right kinds of thoughts?
2. Or shameful, dark, fearful, anxious, angry, defeated thoughts?

II. Background

A. Our Mind is Amazing (Psalm 139:14)

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

1. God designed our minds - products of engineering, not evolution
2. More than 100 billion interconnected neurons
3. Weighs less than 1.5 kgs
4. The ultimate computer - taking vast amounts of data and making decisions
5. Yet, for most people, all that ability is wasted

B. What Are Right Thoughts?

1. Right thoughts are NOT always:

• Happy thoughts - some are serious, sad thoughts
• Sure thoughts - maybe still being formed
• Deep philosophical thoughts
• Judgmental thoughts
• Only religious thoughts

2. Right thoughts ARE:

a. What God thinks - about everything

• Not what the majority think
• Bible-based thoughts (Joshua 1:8)
• Seeking the mind of Christ

b. Sceptical of everything (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

• Slow to just believe what everyone else is saying

c. Conclusions you have arrived at yourself

• From your own study of Scripture
• Not just following the crowd

d. Thoughts that build up, not tear down

• Constructive, not destructive
• Life-giving, not death-dealing

III. How to Get Right Thoughts

A. Fill Your Mind with Scripture

1. You think what you feed on
2. Garbage in, garbage out
3. Bible in, right thinking out

B. Guard Your Mind

1. Be careful what you watch
2. Be careful what you listen to
3. Be careful what you read

C. Renew Your Mind (Romans 12:2)

1. Daily transformation
2. By the Word of God
3. Away from worldly patterns

Conclusion

Right thinking matters. It starts with filling your mind with the right material - God’s Word.