In the Bible Christian Ministry
Sunday 8-24-25 (The Simple Life, Part 2)

  • Intro

    Recap Simple Life 1
    Simplify Your Life: Life can be complicated, but removing distractions and focusing on what brings you peace is essential.
    Avoid Unnecessary Additions: Stop adding people and things that don't benefit you. Focus on doing something meaningful rather than nothing.
    Live a Quiet Life: Aim for a calm and simple existence. Avoid drama and focus on your ambitions 4 5.
    Throw Off Distractions: Just like in Hebrews 12:1-2, throw off everything that hinders you and focus on your goals 6 7.
    Faith and Endurance: Follow the examples of faith from Hebrews 11 and live faithfully with endurance
    We live complicated lives. Seems things get the more complicated as time passes
    We spoke about getting rid of things. Taking control of your life by removing distractions and things that can entrap.
    Hebrews 12:1–3 NIV
    1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
    Jesus immediately rebuked temptations. Never let them take root.
    Temptation by the Devil (Matthew 4 - 40 Days)
    Mind… get your mind thinking

    Thoughts are Powerful

    Thoughts can hide the truth:
    - You can know the truth but in your own mind develop something not true and believe it and the emotion that goes with it more than the truth and
    The Truth: Your friend was busy and didn't text you back for a few hours.
    The Cognitive Distortion: You start thinking, "They didn't text me back because they're mad at me. I must have said something wrong. They probably don't even like me anymore."
    The Result: You feel genuine hurt and anxiety, even though the reality is simply that they were occupied. You're feeling an emotional response to a story you created, not the actual situation.
    group of people laughing - they are laughing at me!!!
    o Hear a noise downstairs.  You can know what it is.
    o But what IF it’s somebody breaking in.  Now you sitting in your bed waiting for someone to come in And YOU KNOW that no one is there
    o As a kid my mom would tell me to go downstairs to get something.
    Why do we do this — Life experiences:
    what we’ve been told
    what we’ve experienced in our life or in the lives of others

    Hard to live the simple life: Assumptions

    Every time you clear space you have to do what?
    - Put something in its place
    Why Assumptions or Cognitive Distortions are Dangerous
    They become self-fulfilling prophecies: By assuming the worst, you often act in a way that makes that worst-case scenario come true. For example, if you assume your friend is mad at you, you might act cold and distant, causing them to become annoyed or withdraw, thus "proving" your initial assumption.
    They damage relationships: Assumptions replace honest communication. Instead of asking for clarification, you create a story in your head about a person's intentions or feelings. This leads to misunderstandings, resentment, and conflict, and erodes the trust that is essential for healthy connections.
    They lead to poor decision-making: Relying on assumptions means you're making choices based on a distorted view of reality or the situation. This can cause you to miss opportunities, make misjudgments about people, or take unnecessary risks.
    They fuel negative emotions: Assumptions are often rooted in negative thought patterns. When you assume the worst, your mind and body respond as if that worst-case scenario is actually happening, leading to real anxiety, stress, anger, and sadness. Over time, this can contribute to more severe mental health issues like chronic anxiety and depression.
    They prevent personal growth: When you make assumptions, you stop seeking the truth or learning from a situation. You're stuck in a rigid, biased mindset that prevents you from considering alternative perspectives or challenging your own flawed beliefs.
    First place we have to clear space: Our Mind!!!
    Hebrews 12:1–3 NIV
    1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
    - Run this race.
    - Throw off this stuff
    Where do we start it off – Our MIND.
    Thoughts are the starting block of the race.
    When you know you have a challenge or a large task.  You start the process days before the process begins, days before your training begin, days before you planning begin.
    You start in your mind.
    You already know how you are going to enter into the situation, how you are going to act, how you are going to feel, and what you are going to do if something happens.
    School Project
    Entering in scared or confident
    Looking to make an impact or get this over with
    Hoping for it to vault you into greatness or just don’t take me down too far
    You haven’t even done it yet and you already know how it’s going to go.
    If you are a boxer and before the fight the only thing you are thinking about is I hope he don’t hit me too hard.  You lost
    If you are thinking I get lucky – Lost
    I hope it don’t last long – lost
    Instead of I’m going to go in her and put it down. 
    But how many situations do we enter in hoping we get LUCKY
    Hoping it just finds a way to work out
    We don’t give ourselves any credit just I hope this works out.
    Instead of I’m going in this and I’m WINNING!!!
    The Fight started long before the bell rung.
    THE MIND IS THE STARTING BLOCK
    Jesus said about Adultery:
    Matthew 5:27–28 NIV
    27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
    Basically saying if you don’t handle the thought EARLY it will lead you to destruction later.  And when you look back and say I committed adultery.  The sin occurred when you did it—true.  But when did it start.
    Numbers 5:11 Says lay with the woman. That’s the sin. But where did it start —- in your MIND
    When you Walked in her house, laid in her bed.  Nope
    When you she called you because you are a good Christian man  there to fix the sink or to talk to her son because Man-Man having trouble can you come talk to him.  He get out of school at 5 but you get over here about 2:30 so we can talk first.
    NOPE
    It started when you had the thought and your face bawled up when she walked by and you didn’t handle it THEN!!!!
    When you stole.  Yes the sin occurred when you picked it up and put it in your pocket.  But when did it start.
    It started when you looked at it and said: “Man somebody can take that and no body would know”  Knowing well that you were the somebody.
    Matthew 5:28–30 NIV
    28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
    Lust is a thought. So by thinking I’m sinning.
    No what Jesus is saying is by allowing the thought to become lust that lust will lead to sin. So unless you handle the thought you are already on your way to sin
    The lust has you already planning on sinning.
    James 1:14–15 NIV
    14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
    - Do whatever you need to do to maintain your focus and not stumble.
    Those thoughts will come back.  Keep laying them to the side: Hebrews 12:1-2
    Throw it ALL OFF.

    Keep God Focus

    David is Psalm 16:1-8
    Psalm 16:1–8 NIV
    1 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” ......... 6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. 7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
    Set God as the benchmark
    1. The word used for “I have set” is šāvâ and means “to agree with, be or become like, level, resemble.” David was literally saying that he has made God his benchmark and will continue to remove things that stand between him and God. He wanted to be like God; therefore, he had to attend to what God was like.
    Romans 12:2 NIV
    2 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.

    Renewing my Mind

    - My mind used to be focused on I can’t
    - Now it’s I can
    - My used to be….
    How do I RENEW my Mind
    How did my mind get the way that it is so I need to RENEW???
    Renewing your mind, as described in Romans 12:2, is a transformation of thought processes to align with God's truth, rather than conforming to worldly standards.
    interpreting life through the lens of God’s Word and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, rather than through the lens of your experience, woundedness, trauma, preferences, or the opinions of others.
    . It’s a fundamental shift toward seeing the world, yourself, others, God, and especially what’s possible from a Kingdom perspective. It’s making a daily, moment by moment choice to choose the Mind of Christ
    Renewing your mind aligns your mind with the truth of God’s Word by learning to recognize the lies of the enemy
    2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV
    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.
    Engage with Him
    Engage with Scripture
    Engage with Prayer
    Engage with God
    John 10:10 NIV
    10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
    That they may—HOW? We have to do something. MAY
    the renewing of the mind.
    2 Peter 1:3–4 NIV
    3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
    Philippians 4:6–8 NIV
    6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.
    We are made to be anxious. The world makes us ANXIOUS. Can’t help it.
    But think on THESE things why?
    Proverbs 23:7 KJV 1900
    7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:
    You want to know how you think:
    Listen to what you say
    Look at what you do
    It all goes back to how you are thinking
    Recognize
    Replace
    Reinforce

      • Hebrews 12:1–3NIV2011

      • Hebrews 12:1–3NIV2011

      • Matthew 5:27–28NIV2011

      • Matthew 5:28–30NIV2011

      • James 1:14–15NIV2011

      • Psalm 16:1–8NIV2011

      • Romans 12:2NIV2011

      • 2 Corinthians 10:5NIV2011

      • John 10:10NIV2011

      • 2 Peter 1:3–4NIV2011

      • Philippians 4:6–8NIV2011

      • Proverbs 23:7NIV2011

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