Series: '23&Me
Sermon: What SHAPES You?
Scripture: Romans 12:2
ICE BREAKER: Would you rather have hands for feet, or feet for hands?
REVIEW:
This week we looked at the biggest obstacle to living out the truths we have learned in this series. In Romans 12, Paul says:
Romans 12
2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
If we want to actually be transformed into our true identity, no longer conforming to the identity crisis of the world, Paul says we must renew our minds!
We are in the age of INFORMATION. Everyone is bombarded every minute of every day! We defined INFORMATION simply as, "That which INFORMS." Everything we are reading, and listening to, and constantly scrolling through - it all INFORMS us and almost none of it is building our identity IN CHRIST.
INFORMATION
PUTS US
IN - FORMATION
It is what we allow in our minds that SHAPES us. Since the introduction of the smart phone, our information consumption has skyrocketed - and so have the rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and deaths of despair!
We have to change the way we think about the information we are allowing in. Most people are living as victims to information, not realizing they can take control of what they allow in their life. This starts with a clear view of your actual IDENTITY. The Identity given to you by God, rooted in the Garden, and lived out IN CHRIST.
INFORMATION should not determine your IDENTITY
Your IDENTITY should determine the INFORMATION you ALLOW IN
APPLY:
We ended with three steps to Renewing our Minds. Once we are living with a clear view on our identity, we will be ready to:
Delete What Defeats - Romans 12:2 says that when we renew our minds we can DISCERN the will of God. We are called to be discerning with what we allow in our life. There are many things in the culture and many aspects of technology that we should be using for redemptive purposes. However, there are some things that have no redeeming value in our life. Honestly evaluate the things that are detrimental and take the bold step of pruning them from your life!
Curate Your Content - Paul wrote to the Philippians and said, "Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable... dwell on these things." Curation is the careful and critical choice of what you allow in your life. Use Paul's list here as a filter and if something doesn't line up, it may be time to go back to point 1 and Delete it!
Limit Your Listening - Part of CURATION is not just what you allow in your life, but HOW MUCH OF IT! Scripture says to "Make the Most" of our time on earth. In order to allow for the good things of God to speak into your mind, you have to make time for it. In our culture we are always "ON." Whether we are listening, watching, scrolling, etc. - our time is always filled.
What are some things with no redemptive value that you need to DELETE in your life?
What aspects of your information use needs curation? (be specific)
How can you take real, practical steps to Limit Your Listening this week?
PRAY:
Ask the Holy Spirit for strength to fight back against the constant, overwhelming stream of information coming at you. Continue to seek your identity IN CHRIST and allow your true identity to filter what information you allow in.
