"Examples"

SERMON EXAMPLE
          There are a few that will listen intently to this message, purposely receive it into their hearts and minds, meditate on it beyond today, and apply it to their lives. However, realistically, few will follow through with every step. If I asked what each of you received from the sermon, a few could respond with several key points and also describe how it impacted them. But others would be unable to provide even one idea or thought or statement from the entire message. Even fewer would be able, by mid-week, to testify to how they applied it to their daily lives.
Now, that does not necessarily mean that they received nothing from the service. God can plant a seed at anytime through any means. A person may not remember the message but may have had some sort of “feeling” or “experience” with God. Something that was said may lead them off into another positive direction of contemplation which helped them. Even just being in church does have its benefits.
 
CREATION EXAMPLE
          God speaks through His creation. The Bible clearly explains how nature reveals God’s glory. Therefore, the universe itself is yelling at the top of its lungs, “There is a God!” One person may exit his home and completely ignore the breathtaking sunset. His mind is on “other things.” He does not have the mind of Christ in this instance.
          Another person exits her place of business, notices the same sunset, briefly remarks about its beauty to a colleague, and then proceeds on her way. A third person not only notices the sunset, but is awed by it. He takes a moment to “breathe it in” so to speak, directly connect the gorgeous view to a likewise beautiful and gracious God, and identify it as a unique masterpiece painted by the finger of God for him. In other words, though he is pressed for time like the other two, he has a brief, mini worship service before he continues on his way. This is the mind of Christ.
 
CHICK-FIL-A
          Sam is eating at Chick-Fil-A. He has only a 30 minute break for lunch from his construction job. It is July in Southern Illinois and 95 degrees. He is tired and hot and hungry. All he can think about is eating, cooling off, and getting off of his feet for a few minutes. He does not even take notice of the employee who waits on him with a smile and wishes him a good day. The same employee later checks on him again, refills his lemonade, and tries to carry on a conversation. This serves only to annoy Sam because he is too caught up in his own tough day. He leaves the restaurant mumbling something to himself about his “stinking job.”
          At the same time, Rebecca enters the same restaurant. Likewise, she has experienced a stressful morning at her banking job, complete with an irate customer. She is equally relieved to sit down in Chick-Fil-A and order a combo #1 with a half diet, half sugar lemonade. Unlike Sam, she hears the praise song by Chris Tomlin playing through the restaurant speakers; just what the doctor ordered. She listens to the words, “Our God is greater, our God is stronger; God You are higher than any other; Our God is Healer, awesome in power; Our God, Our God.” The lyrics minister to her and settle her nerves. A peace sweeps over her.
The young waitress refills her lemonade and asks a couple questions. They begin to carry on a meaningful conversation. Rebecca is further blessed by her kind words and pleasant demeanor. She is now prepared to return to work for the afternoon. Rebecca prays silently for the irate bank customer, for the waitress, and gives God thanks for her job. 
          Two people enter the same fast-food restaurant at the same time. Both have stressful mornings in their rear-view mirrors. Both have nearly identical experiences in the restaurant. They hear the same song. The same employee waits on them. One exits the same way he enters. The other is renewed. The difference? One taps into the mind of Christ. The other does not.
 
CONCLUSION
          What do you think about when your mind stands idle, i.e. when you are not forced to concentrate on a task or conversation or activity? What is on your mind the moment you open your eyes in the morning and those minutes before you nod off to sleep at night? For most people, their minds/hearts are filled with thoughts of worry, fear, anxiety, stress, hopelessness, and busyness. They are considering the hundreds of items on the list that must be finished the next day, or the negative experiences from that day or the day before, or the anger toward someone who hurled hurtful words at them.
Many minds are set on “continuous replay.” The same movie plays over and over again in their minds. The lead actor in your mental movie is a wound to your heart that will not heal. Others have concocted an entirely personal movie in their minds with themselves playing the role of producer and director. Their mental movie takes revenge upon the person who hurt them, or fantasizes about a whole new life, or punches their boss in the face the next time he rebukes them.
          Folks, we can control our thoughts. The great Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther, had a saying that I have oft repeated, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.”
Refuse to “make a home” for destructive thoughts. Put on the mind of Christ.