II. Discipline of Relationships
To be all God wants us to be, we need holy relationships!
If we are married, we need to live out Ephesians 5:25-31: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (v. 25).
If we are fathers, we need to live out Ephesians 6:4: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
If we are human, we need to live out Matthew 18:15: Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
Guys, relationships are not optional, because God uses them to make us better men.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
I firmly believe that you will never be a better man until you hang out with a better man.
Cf. improving in any sport (Liberty vs. UNC, 56-29)
III. Discipline of Mind
According to the dictionary, the mind is that “element, part, or substance of a human or conscious being that processes reason, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.”
With that said though, the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:16, For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD THAT HE MAY INSTRUCT HIM?" But we have the mind of Christ.
That being the case, we should put on the mind of Christ!
To have the mind of Christ is to think like Christ.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Each ingredient is a matter of personal choice.
We make it every day.
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
You can never have a Christian mind without reading the Scriptures regularly because you cannot be influenced by that which you do not know.
IV. Discipline of Devotion
Reading and meditation of God’s Word is essential.
Two reasons:
To have an effective devotional life, we must plan for it.
To be all God wants us to be, we need holy relationships!
If we are married, we need to live out Ephesians 5:25-31: Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (v. 25).
If we are fathers, we need to live out Ephesians 6:4: Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
If we are human, we need to live out Matthew 18:15: Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
Guys, relationships are not optional, because God uses them to make us better men.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
I firmly believe that you will never be a better man until you hang out with a better man.
Cf. improving in any sport (Liberty vs. UNC, 56-29)
III. Discipline of Mind
According to the dictionary, the mind is that “element, part, or substance of a human or conscious being that processes reason, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.”
With that said though, the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:16, For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD THAT HE MAY INSTRUCT HIM?" But we have the mind of Christ.
That being the case, we should put on the mind of Christ!
To have the mind of Christ is to think like Christ.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Each ingredient is a matter of personal choice.
We make it every day.
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
You can never have a Christian mind without reading the Scriptures regularly because you cannot be influenced by that which you do not know.
IV. Discipline of Devotion
Reading and meditation of God’s Word is essential.
Two reasons:
- The more we expose our lives to the righteous life of Christ, the more his image will be burned into our character.
- The second reason is that God’s Word bends our wills to His will.
To have an effective devotional life, we must plan for it.
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