Paul: "We can understand these things, because we have the mind of Christ!"1 Cor 2:16(NLT)
"In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus." Ph. 2:5(NCV)
10 CHARACTERISTICS OF thinKING like Jesus
(All quotes from Jesus)
1. I KNOW EXACTLY WHO I AM
Jesus: "I am:...the Bread of Life."Jn. 6:35...the Light of the world.Jn. 8:12...the Good ShepherdJn.10:11. . . the Resurrection & the Life. Jn.11:25. . . the Way, the Truth & the Life.Jn 14:6...the True Vine. Jn.15:1...the Son of God.Mk. 14:61-62
2. I KNOW GOD'S PURPOSE FOR MY LIFE
". . . I know where I came from and where I am going."John 8:14(NIV
Jesus at 12: "I must be about my Father's business." Luke 2:49(KJV)
"I must proclaim the Good News about God's kingdom, for I was sent for this purpose." Luke 4:43(RSV)
"My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." John 10:10(NLT)
3. I'M ALWAYS AWARE THAT GOD IS WITH ME
"I am not alone because the Father is always with me." John 16:32
"Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray." Lk 5:15-16 (NCV)
ACTION PLAN:Before any meetings or appointments this week, ask God into the meeting with you and thank him for his presence. Ask for wisdom and patience.
4. I LET GOD HELP ME CHOOSE MY WORDS
"I have not spoken on my own. Instead, the Father who sent me tells me what I should say and how I should say it." John 12:49 (GW)
5. I DON'T WORRY ABOUT PLEASING EVERYONE
"I only try to please the One who sent me." John 5:30(NCV)
"No one can serve two masters . . ." Luke 16:13(NIV)
6. I DEPEND ON GOD'S POWER INSTEAD OF MY OWN
"I assure you, the Son can do nothing by himself. He can only do what he sees his Father doing . . ." John 5:19(NIV)
7. I FORGIVE MY ENEMIES AND THOSE WHO HURT ME
"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34(NIV)
"Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those which despitefully use you orpersecute you." Matt. 5:44(KJV)
ACTION PLAN:Who does Matthew 5:44 speak of in your life? Write out a prayer of forgiveness for them. Ask God to bless them and heal them.
8. I AM WILLING TO SACRIFICE FOR OTHERS
"I am the good shepherd...and I lay down my life for the sheep."John 10:14-15(NLT)
"I came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for each other." 1 John 3:16
9. I WANT TO DO GOD'S WILL, NOT MINE
"I came. . . to do what God wants me to do, not what I want to do." John 6:38(NCV)
"I want the world to know that I love the Father and that is why I do everything exactly as the Father tells me to do." John 14:31 (NCV)
"Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." Mark 14:36 (NLT)
"Jesus humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death on a cross. So, God exalted him and raised him to the highest place, and made his name greater than every other name." Phil. 2:8-9(NCV)
10. I THINK WITH AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
"Jesus was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven." Heb. 12:2
HOW CAN I LEARN TO THINK LIKE JESUS?
- STUDY HIS LIFE AND WORDS IN THE BIBLE
"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it." Heb. 12:2 (Mes)
- ASK GOD TO SHOW ME THE MEANING AND HOW IT APPLIES TO MY LIFE TODAY
"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your Word!" Psalm 119:18
Jesus: ". . . the Spirit will take from what I have to say and make it known to you." John 16:15
ACTION PLAN:Check out the Daniel Plan's seminar on Focus with Dr. Daniel Amen on Saturday, February 23rd. You can come in person to the Lake Forest campus or watch our live webcast.Click herefor more information.
Doable Discipleship: This week's episode of Doable Discipleship continues a series on the parables of Jesus. This week dives deep into the theme of the Kingdom of God being for everyone. New episodes release every Tuesday. To watch or listen,click here
Talk It Over: Have you ever discussed the weekend message in your small group? Talk It Over provides weekly small group discussion questions as a way to bring the weekend message into your small group. To view this week's Talk It Over,click here.
