Key Thought : Our feelings are not safe guides to our lives. Our choices to yield to the Holy Spirit in spite of our emotions lead to actions acceptable to God.

[Teaching plan for Thinking New Thoughts September 9, 2013]

1. Have a volunteer read Philippians 4:7,8.

a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. How does the peace of God keep our hearts and minds? What if a person doesn’t have peace of mind?
c. Personal Application : What are some hindrances in your life that keep you from thinking on pure, holy, just, and good things? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your relatives states: Can we actually be changed into God’s image and be sanctified by reading His word.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What are the carnal weapons Paul is speaking of here? What are the Spiritual weapons?
c. Personal Application : How can we bring every thought into captivity to the obedience to Christ? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : One of your friends states, “How do I handle the desires to get involved with television, the inter net, sports, games, unhealthy food and drink, and clothes that are not compatible with God’s will?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Romans 12:2,3

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. Does our spiritual well-being affect our health in any way? Can our physical health affect our spiritual well-being?
c. Personal Application : How conformed to this world do you believe yourself and most of our church members to be? Share.
d. Case Study : One of your neighbors states, “Why do the humble, meek Christians seem to get sick or have more problems than those who are proud and self-righteous? What role should the health message have in revival and reformation?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Matthew 5:13-15

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. What does it mean in practical terms to let our light shine before men? What does His reference to a city on a hill refer to?
c. Personal Application : In what ways do you see church members hiding their candle under a bushel? What good works are people to see that brings glory to God? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study : Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Note : “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” MH p. 149.

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