October Theme – “Crucified with Christ: Dying to Self, Living to God”
SUNDAY’S SERMON SUMMARY
The natural mind is shackled to earthbound reasoning, fueled by pride, and consumed with the passing distractions of this life. It resists the reign of God, for Scripture declares it is “enmity against God” (Romans 8:7). It cannot perceive eternal truth, for it is trapped in the moment—anxious, self-serving, and easily swayed by fear and confusion. In contrast, the mind of Christ is formed by the Spirit, anchored to the Father’s will, marked by humility, and settled in peace because it sees everything through eternity’s horizon. From the manger in Bethlehem to the cross on Calvary, Jesus lived with singular focus, never distracted from His holy mission. As heaven’s angels continually cry, “Holy, holy, holy,” our calling is not only to echo their song with our lips but to reflect His holiness in our thoughts, our choices, and our daily lives. The fiercest battlefield is not fought in politics, workplaces, or family struggles—it is waged in the hidden arena of the mind. Sin, doubt, and fear all begin as thoughts. If we allow them room, they grow into chains; but when we surrender every thought to Christ, those chains are broken, and we walk in clarity, strength, and victory that no circumstance can steal. Holiness, then, is not the result of stronger willpower, but the overflow of a renewed mind. The pattern of Christ’s thinking is undivided and pure. The practice of holiness is seen in daily surrender and motives purified by love. And the power of holiness comes through the Spirit, who reshapes our thoughts and guards them against corruption. Like a sponge, the mind can only release what it has absorbed. If it soaks in the world, it drips with corruption; if it soaks in God’s Word, it overflows with purity and life. Holiness is not a cage but true freedom—the liberty to think clearly, to live with eternal purpose, and to love with the compassion of Christ. It is the secret to joy even in suffering and stability in the fiercest storms. The believer who learns to think with the mind of Christ will find their life becoming a radiant testimony of God’s grace, His wisdom, and His power.
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Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
The Pattern of Holiness
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 2:5
Holiness is not just one attribute of God among many—it is His very essence. From eternity past to eternity future, heaven’s angels never stop crying, “Holy, holy, holy,” because they are overwhelmed by His infinite perfection. When Jesus came to earth, He perfectly reflected that holiness in every season of life—from the humility of Bethlehem’s manger to the agony of Calvary’s cross. To be holy is not to withdraw from the world, but to think and live with a mind aligned to Christ’s.
The Single-Mindedness of Christ
At twelve years old, Jesus declared, “I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49). As Isaiah foretold, He would set His face “like a flint” toward Jerusalem (Isaiah 50:7). From beginning to end, His mind was never divided or distracted—every thought, every word, every step was tethered to the Father’s will. This is the pattern theology calls Christus exemplar: the believer is called to imitate Christ’s obedience, not out of mere duty but out of delight.
Just as a compass needle always points north, no matter how you spin it, Christ’s mind always pointed toward the Father. He is our example of holy focus.
Holiness as Forward Focus
A tightrope walker once said, “I never look down, and I never look back. I only look forward.” That is the mind of Christ—unyielding, undistracted, unstoppable. He never let the criticisms of the Pharisees, the pressure of the crowds, or the failures of His disciples pull Him off course. His forward focus was Calvary, and beyond Calvary, the glory of the Father.
Theology calls this a teleological focus: living every moment for the end goal of God’s glory. For Christ, that goal was “to finish the work” the Father gave Him (John 4:34). For us, holiness means living with eternity stamped on our minds, refusing to be chained by regrets of the past or anxieties of the present.
Like a runner in a marathon who refuses to glance at the crowd or the competition, Christ pressed forward for the joy set before Him. So must we.
Imitating the Pattern in Daily Life
Victory is impossible with a divided mind. James 1:8 warns, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Holiness is not simply avoiding sin—it is a steady, singular pursuit of God. The believer who fixes his or her mind on Christ will find His power steadying every step. This is not moralism or self-effort but union with Christ: the Spirit enables what the pattern commands.
A river that spreads into swamps becomes stagnant, but when it is channeled in one direction, it gains power to turn turbines and generate energy. In the same way, a scattered life produces weakness, but a focused life filled with the Spirit produces strength.
Prayer: Father, align my heart with the mind of Christ. Deliver me from distraction and double-mindedness. Give me holy focus to walk steadily in Your will, no matter the cost.
Challenge: Write down three areas of life where you feel “scattered.” Pray over each one and ask God to unify your focus around His will, so that your mind may reflect the pattern of Christ.
WEDNESDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Nancy Brown – Fall
Allysa Elliott
Amy Garner’s Dad
Annette Ford
Andrea Nix– Friend of the Shelnutt’s
Angela Bryan’s Sister
Ann Stanley
Carol Lawhead – Park Place Rehab in Monroe
Danny Jarrard
Darlene Wiggins
Debbie Foskey
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Friend of Linda Hodge
Gayle Sparks
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
Jessica Headrick
John McClain’s Mother
June Cronan’s Sister
June Davis
Kailey Bateman
Kathryn Raines
Kim McClain’s Mother
Kim’s Sisters – Ann & Brenda
Lee Cronan
Lillianna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Mays
Lonzo Christian
Lori Blount’s Mother
Mary Williams
Mary Williamson – Dana Jackson’s Mom
Mrs. Franklin
Nora Allison
Ron And Johnnie Barry – Friends Of Ashton & Glenda Bateman
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Scott Lanier
Scotty Nix
Sheila Simmons
Stephanie Seivers – Friend of the Shellnutts
Steve Michaels
Tom Witcher