The document discusses how thoughts and prayers can shape the mind through neural pathways. It examines passages from Philippians encouraging focusing on excellent, praiseworthy thoughts. It prompts questions about regular thought patterns and media consumption. The goal is to practice emulating the mindset of Christ and Paul to gain peace from the God of peace.

1. Sunday, October 15
YOUR MIND MATTERS
frontal
lobes
parietal lobes
occipital
lobes
temporal lobes
cerebellum
brain
stem

2. PHILIPPIANS 4:1-3
Therefore, my brothers and sisters whom I love and miss,
who are my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord.
Loved ones, I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche
to come to a common mind in the Lord.
Yes, and I’m also asking you, loyal friend,
to help these women who have struggled
together with me in the ministry of the gospel,
along with Clement and the rest of my
coworkers whose names are in
the scroll of life.

3. PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7
Celebrate in the Lord always! Again I say, celebrate!
Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people.
The Lord is near. Don’t be anxious about anything;
rather, bring up all of your requests to God in
your prayers and petitions, along with
giving thanks. Then the peace of God
that exceeds all understanding
will keep your hearts and minds
safe in Christ Jesus.

4. PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9
From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything
is excellent and if anything is admirable,
focus your thoughts on these things:
all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just,
all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that
is worthy of praise. Practice these things:
whatever you learned, received, heard,
or saw in us. And the God of peace
will be with you.

5. Sunday, October 15
YOUR MIND MATTERS
frontal
lobes
parietal lobes
occipital
lobes
temporal lobes
cerebellum
brain
stem

6. 2 CORINTHIANS 10:3-5
For though we live in the world,
we do not wage war as the world does.
The weapons we fight with are not
the weapons of the world. On the contrary,
they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
We demolish arguments and every pretension
that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,
and we take captive every thought
to make it obedient to Christ.

7. ROMANS 12:2
Don’t be conformed to
the patterns of this world,
but be transformed by
the renewing of your minds
so that you can figure out
what God’s will is—
what is good and
pleasing and mature.

8. TWO THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
(pun intended)
The thoughts we think about God (and the prayers
we pray to God) on a regular basis actually carve
neural pathways in our brains that tangibly impact:
1. Our own peace of mind…
2. Our ability to think & interact well
with the people around us…

10. PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9; a thought
exercise…From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is
excellent (awful) and if anything is admirable (shameful),
focus your thoughts on these things:
all that is true (false), all that is holy (common),
all that is just (unjust), all that is pure (impure),
all that is lovely (ugly), and all that is worthy of praise
(condemnation)…And the God (false god) of
peace (chaos) will be with (overwhelm) you.

11. A FEW QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
IN LIGHT OF PAUL’S WORDS:
What do my thoughts/prayers typically focus on?
What types of thoughts/prayers do I choose to dwell on?

12. A FEW QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
IN LIGHT OF PAUL’S WORDS:
What do my thoughts/prayers typically focus on?
What types of thoughts/prayers do I choose to dwell on?
What are my regular media consumption habits and
how do they impact my thoughts/emotions/prayers?

14. A FEW QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
IN LIGHT OF PAUL’S WORDS:
What do my thoughts/prayers typically focus on?
What types of thoughts/prayers do I choose to dwell on?
What are my regular media consumption habits and
how do they impact my thoughts/emotions/prayers?

15. A FEW QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
IN LIGHT OF PAUL’S WORDS:
What do my thoughts/prayers typically focus on?
What types of thoughts/prayers do I choose to dwell on?
What are my regular media consumption habits and
how do they impact my thoughts/emotions/prayers?
What part of my thought/prayer life do I think
may be worthy of emulation in others’ lives?
What would concern me if emulated by others?

16. PHILIPPIANS 4:9a
Practice these things:
whatever you learned,
received, heard,
or saw in us.

17. A FEW QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
IN LIGHT OF PAUL’S WORDS:
What do my thoughts/prayers typically focus on?
What types of thoughts/prayers do I choose to dwell on?
What are my regular media consumption habits and
how do they impact my thoughts/emotions/prayers?
What part of my thought/prayer life do I think
may be worthy of emulation in others’ lives?
What would concern me if emulated by others?

18. N.T. WRIGHT
“How do I know the peace of God?
Get to know the God of peace.”

19. Sunday, October 15
YOUR MIND MATTERS
frontal
lobes
parietal lobes
occipital
lobes
temporal lobes
cerebellum
brain
stem

20. One of the scribes…asked him,
“Which commandment is the first of all?”
Jesus answered, “The first is: ‘Hear, O Israel:
the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind,
and with all your strength.’ The second is this:
‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
There is no other commandment
greater than these.”
MARK 12