1. MAN UP BIBLE SERIES Be All You Can Be Lesson Four

2. The Real World The Human Mind in an amazing thing. It has 14 billion cells all interconnected and exchanging data and an alarming rate. We are reminded in God’s Word that we are to have, “the Mind of Christ.” No matter how brilliant a mind is it is lacking if it is not filled with that Mind of Christ. How do we get that? In that single question we find the struggle of Christians for the last 2,000 years! For most of us it is not knowledge we lack but the singular focus required to have that mind of Christ. We can even be Christians with having a Christian mind! A sad reality is the fact that our minds are filled with things that are far from God. So much information is being pushed our way that our minds can become overburdened with things that can destroy us. Thus the lesson today on the Discipline of the Mind.

3. The Real Word Phil. 4 Final Exhortations 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

4. Real Talk What are you filling your mind with? What do you spend most of your free time doing? How can you build a “Mind of Christ?”

5. Real Steps Practical Lessons from Phil. 4: 8: Focus your mind on the THINGS OF GOD. Spend more time in God’s Word. Read through the Bible in a year. Cannot know it unless you read it.! Garbage in Garbage out. Get rid of the TV. (OK; Limit it! ) Read Christian Literature. Great minds build great minds. Learn from the past (good and bad) by reading today. Listen to books on long drives in the car. Get Smart about this!

6. Time to Close The reality is that Christian Men are wasting away their minds on junk food…. TV, Movies, Sports and this is leading to a whole generation of Stupid Men! We cannot know the mind of Christ if we never read the Words of Christ. So stop… take a spiritual inventory and spend some time in God’ Word. Start by reading through the Bible in a year. Then spend as much time reading good books as you do in front of the TV! Wow! What a difference that will make in your life. Turn off the music in the car on the way to work and back and spend time listening to the Bible or great Christian's devotional thoughts. You will begin to see a real change in your own life by taking this kind of spiritual inventory. You and your family will be better for it!