WHAT MAKES A SOUND CHURCH?

PART 2 – SOUND MINDS

TITUS 2:1 – 8

INTRODUCTION:

1. WHILE WE SEE IMMEDIATELY THE NECESSITY OF SOUND DOCTRINE FOR A SOUND CHURCH, WE ALSO NOTE THE NECESSITY OF A SOUND MIND. THIS PASSAGE SPEAKS OF IT IN A RATHER SUBTLE WAY; VIA SHOWING THE WISDOM OF THE OLDER TEACHING THE YOUNGER – THAT IS, THE MORE EXPERIENCED TEACHING THE LESS EXPERIENCED.

2. THE DIFINITION OF SOUND = to have sound health, that is, be well (in body); figuratively to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine): - be in health, (be safe and) sound, (be) whole (-some).

3. THUS, THE SOUND MIND OF EXPERIENCE TEACHES THE UNSOUND MIND OF THE INEXPERIENCED AND THE RESULT SHOULD BE ALL SOUND MINDS!

I. THE LONE PASSAGE OF “SOUND MIND”

A. 2 TIMOTHY 1: 7 -- For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1. IT IS THE VERY OPPOSITE OF FEAR -- 1Jn_4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

2. GOD GAVE US THE SPIRIT OF – MENTAL DISPOSITION

3. THUS, THE MENTAL DISPOSTION OF POWER; LOVE AND SOUND MIND!

B. JESUS MADE SOUND MINDS!

1. LUKE 8:26 – 35 (MAN NAMED LEGION)

2. Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

II. WHAT CONSTITUTES A SOUND MIND?

A. LUKE 12: 22 – 32

1. Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

2. James 1: 5 – 8

3. James 4: 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

B. SOBER MIND – TITUS 2:6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

C. READY MIND – ACTS 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

D. HUMBLE MIND – COLOSSIANS 3: 12 – 13 -- Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

III. THE IMPORTANCE OF A UNIFIED MIND

A. PHILIPPIANS 2:5 – LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU …

B. ROMANS 12: 16 – 21

C. ROMANS 15: 5 – 7

D. 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

E. 2Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

F. Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

G. 1 Peter 3: 8 - 12