Keep It Pure

…whatever is pure…think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Props: gasoline can

             Begin with a skit in which a guy takes his car to the mechanic and doesn’t know why it won’t work.  After a series of questions, the mechanic discovers that the guy has been putting half-water, half-gas in his tank. 

What this guy did reminds me of what some people do to their minds.  They put some of the right things in their minds—maybe a little bit of the Bible, or coming to church some.  Then they fill the rest of their mind up with all the wrong things.  In order for a car to operate, the gas tank has to be filled up with 100% gasoline.  If you add anything else to it, it won’t work.  In the same way, your mind must be filled up with 100% pure things.  Otherwise, your life won’t run very smoothly either.

            Fill your mind with pure things.  Don’t contaminate, dirty up and destroy your mind with the bad things around you.

Inside / Outside

“…whatever is pure…think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Props: a cup that is dirty both on the inside and outside, dishrag, dishpan filled with water and soap

            I’m sure that I could use this cup to drink out of, but what do I have to do to it first?  (Allow for response).  Before I could even think of using this cup, I’d have to wash it.  So let me wash it and then I can pour myself a nice big glass of water to drink.  (Wash only outside of cup). 

There.  It’s ready, right?  (Allow for response).  What else do I need to do?  (Allow for response).  Oh!  The inside needs to be clean!  When you’re drinking from a glass, the most important thing is that the inside of the glass is clean.  Even if the outside isn’t totally spotless, the inside needs to be. 

            Sometimes you may think that if you look good on the outside, that’s all that matters.  It’s fine to look good on the outside, but think about what’s going on in your mind.  God cares more about the inside than He does the outside.  What does the inside of your mind look like?  Is it filled with clean, pure things or is it filled with filth?  If it is filled with filth, let God clean it up and then keep it clean. 

            Remember, fill your mind with pure things. 

Garbage In, Garbage Out

Whatever is true …think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Props:  You will need a trash can with a dome top/swing lid.  Draw a face on it (eyes and nose), using the front bottom opening of the swing lid as the mouth, and the back bottom opening of the swing lid as the head.  Tape a hat onto the top.  Prepare papers with “lies” written on them (“Watching bad shows won’t hurt me.” “I’m no good.” “God can’t help me with this problem.” “I can do whatever I want, as long as I don’t get caught.”)

            I have a little friend I’d like to introduce you to.  This is Greg…Greg the Garbage Head.  Greg’s head is just as good as anyone else’s.  The only problem is he fills his head with garbage.  He spends his time thinking about things that aren’t true.  For example, he thinks about all the shows on TV that he’d like to watch.  Of course, he knows that those shows aren’t good for him.  His church teacher has told him how dangerous it is to watch bad shows; his parents have told him he’s not allowed to watch them.  But Greg keeps telling himself, “Watching bad shows on TV won’t hurt me.”  (Hold up paper).  Instead of fighting off those thoughts with God’s truth, Greg keeps thinking that way.  (Crumple up paper and put it inside the back opening of the trash can).  Pretty soon, Greg is watching bad shows because he’s allowed himself to think about what is not true. 

            Then he starts to think, “I can do whatever I want, as long as I don’t get caught.”  (Hold up paper).  Is that true, boys and girls?  (Allow for response).  Can you really do what you want as long as you don’t get caught?  (Allow for response).  Of course not!  God always sees what you do and it does matter.  The more Greg thinks about being able to do anything, the more he believes it.  (Crumple up paper and put it inside trash can).  So he starts doing anything and everything—and hiding it all, of course.   

            Now something starts happening inside Greg’s head.  It’s filling up with trash, because Greg isn’t fighting the lies with the truth of God’s Word.  Then the enemy starts telling Greg he’s no good.  And Greg believes it.  (Hold up paper).  Every day Greg tells himself, “I’m no good.  Nobody cares about me.  No one loves me.  I don’t have any friends.”  (Crumple up paper and put it inside trash can).  This is exactly where the devil wants to keep Greg.  Finally, Greg begins listening to the lie, “God can’t help me.”  (Hold up paper, crumple it and put it inside trash can).  

            Greg is in serious trouble.  His head is filled with lies.  And what do you think is going to come out of his mouth?  (Allow for response).  Lies, of course.  (Reach in to garbage can through the “mouth” and pull out papers as you speak).  When Greg talks, he’s going to tell people all of these things. 

            What do you think will help Greg?  (Allow for response).  Greg will get better when he fills his mind with God’s Word—the truth.  That’s the only cure for a garbage head. 

            Remember, don’t be a garbage head—fill your mind with God’s truth.

Focus on Jesus

…Whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

Props: Optical illusion of the words “good” and “evil” drawn large enough to be seen by the entire group, or projected onto a screen

 

 

Project the image above onto the screen.  Ask for volunteers to read the word.  Some will see the word “good,” others will see the word “evil.” 

All of you are looking at the same word, but some of you saw the word “good” and others saw the word “evil.”  It all depends on what you are focusing on. 

Philippians 4:8 says, “…Whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  The Bible gives us clear instructions to focus on things that are admirable (things that are well-thought of), excellent and deserving of our praise.  God gave us those instructions because He knows that we all live in the same world, but we have a choice: We can focus on what is good in this world or we can choose to focus on what is evil. 

How you see things will depend upon:

1. What you are focusing on.  If you focus on God’s Word, you will begin to think about things the way He does.
2. Whether you choose to listen to God or to others.  Everyone in this room could tell you that this word says “evil,” but if you choose to, you can focus on the “good.” 
3. Your choice to keep your focus on God.  It’s very easy to see the word “good,” then see the word “evil,” especially when you know they are both there.  The same is true in this world.  You can see the good and the bad, but you must make up your mind to keep your focus on what is good and true.   

 

Focus on God and His Word; choose to listen to Him and to keep your focus on Him.  Remember, think about excellent things!

Feed Your Mind the Right Things

“…whatever is right…think about such things.”  Philippians 4:8

Props: large quantities of junk food, several pieces of fruit and veggies

            Speak with one of the kids in advance and plan for her to be your helper.  When you ask for a volunteer, call her forward and invite her to eat as much junk food as she wants.  Tell her in advance to only eat a reasonable amount and then decline the rest, explaining that she is starting to feel sick. 

            (Display healthy food).  Boys and girls, God created your body to work off of the nutrients it gets from healthy foods.  These healthy foods contain everything your body needs to work properly.  The vitamins and minerals feed your body and make it strong.  (Display junk food).  The junk foods we all love to eat do not help your body.  In fact, they can do your body damage.  They make your stomach sick and your muscles weak. 

            Your brain is part of your body, so it feeds off of the things that you eat.  But there are other things your brain feeds off of: everything you watch, listen to, talk about and read.  Those things go into your brain and will either help it become stronger or make it weaker.  Movies that have bad language or people doing bad things are like candy-coated poison to the brain.  So are bad attitudes, bad music, gossip, bad language or books about bad things.  All of that will make your brain sick.  Enough of that and you won’t even be able to think straight!

            The good things you watch and listen to and talk about are like healthy food for the brain.  Reading your Bible, talking about God, going to church and entertaining yourself with good things are like pumping vitamins and minerals into your mind: it will build you up! 

            Fill your mind with what God says is good!  Start practicing that today!

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