May 24, 2007...8:58 am

True, Honorable, Right, Pure, Lovely, Good Entertainment? - Philippians 4:8

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Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

  • True - not false, in accordance to the actual state of affairs, reality
  • Honorable - deserving of respect, something of superior standing, worthy of recognition
  • Right - not wrong, being in accordance to what is just, good, and prope
  • Pure - unmixed with any other matter, free from dirt, dust, or taint
  • Lovely - delightful for beauty, harmony, or grace, attractive
  • Good Repute - good reputation, being favorable known, spoken of, thought of or esteemed
  • Excellence - valuable qualities, superior, eminently good
  • Worthy of Praise - something worth speaking well of

(thanks Webster’s Online for some help)

  1. What on television fits this description?
  2. What kind of music fits this description?
  3. What kind of literature fits this description?
  4. What movies fit this description?
  5. What other types of entertainment fit this description?

I’m not suggesting that there is nothing that fits this description of what we should have our thoughts dwelling on.  We all enjoy to relax, be entertained, and rest - but are there godly alternatives to what the world offers?

Click here for an excellent teaching on this subject and here for corresponding notes.

Looking forward to your thoughts.

2 Comments

Filed under Bible, Christianity, Kingdom Christian Living, Religion, Victor's Posts

2 Comments

  • anne
    July 10, 2007 at 11:31 am

    I have been doing a search on Phil 4:8-9 as I co-lead our youth group in our “whatever” search this summer. This week we are studying “whatever is honorable/noble”. Our ministry is an outreach, therefore, we have students who never go to church nor live a Godly life, yet they feel prompted to come to youth. I think its mostly because they are shown compassion and love no matter what their circumstance. My question is this, how do I make the point of all the “whatever” to be what they want in the first place? Of course I know I can do nothing without the power of the Holy Spirit working but my question is more about how do I get them to relate to this, to find this attractive? Teaching on truth was a lot easier since the kids want truth from their parents, from the church, from us leaders, from their peers, though they themselves are not always truthful ;-), but how do I get them to understand why being noble/honorable is so desirable this day in age?

  • Steve P
    July 10, 2007 at 12:41 pm

    Hi Anne,

    What motivates a person to be holy in an unholy world? Isn’t it easier to go with the majority and go with the flow? So what motivates a young person to go against the grain? Doesn’t the person have to want to please the one who rescued him or her from the devil? I believe that to make an appeal to a person to bring their thoughts into subjection and obedience to Christ is a noble and commendable thing. But if many of these youths don’t go to church or live Godly lives, chances are many of them are not in a state of present salvation. If they haven’t repented and been baptized for salvation, they lack the quickening and the power of the Holy Spirit. Without the power of the Holy Spirit resident within, they wrestle against spiritual wickedness with no weapons, no armor, no word of salvation, and ultimately, no hope.

    So….I would say start with the horse before the cart. Philippians 4:8 is addressed to Christians who want to live for the Lord. You say they respond to love. Then love them by preaching the message of the gospel and the cross to them, which will cut to their hearts with the message of repentance and salvation. Then you can show them how their reasonable service to the one who saved us is to present our bodies a living sacrifice, denying ourselves and taking up our cross, bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Then Philippians 4:8 will fit for them. By all means let the Holy spirit lead you and let the gospel be preached in love. But love them by offering them the means of salvation and the weapons of warfare by which they can fight the good fight. I hope this helps you.

    in Christ,

    steve

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