Whatever is Good - Think on THESE Things - Lee Nault (24 November 2024)

·25 min·2 clips

Lee Nault describes being headbutted by a bull and losing a calf-catching competition, questioning his faith in positive thinking.

This episode is a sermon delivered by Lee Nault at Fairfax Church of Christ, wrapping up a four-week series on Philippians 4. Nault begins by summarizing previous sermons in the series: John Vought on living like Christians have already won, Robin on anxiety and worry, and Jacob on peace. He then shares a humorous personal anecdote about competing in a calf-catching event in Texas in 1998, where he was headbutted by a bull and lost, leading him to question positive thinking. Nault focuses on Philippians 4:8-9, particularly the word 'think,' which he explains comes from the Greek 'logid sumi,' meaning accounting or bottom line. He interprets this as a call to actively sum up the good in any situation or person. Nault notes that some translations use 'dwell' instead of 'think,' which he expands on with an analogy about home signs, like one that might say 'in this house, we flush.' He connects this to Psalm 23, where David speaks of dwelling in the house of the Lord. Nault discusses Paul's instruction in verse 9 to 'practice these things,' emphasizing that Paul points to Christ, not himself. He argues that if one cannot find anything praiseworthy in a person or situation, they should become the goodness and bring God's peace. Nault shares two practical tips: first, get to know God by reading the Bible with a focus on learning about God rather than oneself, citing a book recommendation and a church member's insight. Second, he changed his media consumption, putting his phone away more, which led to a quirky encounter on the DC Metro where a stranger called him creepy after he offered his seat. Nault concludes by comparing the mind to a halter for livestock, suggesting that when Jesus controls our minds, he leads us to peace. He ends with a personal note about his mother's wish for him to preach on hope and joy.

As heard by us

A warm Philippians sermon treats hopeful attention as a daily practice of dwelling with God.

Nault presents Philippians 4 as a place for Christians to live, rather than a prompt for pleasant thinking. Closing a four-week series on hope, anxiety and peace, he argues that these teachings take shape through practice.

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Why you'd press play

You'll hear Philippians 4 presented as a place to dwell, not merely a lesson in positive thinking.

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