Thoughts: Change of Mind

THOUGHTS! Sermon Notes Pastor Brad Myers

Change of Mind March 30, 2025

Q) Are you open for a change of mind?

Story: Signs – Change My Mind.

• 2018 Steven Crowder: Texas Christian University – sign:
• “Male privilege is a myth. Change my mind.” VIRAL
• Holding a strong opinion & inviting others to challenge it.

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Change My Mind Movement: Symbol for:

• People being stubborn in their views
• Daring others to prove them wrong
• Shows some refuse to change, no matter what the evidence is

Exactly what Jesus encountered!

Jesus launched His public ministry

Matthew 4:17 (ESV)

Greek word repent meta-noi-a

• Means: change of mind.
• Repent: Emotional/feel bad.

Jesus didn’t say, “feel bad & get emotional.” He said, “change your mind”

The problem in our modern church is often mood driven. We like warm feelings, peaceful, and joyful sermons. Jesus didn’t die to give us mood swings. He died for a change of or mindset.

What is “Mindset?”

Mindset is the way you’ve trained yourself to see, think, and respond to the world around you. It’s your mental lens — how you interpret life, people, pain, yourself, and even God.

Mindset: like default settings on your phone.

• Reset or restart, it goes back to those default options.
• Your mindset is your emotional and mental default.

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Jesus experienced: Engrained in the default settings of the day.

We dare anyone, even God, to change our mind.

Our lives rise or fall on our thoughts. What we feel is powerful… but our thoughts are foundational. If the enemy can keep us thinking the same way, he doesn’t care how loud we worship.

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change your mind.” Albert Einstein

“If nothing changes, nothing changes.” Courtney C. Stevens, author

If you don’t understand; it won’t change your mind!

Sometimes you hear: “You won’t change my mind.”

• Statement of resolve, stubbornness, and confidence that you’re right!

Peter was like this:

A Mindset Formed by Tradition (Peter’s Worldview)

• He needed a change of mind!

God Divinely Interrupts Peters Mindset (Vision of the Sheet)

Acts 10: 9-14 (NIV) Peter’s Vision

• Contradiction of mindsets: “Not” and “Lord” don’t go together.
• Peter’s being faithful to what he was taught
• God wants a new mindset that challenges his old way.

Acts 10:15 (NIV)

This wasn’t about diet—it was about destiny. It wasn’t about animals—it was about access. God was preparing Peter to welcome the Gentiles into the Kingdom.

Sometimes God gives us a vision that disrupts our thought process. It doesn’t match our traditions, but it may be God’s will. Some of us are in that same place; spiritually sincere, but mentally stuck. We’ve inherited ideas, biases, and limitations that don’t align with God’s expanding kingdom.

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We have to Surrender to a New Mindset

• Peter had a choice: hold onto tradition or walk into a new revelation.

Heads to Cornelius house: Roman centurion, Gentile outsider.

Acts 10:28 (NIV)

Peter’s New Mindset

Acts 10: 34–35

• Not just a changed action—changed mind.

A Change of Mind brings new power

Acts 10:44 (NIV)

The same Spirit that fell at Pentecost, fell on those Peter once thought were unclean. Peter didn’t need more power—he needed a change of mind!

God doesn’t just want to always change our situation—He wants to change our minds.

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Look at Jonah

• Prophet called by God to go to Nineveh, a wicked Assyrian city, to preach repentance.
• Jonah fled in the opposite direction, boarding a ship to Tarshish.
• He didn’t believe the people of Nineveh deserved God’s mercy.
• A great storm arose Jonah told the sailors to throw him overboard.
• God provided a great fish to swallow Jonah.
• Inside the fish, Jonah prayed repentance and surrender.
• After three days, the fish vomited him onto dry land.
• Jonah obeyed God and went to Nineveh. He preached that the city would be overthrown in 40 days if they didn’t repent.
• Jonah’s surprise, the people of Nineveh believed, repented, and fasted.
• God saw their repentance and relented from sending judgment.
• Instead of rejoicing, Jonah became angry. He fled because he knew God would be merciful.
• He sat outside the city, hoping God would still destroy it.

Jonah 4:1–11 (NIV) Jonah’s Mindset is Anger at the Lord’s Compassion

Jonah Knew God’s Voice, but Not His Heart

• Jonah was no stranger to the voice of God.
• He was a prophet, anointed and appointed.
• He could discern divine direction.

You can have a call and still need correction.

Jonah 4:2 (NIV)

• Jonah didn’t reject God’s character—he didn’t want it extended to those people
• We sometime struggle to align our thoughts with God’s compassion?

God is more concerned with our mindset before he uses our giftings.

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God questions Jonah’s mindset

Jonah 4:10 (NIV)

God’s Mercy Sometimes Disrupts Our Comfort

• Jonah delivered the word. Nineveh repented and God showed mercy.
• Jonah got mad; wants destruction.

When we want justice God sends mercy!

We need to realize our mindset may conflict with God’s mission

• Jonah’s story ends without resolution.
• No altar call, no repentance, no praise break.

Jonah’s story ends with God’s question:

Jonah 4:11 (NIV)

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