Disney’s Inside Out is a great tool to use to talk about what is going on inside our heads; our thoughts and what is in our mind. Why not use this clip or others as an object lesson or movie discussion on the topics below?!
Applications:
Thinking and The Mind:
The movie Inside Out is a funny reminder that lots of things go on in our mind that other people don’t know anything about. I mean, did you see how each of the characters were thinking things that they would never say to each other! None of us know what each other is thinking. Of course, we can sometimes take a good guess, but really we are the only ones who know what goes on in our head… us, and God that is! God knows and hears the things we think about; there is nothing that we can keep hidden from Him.
The things that we think about are important because it shows what we hold important. If we don’t care about something then we probably won’t waste a lot of time thinking about it, but if we truly care then we probably won’t be able to stop thinking about it! In Romans 12:12 we are told to be transformed by the renewing of our minds – that means that we aren’t supposed to think the way the rest of the world does anymore, we should think more like Christ. And what did Jesus think like, well, I suppose Philippians 4:8 should help us out there – we should think of all that is true, good, honorable etc.
The things that we allow ourselves to think about are important to God because they start to form who we are; our thoughts become words and our words become actions. Our thoughts also become ways in which we think that affects our whole way of viewing things. So it’s really important that we think about what is going on inside our heads and we ask God to help us to control our thoughts!
RELEVANT BIBLE VERSES:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:12.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.
“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16.
He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:8.
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1.) What do you find yourself thinking about the most?
2.) Are you a daydreamer?
3.) What are good things to think about?
4.) How do you deal with bad thoughts or thoughts that make you feel the wrong things?
5.) How do you think God can help us with our thoughts?
6.) Can we really control what goes on in our mind?
7.) How can we put God first in our mind?
8.) What do you think happens when we don’t get our thought life right?
9.) What can we do to help those that are struggling with the thoughts in their mind? How can we help them?
10.) What thoughts does God want us to have towards Him, others and ourselves?
