Elephants 2023, Part 3: Entertainment // Jamie Nunnally

Victory Fellowship Church Podcast

Should a Christian consume the same entertainment that everyone else does? How do we know what's appropriate and what's not? In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares truths and advice to help us make wise entertainment choices.

Two Biblical truths to consider:

1. Your intake will determine your outcome.

Proverbs 4:23

Who you are right now is the sum total of your physical, emotional and spiritual intake.

Don't like how you feel? Feed your heart different food. The key to changing what you're full of is to change what you feed on.

2. Christians live differently than the world.

Titus 2:12 "And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God"

Christians should affect culture, not reflect culture. We are called to walk differently, and if you're not different, you're probably not walking in your calling.

Music is supernatural.

2 Kings 3:15

1 Samuel 16:23

2 Chronicles 5:13-14

If Christian music can usher in the presence of the Holy Spirit, what spirits do you think non-christian music can usher in?

Stories affect you deeply.

Implicit learning happens through stories – that's why Jesus used parables. Every story has a moral.

Mark 7:20-23

What is your TV teaching you? It's called "programming" for a reason.

Sports & hobbies are fun...unless they rob you of your relationships and resources.

1 Corinthians 6:12

God didn't save you just so you could live a life of leisure. He's got a job for you to do!

Ensure that your entertainment doesn't become your enslavement:

1. Protect your time.

Ephesians 5:15-16 "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise..."

Distraction is destructive to your destiny. You don't need more time; you just need more time management.

Life application #1: Don't binge watch shows or movies.

Life application #2: plan your times of entertainment – not just a start time, but an end time.

2. Protect your mind.

Romans 12:2 "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind"

Renewing your mind is a lifestyle of practicing repentance – changing your mind so that you can change your actions.

Life application #1: Turn off the TV when you're not actively watching something.

Life application #2: Use filtering programs like Vidangel, and look up movie reviews online.

3. Protect your family.

Proverbs 22:6

Some of you are binge watching Netflix when you need to binge watch your children.

Life application #1: Shield kids from inappropriate entertainment.

Life application #2: Teach your children why we don't expose our hearts to harmful things.

We protect what's important, and we hide our valuables.

Entertainment can be fine. Too much entertainment—or the wrong kind of entertainment—can be fatal. God wants you to enjoy yourself, but He doesn't want you to injure yourself. Protect your heart and use wisdom.

Will you let the Holy Spirit guide your entertainment choices?