Jesus has been called the greatest teacher who has ever lived (John 3:2), but have you ever asked him to be your personal teacher who guides your thoughts in all of life? It takes a renewed mind.
OVERVIEW:
- The difference between the natural mind and the renewed mind.
- What it means to have the mind of Christ.
- Discover the process of renewal for the mind.
- Discover three ways to be more spiritually minded.
The Natural Mind: refers to the thinking process that is limited to human reason and resources (1 Corinthians 2:14). What does Paul write about people who live according to their natural minds? (Ephesians 4:17-18)
The natural mind inevitably becomes enslaved to other masters (Romans 1:18-32).
- 2 Corinthians 3:14, 4:4
- Romans 1:28
- 1 Timothy 6:5
- Colossians 2:18
A renewed mind is able to know with certainty how trustworthy and how correct the will of God is (Romans 12:2).
- The natural and renewed mind has basic similarities: thinking, judging, reasoning, evaluating, but the difference is control.
- The renewed mind is obedient to Christ, thinking from the viewpoint of Jesus, freeing the personality by enlarging it to encompass the world of the spirit as well as the senses.
The Carnal Mind: is ruled by fleshly thoughts and desires (Romans 8:1-14).
- Jesus wants to be to your mind what a compass is to a ship (2 Corinthians 10:5).
- Demolish worldly imaginations or arguments that obstruct the knowledge of God.
- Take every thought captive and make them obedient to Christ’s control.
- Paul’s reasoning about thoughts is to ask Jesus to take control of them.
The Mind of Christ: is the disciple’s goal (Philippians 2:5). This is all about filling your mind with the thought of Christ.
- To remove all obstacles to your knowledge of God.
- To make every thought captive obedient to Christ.
- To possess the mind of Christ.
- To renew your mind.
How to Renew Your Mind:
- Romans 8:5-6
- John 16:13
- Colossians 3:2
- Philippians 4:8
- Psalm 1:2-3
- John 8:31-32
- What term does Jesus use for someone who continues in his word?
- What does living in God’s truth do for the enslaved mind?
Evaluate the Degree to Which Your Mind is Being Renewed:
- Are you really a disciple of Jesus? If so, how? (John 8:31, 1 Corinthians 2:12)
- If you are a disciple, what source of power is renewing your mind daily?
- Are you willing to make a commitment to get God’s Word into your daily life? How? What is your goal?
- What actions are you going to take to renew your mind?