Sep. 05, 2021

Abundant Mental Life

Primary Text: Romans 12:2                          September 4 & 5, 2021

Last Teaching:  Abundant Spiritual Life

1)  Full Life

John 10:10 (NASB):  “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

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2)  Convoluted Worship

Romans 1:21-25:  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened….  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised.  Amen.

DQ 1) Define “spiritual life” apart from the one true God.

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3)  Freedom in Christ

John 8:31-36:  To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”…   Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin….  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

DQ 2) If we are free in Christ, what are we freed from?  What is

           real freedom in Christ?

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This Week’s Teaching

1)  A Transformed Mind

Romans 12:2:   Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

DQ 1) From what to what does Christ transform the human mind?

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2)  The Foundation of Renewal

John 8:31-32:  To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 15:26:  “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”

John 16:13:  But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.

DQ 2) What is the source of all truth?

DQ 3) Why is truth the foundation of a renewed mind?

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3)  Taking Prisoners

2 Corinthians 10:3-6:  For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. 

DQ 4) How does our thinking influence our behaviors?

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4)  The Lamp

Matthew 6:22-23:  The eye is the lamp of the body.  If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. 

2 Corinthians 4:4:  The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 

DQ 5) Why must humans be guarded about what we allow into 

            our minds?

DQ 6) What causes a mind to be blinded or polluted?

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5)  Whatever is Pure

Philippians 4:8-9:  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you. 

DQ 7) How is “peace of mind” determined by our patterns of 

           thinking?

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