Studying the Scriptures (Part 2)

Season 2 Episode 37 -- The mind does not get renewed simply by reading and studying the Bible.  "Wait!  Did I read that right?"  You did!  It has to do with how God designed the mind.  So, how does God renew our minds?  And what part do reading and studying the Bible play in this renewal process?  Listen and find out!

"Reflect on This" is a once-weekly, short devotional podcast. In these devotionals, I share the things I am learning about the ways and nature of God, through applying my study of the Scriptures to life, in practical and fulfilling ways.
 
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Resources that inspired some episodes:

"The Language of Rivers and Stars" by Seth Lewis

“Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis

 Seth Lewis blog:  https://sethlewis.ie/

35 Bible Verses About Listening To Others (Explained) - Bible Repository 

"Restoration Year: Devotions to Transform Your Relationships, Spirit, and Faith" by John Eldredge

"Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

"The Pleasure of His Company" by Dutch Sheets

"Fresh Air" by Chris Hodges

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

Featured ministries and resources:
 
“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
This is an amazing world-wide ministry that uses puppet shows to reach children (and their parents) for Christ, in cultures that are generally not very open to the Gospel.  To learn more, go to: https://theagapepuppets.org/ 

"Manufacture Good" (ministry)
 Manufacture Good is a Christian ministry that offers paid apprenticeships to men who need a second chance.  These apprentices learn biblical principles, character, and valuable woodworking and metalworking skills which lead to employment opportunities.  You can shop their catalog of fine home and office products, order a standard or custom piece of furniture, make a donation, and learn more about this amazing ministry, at: https://manufacturegood.org/.

"The World and Everything in It" (podcast)
This is a weekday 35-minute podcast that presents headline news, in-depth news articles, media reviews, and opinion pieces from a Christian world view.  Their stated mission is "biblically objective journalism that informs, educates, and inspires."
 
“Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage” (podcast) 
This is a once a week 30-minute podcast hosted by Greg and Erin Smalley, who head up the marriage team at Focus on the Family.  Each episode addresses a different aspect of marriage, using biblical principles, featured guests, practical advice, and a mixture of humor and candidness.  
 
"e-Sword" (Bible study software)
This study tool includes many free (and low-cost) resources, including Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, and devotionals.  It allows you to simultaneously view verses and their corresponding cross-references, lexicon entries, commentaries, and more.
On your computer, go to e-sword.net
On your mobile device, go to your app store and search for “e-sword.” 

Music credits:
Beauty by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all 

Transcript

In the previous episode, we discussed a common tendency we have when we are reading and studying the Bible:  mere accumulation of knowledge, rather than using the Scriptures to lead us into the very presence of the triune Godhead, which will then lead us to change how we think, act, and live.  Today I want to explore this further, by looking at how God designed the mind.  As in the previous episode, I want to share a few excerpts from an excellent article by Bill Johnson on this topic:

“God is not opposed to the mind.  He created it to be a beautiful complement to all that He made.  He is opposed to the unrenewed mind.  It is at war with God, incapable of obeying Him.”

Let’s pause here for a moment.  Johnson gets this concept that “[the unrenewed mind] is at war with God, incapable of obeying Him” from this verse:

Romans 8:6 NIV  The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.  [Application:  The mind “governed by the flesh” is the unrenewed mind.  Because it not “governed by the Spirit,” it is incapable of obeying God.  So, it is, in essence, at war with God.]

So, how do we renew our minds?  Johnson continues:

“The mind does not get renewed simply by reading Scripture… When I hear people teach on renewing the mind, I commonly hear them say that happens almost exclusively through reading the Word, meditating on the Word, and confessing the Word.  Those habits are absolutely essential, but they are not what renews the mind.  The Word was designed and given to bring us to a divine encounter [with Jesus].  The divine encounter is what renews our minds.

“Jesus said, ‘You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life’ (John 5:39-40).  Jesus was standing in front of a group of [very] learned religious men when He said this, but they refused to go from knowledge to encounter.  The Scriptures are to take us to the Person of Jesus Christ.

“When I filter everything that I read through my mind only, and remove what isn’t immediately logical, I extract much of what I really need.  Only what goes beyond my understanding is positioned to renew my mind.  By definition, if we understand something already, then we are not learning.

“The apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, exalted experience above knowledge in his letter to the Ephesians: “That you … may be able… to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge’ (Ephesians 3:17-19).  The meaning in the original Greek is ‘to know by experience what is beyond comprehension.’  So, the intellect is dethroned as the arbiter of spiritual knowledge.”

I should pause at this point and add that Johnson is not advocating for downplaying the application of our intellect to the study of the Scriptures.  He continues:

“Nobody could convince me [that] they love Jesus unless they love the written Word of God.  The Bible is Jesus in print.  He is the Word of God.  And those who set aside the mind are setting aside the very thing God wants to renew.  If the mind isn’t important, it’s not worth renewing.”

So, here is the big idea:  

It takes more than merely reading the words of Scripture and accumulating knowledge to renew our minds.  God uses the words of Scripture, through the Holy Spirit, to lead us to a divine encounter with Jesus, who reveals the ways and nature of the Father to us.  It is important to engage every part of us, including our minds, in this encounter with Jesus.  Only then do we receive the divine insights necessary to renew our minds.  

The results of a renewed mind are renewed thoughts, words, and deeds.  Without a renewed mind, our accumulation of Scripture knowledge will cause us to be like the Pharisees, who Jesus described as “searching the Scriptures” but “unwilling to come to [Him] that [they] may have life.”  

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”