Harder Than It Looks

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may [d]prove what the will of God is, that which is good and [e]acceptable and perfect.  Romans 12:2  NASB Not be conformed – I didn’t know if I should choose the verse in Genesis (1:26) or this verse in Romans. …

At the Edge

and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.  Romans 12:2 NASB 1995 Not be conformed – Paul’s exhortation might just be shy of impossible for us.  Two thousand…

What World?

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.  Romans 12:2  NASB This world – Paul strictly instructs followers of the Messiah to resist conformity to the patterns of this world,…

Old Habits

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.  Romans 12:2  NASB Renewing of your mind – When Paul calls his readers to renew their minds, what does he mean?  Does…

Paradigms

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 NASB Conformed – Paul’s term, syschematizesthe, is a word about shaping behavior. It’s not really about doctrines of dogma or…

The Logic of Discovery

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 12:2  ESV Testing/discern – One word, two ideas.  To test.  To discern.  Paul chooses the Greek verb dokimazo.  It…

Accommodation

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 12:2  ESV Conformed – Don’t be blueprinted!  The Greek verb, syschematizo, is literally about being in union with patterns…

Pattern Recognition

and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 Conformed – Let’s go to visit the blacksmith. Of course, today you might have to travel a long…

Connected

and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 And – How many times have you heard this verse? Dozens, I’ll bet, but we often miss the…

COMBAT QUESTIONS

  1.      Is life really about being “balanced”?    2.      Do you really feel free?  Or do you just feel that your sins have been forgiven but the rest of your life is still a heavy load?  What does it mean to be “free indeed”?    3.      Are you aware of God’s immediate, intimate, active…