Discipleship Class 2
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Transcript of Discipleship Class 2
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Discipleship ClassTeacher: Apostle J. Rodney Roberts
Home Work - Level 2Lesson 2: Renewing Your Mind
Submitted By: Stephen Gibson 09/03/11
1. Give 3 examples of persons from scripture who had a renewed mind andexplain each of them (50 points)
Three examples, from scripture, of persons who had a renewed mind are
Abraham, Paul and Peter.
To renew in this instance, means to make new. In this context a renewed
mind is one that is made new because it has been made to change from a
previous way of thinking to conform to a Godly way of thinking. In
Abrahams case we know that Abraham was from a family, and a nation, ofpagans. Not only did they not they did not worship Jehovah they did not
know him. The people of Abrahams day had many gods and worshipped
almost everything. There were gods made of wood, stone, iron or precious
metals. There were gods for everything; fertility, rain, bountiful harvest, luck
etc. Many people had multiple gods. The belief in a single god who was all
powerful and could do everything was unheard of. In spite of this, Jehovah
called Abraham and commanded him to walk before him and be perfect.
God also told him to leave his home and family and go to a land that he
would show him. God also promised that he would bless Abraham and makehim a father of nations. Somehow, Abraham believed the voice that he was
hearing and decided to act and follow it. One of the first things that God did
was to change Abrahams name from Abram to Abraham. In eastern culture
names are considered more important than we think today. A thing (or
person) may be called by what it is or is expected to become. Abram means
exalted father. Abraham means father of multitudes (or nations). Before his
encounter with God Abraham had no children. After his encounter he would
become the father of nations.
Paul The Apostle: Paul was a zealous Jew who wanted to please God. Hewanted to please God so much that he sought to eliminate Christianity which
was a new religion established during his lifetime that he thought was an
ungodly religion. He was on his way to seek legal authorization to kill the
followers of Jesus when he had an encounter with the risen Christ. One of
the first things that happened to Saul after his conversion is that his name
was changed to Paul. (Paul is actually the Roman name for Saul). It is not
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known who changed his name but we do know that it happened at a
significant point in his life. Saul was the name of Israels first king (1 Sam.
8:7). He was a very tall man (1 Sam. 9:2). His pride led to his downfall.
Paul means little. The name change was probably a reminder to the apostle
to never become big in his own eyes. This is a consistent theme for him. He
refers to himself as least among the apostles even though the revelation he
received was greater than what they received. He also refers to the fact that
to keep him humble (small in his own sight) he was given a thorn in the
flesh. In Phillipians 3:5-9, Paul talks about the fact that he would gladly give
up all that he had learned and accomplished as a Jew for the new experience
in / with Christ.
Peter was perhaps, among the first of Jesus followers (apostles, Luke 6:14).
Peter was originally called Simon. Jesus named him Peter. The name Simon
means shifty or unstable. This was exactly the kind of person Simon was. Hewas the kind of person who would rush to Jesus defense when the soldiers
came to arrest him (John 128:10) but would angrily deny that he knew him a
few days later(John 18:17-27). In John 6:66-69 many of Jesus disciples
would forsake him Jesus asked the twelve if they also would forsake him.
Peter was the one to proclaim Lord, to whom shall we go, you have the
words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that you are that Christ,
the son of the living God. In Luke 22:31-33 Jesus tells Peter that satan
desired him to sift him as wheat. But, Jesus told Simon that he had prayed
for him that his faith does not fail; and when he was converted to strengthenhis brethren. This same shifty and unstable Simon whom Jesus named Peter
(name meanin rock / stable) would go on to preach the first gospel message
on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41) and become a pillar of the early
Christian church.
Why are most Christians carnal? (25 points)
There are a variety of reasons why Christians are carnal. Romans 12:2command Christians to not be conformed to this world but rather be
transformed by renewing their minds. In other words, do not think the way
that people who does not know God thinks. You must change the way you
think. If we, as Christians, changed our thinking process to line up with the
way God wants us to think we would avoid carnality and live a life pleasing
to God. The first step is that we must know the word. Many people are just
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ignorant of what the word says so they do not know what to do or how to
respond to lifes situations (2nd Tim 3:16-17). Secondly one must believe /
act on the word. Many Christians know the word and can quote scriptures
from Genesis to Revelation. Yet many of them do not act on the word they
know. Many have no faith that what God has promised he is well able to do
and many do not have the patience to wait on God to fulfill his promises.
Faith comes through hearing the word of God but many do not hear enough
of the word of God to build their faith. Thirdly many do not strive against
sin or resist the devil. Many christians fall to sin far too easily. The
scriptures encourage us to resist the devil (James 4:7). We are blessed for
enduring temptation (James 1:12). Fourthly many do not grow. Many
Christians have been saved for years and are immature in the faith. At a time
when they should be teaching they themselves are in need of teachers (Heb.
5:12). Fifthly many are not rooted and grounded in the word. It is easy to
be moved by every wind of doctrine (or be unstable) if one is not rooted andgrounded in the word of God. Lastly, many do not walk in line with the
Spirit of God. Gal 5:16 says that if one walks in the Spirit they will not
fulfill the lusts of the flesh (act carnally). Because many Christians do not
walk in the Spirit they continue to fulfill their fleshly desires.
Give 3 examples from scripture of people whose minds were not renewed.
(25 points)
Hebrews 4:2 says For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as untothem: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith
in them that heard it.
The mind is renewed through the hearing of, and believing in the word of
God. Not everyone who hears the word believes it or allows it to change
them. This results in an unrenewed mind.
Three examples of people who heard the word but did not allow it to
transform them are: Judas Iscariot, Simon the sorcerer (Acts 99-25) and
Demas.
Judas Iscariot is perhaps the most famous man whose mind was not
renewed. He was one of Jesus twelve apostles. He accompanied Jesusthroughout his ministry. He saw the miracles and heard the same teaching
that transformed the lives of others like Peter and James (men who would
become pillars in the early church). He saw Jesus calm a raging storm and
walk on water. He saw a boys lunch multiplied to feed a hungry multitude.
He was trusted with the finances of Jesus ministry (John 1:6). In spite of this
he betrayed Jesus for thirty (30) pieces of silver and became the universal
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symbol for betrayal. His mind certainly was not renewed. His love of money
caused him his salvation (John 17:12).
Simon was a sorcerer who heard the word, believed and was baptized. He
followed Phillip in awe of the signs and miracles that he saw being done
(verse 13). When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the
laying on of hands he desired the same power and offered to pay Peter for it.
Peter said to him you have no part or lot in this matter for your heart is not
right in the sight of God. I perceive that you are in the gall of bitterness and
the bond of iniquity. Even though Simon was a believer his mindset had not
changed to reflect the mind of Christ. Fortunately for Simon the fear of the
Lord was still in him. He asked Peter to pray to the Lord for him that he
might be forgiven.
Demas (Colossians 4:14, 2 Tim.4:10).Not much is recorded of Demas in the scriptures. We know from Colossians
4:14 that he was a believer and companion of the apostle Paul. In some of
his letters Paul would bring greetings from and give an update of some of his
co-workers in the ministry. Men such as Luke the physician, Titus,
Tychicus, Aristarchus and Epaphras. A sad commentary is given of Demas
in 2nd Timothy 4:10. Paul declares For Demas has forsaken me, having
loved this present world, and is departed to Thessalonica. It is obvious that
Demas, who had such a promising start in ministry, did not have a renewed
mind. He allowed the pleasures and lusts of this life to cause him to forsakePaul and the ministry.
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