Begin the study with prayer. Some possible petitions might be:
1. Thanksgiving to God for the new life we have in Christ and the purposes God has established for all living that life.
2. Thanksgiving to God for His Word in which we find our salvation revealed, our nurture for Christian growth and the solutions to all the issues of life.
3. Supplication for the wisdom to recognize spiritual rationalizations in our life.
4. Others?
REVIEW:
1. Have the group (or volunteers) recite the following verses: Psalm 119:9-11, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 16:18, Galatians 2:20, Matthew 28:18-20, John 14:21, Proverbs 4:23, and Psalm 73:26.
2. Discuss the outcome of the study of Saul's rebellion against God in I Samuel 13:1-15 and I Samuel 15. I Samuel 13:1-15 shows Saul leaning on his own understanding rather than trusting the Word of the Lord. He proceeded with the sacrifice because he didn't want his army scattering, when the Lord could have granted him victory without an army had he just trusted. We too have a tendency of believing things to be worse than they really are because we count the Lord out. I Samuel 15 shows Saul's greed consuming his love for the Lord. Upon being confronted with his sin Saul tried to excuse his sin. God declared He desires obedience rather than outward sacrifices. We also often set aside the Word of God in our life, thinking it doesn't make much difference as long as we have other spiritual activities to appease Him.
3. There is only one verse of Psalm 119 that does not, at least by implication, make a reference to the Word of God. It is verse 122. Verses 121 and 149 have in their background the understanding of God's statutes, even though they are not specifically mentioned. Some of the English terms the Psalm contains that refer to the Word are: Your Word, commandments, statutes, judgments, testimonies, precepts, ways, law, truth, ordinances, custom, and justice.
The Renewal of the Mind
Purpose: To reveal that the Christian does not get a new mind at his rebirth, but rather the mind must
be renewed.
Teaching: Have the group read Matthew 22:37 and explain that it is God's will for us to love Him with all our heart, mind and life. Direct their attention to the diagram and explain that either consciously or sub-consciously people often limit the practice of faith to fewer than all three areas.
* Describe a person who limits the practice of his religion to externals?
This individual may or may not be a church member, displays a few of the externals of faith such as
church attendance, giving, serving on boards, etc., has no devotional life or desire to study the Bible,
does not look for sin in his life, and his religion ends at the church door. Outside the church he
displays the same habits, conversation, goals, etc. as unbelievers.
* Describe a person who applies intellect and action to the practice of religion, but no heart?
Such a person is usually a very active church member, knows many Biblical facts, is doctrinally
sound, attends most Bible studies, but does not know the Bible well enough to use it to defend the
faith. His faith is an intellectual faith, based on what parents, denominational forefathers, and others
have written on the Bible rather than personal conviction from God's Word. Preaching, Bible study,
etc. does not seem to touch his life.
Explain that the human way of doing things is usually the opposite of God's way
and this is a good example. Change in a person's life does not happen from the
outside in but the inside out. It is not enough to want to change some facet of
a person's life, or even to know how to do it. The desire must be rooted in the
faith one has in his heart and progress from there through the mind to the life.
At this point we want to note a major difference between the human mind and the human
heart. When a person has been reborn by God's grace they receive a new heart. This is
not the case with the mind. Have the group read Romans 12:2 and ask, "Do we also get a new mind at our rebirth?" No, as can be seen here, the mind is to experience an
ongoing renewal. Now turn to Romans 8:5-6 and ask the following questions:
* What is the state of man's mind by nature?
By nature man's flesh controls his mind. The flesh "sets the mind" on fleshly thoughts which in turn
are used to produce fleshly deeds.
* What is the difference between the Christian mind and the fleshly mind?
The Christian mind has been born again, the bondage to the flesh has been broken and the Holy
Spirit, living in the heart of man, takes control of the mind. The Spirit enables the Christian to "set
his mind" on Godly thoughts and deeds.
* What are the outcomes of the two different mind sets?
The carnally minded person is on a death course and the spiritually minded person experiences life
and peace.
Summary: The mind is a storage bin for facts and the center of human reasoning. However,
the type of facts and the direction of human reason is controlled either by the flesh or the
Holy Spirit. Have the group illustrate their understanding of this teaching by using computer
technology. (The mind is represented by the computer. It contains facts and computation
ability, but it is the computer programmer that determines what facts will be entered into the
computer and how they will be used. When the flesh programs the mind it is "set on," or
programmed with fleshly thoughts which in turn are used to produce fleshly acts. When the
Holy Spirit programs the mind, the mind is "set on" Godly thoughts and Godly deeds result
while the fleshly thoughts are consciously erased or rejected.) Now read Colossians 3:1-2 and ask the following questions:
* Where are we to set our mind?
On the things above, where Christ is.
* What's the opposite of setting your mind on the things above?
Setting our mind on the things of earth.
* What tools does Satan have at his disposal to stimulate the flesh to gain control over the mind and practice carnality?
1. Television: glorifies sin, establishes morals, encourages lust through advertising.
2. Education: lower education introduces a humanist world view and higher education offers specialties in it.
3. Government: as the government passes amoral laws, the populace accept it as their standards.
4. The economy: either excess or deprivation leads to tunnel-vision.
5. Occupation: can displace witnessing and discipling as the purpose for a person's life.
6. Others?
* Describe how two people's responses to the following situations might differ if one was setting their mind on the things above and one was setting their mind on the things of earth.
1. Job layoff.
2. The lawnmower breaks down and company is coming in an hour.
3. Buying a new car.
4. A young man's parents going out of town for the weekend and his being left alone.
5. A wife getting pregnant.
* What are some of the ways God's Word can be used in our lives that will result in the renewing of our mind and a focusing on the things above?
Hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, writing, speaking, singing, praying and meditating on God's
Word.
The danger that always surrounds the use of God's Word is that we are training the brain
rather than imparting to the heart. People with a trained brain may have many answers but
little or no desire to use them. For example: Some people study how to witness their whole
life, but when they have the opportunity to witness, they don't. Why? They have a trained
brain but the knowledge has not become a part of their heart. In other words, they don't have
a heart for witnessing. Explain that we have talked about the importance of memorization
to the Christian walk but memorization can be just a form of brain training. The Godly
discipline of meditation is a tool God uses to impart His Word to the heart.
Christian meditation is seldom practiced and encouraged in mainstream Christianity today.
It might be interesting to see how many people in this study have ever practiced meditation.
The following is a quick survey of meditation and will hopefully explain in enough detail how
to meditate so that it will become a part of each participant's life.
Explain the definition. Meditation is personal fellowship with God through His Word. First
of all the Word is contemplated. Then, when the passage's meaning is realized or
understood, it is applied to the individual's life. Meditation is a joint activity of the heart
(Psalm 19:14), mind (Psalm 77:12), and God. Meditation is not the emptying of the mind
but the occupying of the whole person with God and His Word.
1. John 17:3 Increased intimacy with God.
2. Psalm 119:99-100 Increased understanding.
3. Psalm 119:47-48 Increased love of the Word.
4. Psalm 1:3 God's blessings.
5. Romans 12:2 A renewed mind and changed behavior.
1. Psalm 104:34 (Psalm 63:6) The personhood of God.
* How might meditating on God's attributes enhance one's intimacy with God?
The more we know of God's greatness the more we love Him and appreciate being His child.
2. Psalm 77:11-12 The works of God.
* What works of God might one meditate upon?
The works of old (those recorded in Scriptures) and those He performs on our behalf today.
* When was the last time the Lord acted on your behalf?
We aren't just looking for, "He keeps my heart beating, gives me daily bread, etc.," but rather specific instances of God's intervention or answering of a prayer. When we practice meditation we become much more sensitive to what God is doing in our life because we consciously look for His activity.
3. Joshua 1:8 The Word of God.
4. Psalm 119:48 Obedience (seeking new principles, as well as evaluating already known principles).
Psalm 119:97 Ideally the Christian's whole life is meditation. However, meditation can be
spontaneous or it can be deliberate. Any occurrence in our life could prompt immediate meditation. A painful circumstance could lead us to seek the Lord immediately for strength, understanding and the like. A joyful circumstance could lead us to immediately meditate on His goodness. Spontaneous meditation could occur whenever unexpected free time becomes available (i.e. while standing in a line, waiting in traffic, while waiting on people, etc.) However, meditation can and must be deliberate in that we set aside a specific time(s) to meditate throughout the day.
MEDITATION: A SUGGESTED APPROACH
Meditation Preparations:
1. Select a specific time for meditation, times that can be strictly honored.
2. Select specific places to meditate that are as free as possible of disturbances. It might be sitting in a room freed of distractions. It might be sitting outside or even taking a leisurely walk.
3. Notify those around you that you are not to be disturbed.
The Meditation:
1. Begin your meditation with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to eliminate stress and open your heart and mind to His teaching.
2. Select the verse for meditation. It is always good, no matter what the object of your meditation might be, to make Scriptures the center of your meditation. This keeps the devil from substituting his or your impressions for God's truth.
3. Study the verse thoroughly. Be sure you understand each concept.
4. Memorize the verse, saying it out loud.
5. Contemplate each thought of the verse. If it helps, write the verse out word by word, meditating on each word as it is being written, or orally talking to God about the verse.
6. Search your memory for applications in the lives of Biblical characters and your own past.
7. Understand its present and future applications, identifying what needs to be added or subtracted from your life.
8. Prayerfully commit yourself to the verse's application.
9. Visualize yourself dying to sin the verse confronts and rising in victory with Christ. Visualize yourself living the verse.
10. Praise the Lord in song.
11. Live the Word.
12. Share what you have been taught with someone else.
Ask the group what they feel could be some hindrances to meditation.
Hindrances to Meditation
1. Time mismanagement: Many people have lost control of their lives. It is never true to say that we have no time to meditate; the less one thinks of God, the less time there will always be for Him. The time one has for anything depends on how much he values it.
2. A rebellious spirit: Many people do not "delight" in God's Word because it challenges them to lay aside their will for His.
3. Willful sin: Since meditation is communion with God and willful sinners have broken fellowship with God, willful sin makes fruitful meditation impossible.
4. False guilt: Not feeling worthy of personal communion with God. The death and resurrection of Jesus makes us completely fit.
5. An intellectual rather than personal relationship with the Lord.
6. Misunderstanding meditation: It is not a subjective experience nor is it similar to heathen forms of meditation. Biblical meditation pre-dates any other form of meditation.
7. Excessive media exposure: This results in intellectual sterility (the inability to contemplate), a problem that is plaguing this generation. People would rather be entertained than think. It also results in poor communication skills. The media specializes in one way communication. The participant only receives and is not expected to communicate in return.
8. Others?
Conclude the study by reading, as a group, Philippians 4:8. Ask the groupwhy meditating on the topics in Philippians 4:8 would lead a person to be rejoicing always (Philippians 4:6). What sort of topics would lead a person to be depressed. Then read Isaiah 26:3 and ask the people how we might know for sure we are thinking carnally, and do not have our minds on the Lord. This passage is a promise of peace to us.
1. I have been consciously setting my mind on the things above rather than the things of earth since?
2. The last time I made a "carnal" decision was:
The tool which Satan uses most effectively in diverting my attention from the Spirit to the flesh is:
Television/Media
Education
Government
Economy
Occupation
Other?
4. My last car purchase was a decision of the (flesh/Spirit - circle one).
5. Prior to today, Biblical meditation (as it has been defined in this lesson) has been an important part of my spiritual life. True or False
6. The last time I can remember God's special intervention in my life was:
7. An area in my life where I need to grow more obedient and which would be a good topic for
meditation is:
8. A specific time and place I could meditate is:
9. Which of the following might be hindrances to your meditation:
Time mismanagement
A rebellious spirit
Willful sin
False guilt
Intellectual vs. personal relationship with the Lord
Misunderstandings about meditation
Excessive media exposure
Others?
10. I spend _____ hours a week involved in the media (television, secular radio, secular novels, newspaper, etc.) and _____ hours a week with the Lord (worship, Bible study, singing, Christian media, etc.).
Day 1
* Review Lesson 6 using the Leader's Guide.
* Establish a daily meditation schedule.
* Remember, review your memory work every day this week.
Day 2
* Quickly review the Lesson 6 material by questioning each other on its content.
* Memorize Romans 8:5-6. Be sure you are able to explain each concept in the verses.
Day 3
* Read Psalm 119 and record all the various benefits the Psalmist lists for studying the Word.
* Learn the definition of meditation given on page 4 of the Leader's Guide.
* What opportunities did you have today for "spontaneous meditation?" Did you take advantage of them?
Day 4
* Memorize Isaiah 26:3.
* Study Ephesians 4:17-24. What does this passage teach about the mind? Does it add any teachings to what we have already studied in this lesson?
Day 5
* Use as a basis for your devotion today, Philippians 2:1-11. What mind principle is given in vs. 5? What specific applications of this principle is encouraged in vv. 1-4? Why will pride have to fall before this principle can be applied? Prove from this passage Jesus was perfectly humble. Were there some times you honored the application in vv. 3-4 this week? Were there some times you failed to honor it?
Day 6
* Share some insights the Lord gave you through your meditation on His Word this week.
* Did God act for you in a special way this week? When?
* How many days this week did you meditate? What was the average time of each meditation? What hindrances are you running into with your meditation? Share some of your thoughts on the role meditation plays in our life and the role it might play in the future.
* Do you need to make any adjustments in your meditation schedule?