Thinking as Worship: Honoring God with Our Minds

Devotional

Day 1: Thinking as Worship and Obedience

Thinking is a form of worship and obedience to God, as it involves using our minds to grasp truth and apply it in our lives. It is essential for loving God with all our mind, as commanded in the Great Commandment. [02:21]
In the Christian faith, thinking is not just an intellectual exercise but a profound act of worship and obedience. It is a way to love God with all our mind, as instructed in the Great Commandment. By engaging our minds, we seek to understand and apply God's truth in our lives, which is a vital aspect of our spiritual journey. This discipline of thinking allows us to perceive the world through the lens of faith, aligning our thoughts with God's will and purpose.
As we cultivate this discipline, we recognize that our minds are a gift from God, designed to glorify Him. By intentionally focusing our thoughts on His truth, we participate in a form of worship that honors Him. This process involves not only acquiring knowledge but also applying it in ways that reflect God's love and wisdom in our daily interactions and decisions.

Colossians 3:2-3 (ESV): "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to intentionally focus your thoughts on God's truth and align your mind with His will?

Day 2: Cultivating the Six Habits of the Mind

Observation, understanding, evaluating, feeling, applying, and expressing are crucial habits for developing a disciplined mind. These habits help us perceive, connect, discern, and act upon truth in a way that honors God. [04:20]
Developing a disciplined mind that honors God involves cultivating six essential habits: observation, understanding, evaluating, feeling, applying, and expressing. Each of these habits plays a crucial role in how we perceive and interact with the world around us. Observation allows us to accurately perceive our surroundings, while understanding helps us make connections and gain deeper insights. Evaluating enables us to discern what is good and true, and feeling ensures that our emotions are appropriately aligned with reality.
Applying and expressing are the culmination of these processes, as we put our thoughts into action and communicate them effectively. By practicing these habits, we develop a disciplined mind that not only seeks truth but also acts upon it in ways that reflect God's love and wisdom. This holistic approach to thinking empowers us to live out our faith in practical and meaningful ways, impacting both our personal growth and our relationships with others.

Proverbs 2:2-5 (ESV): "Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."

Reflection: Which of the six habits of the mind do you find most challenging to cultivate, and how can you begin to develop it more intentionally in your daily life?

Day 3: The Holy Spirit's Role in Our Thinking

While mental effort is necessary, it is not sufficient without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We must pray for the Spirit to illuminate our minds and remove barriers that hinder our understanding of God's truth. [11:45]
In the journey of developing a disciplined mind, the role of the Holy Spirit is indispensable. While our mental effort is important, it is not enough on its own to fully grasp and apply God's truth. The Holy Spirit acts as our guide, illuminating our minds and removing barriers that hinder our understanding. Through prayer, we invite the Spirit to work within us, aligning our thoughts and preferences with God's truth.
The Spirit's guidance helps us read and interpret Scripture accurately, providing clarity and insight that we might not achieve on our own. By relying on the Holy Spirit, we open ourselves to a deeper understanding of God's Word and His will for our lives. This partnership with the Spirit transforms our thinking, enabling us to live in a way that reflects God's love and wisdom to the world around us.

1 Corinthians 2:12-13 (ESV): "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual."

Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and understanding today, especially in areas where you feel confused or uncertain?

Day 4: Loving God with Our Minds

True love for God involves engaging our minds to know Him. Love is not just an intellectual exercise but an affectional delight in God, requiring us to see His beauty and loveliness. [29:57]
Loving God with our minds is an integral part of our spiritual journey. It involves engaging our intellect to know Him more deeply, but it goes beyond mere intellectual understanding. True love for God is an affectional delight in His beauty and loveliness, a heartfelt response to His character and works. By studying God's Word and reflecting on His creation, we cultivate a deeper appreciation for who He is and what He has done.
This love is not static; it grows as we continue to seek Him with our minds and hearts. As we engage our minds in knowing God, we are drawn into a closer relationship with Him, experiencing the joy and fulfillment that comes from being in His presence. This holistic approach to loving God transforms our lives, influencing how we think, feel, and act in ways that honor Him.

Psalm 119:15-16 (ESV): "I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word."

Reflection: In what ways can you engage your mind to know and love God more deeply today, and how might this impact your relationship with Him?

Day 5: Distinguishing Wisdom and Knowledge

As we study God's Word and the world, we must discern between godly wisdom and worldly knowledge. True wisdom aligns with God's truth and leads to a flourishing life that honors Him. [40:17]
In our pursuit of knowledge and understanding, it is crucial to distinguish between godly wisdom and worldly knowledge. While knowledge involves acquiring information, wisdom is the ability to apply that knowledge in ways that align with God's truth. True wisdom leads to a flourishing life that honors God, guiding us in making decisions that reflect His love and righteousness.
As we study God's Word and observe the world around us, we must be discerning, recognizing that not all knowledge is beneficial or aligned with God's purposes. By seeking godly wisdom, we learn to navigate the complexities of life with discernment and grace, making choices that reflect our commitment to living according to God's will. This pursuit of wisdom transforms our lives, enabling us to be a light in the world and a testament to God's truth.

James 3:17-18 (ESV): "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

Reflection: How can you actively seek godly wisdom in your daily decisions, and what steps can you take to ensure that your knowledge aligns with God's truth?

Sermon Summary

Reflecting on a decade of God's faithfulness, we gather to celebrate and anticipate the future with gratitude and hope. As we look back, we are reminded of the incredible journey that began ten years ago, and we are filled with awe at what God has accomplished. Yet, our focus is not only on the past but also on the future, as we eagerly anticipate what God will do in the years to come.

Tonight, we delve into the discipline of thinking as a vital aspect of the Christian faith. Thinking is not merely an academic exercise but a form of worship and obedience to the Great Commandment to love the Lord with all our mind. Our minds, hearts, and bodies are created by God for a purpose, and each plays a role in glorifying Him. Thinking involves the use of reason to grasp truth and apply it in our lives.

We revisit the six habits of the mind that were established a decade ago: observation, understanding, evaluating, feeling, applying, and expressing. These habits are essential for developing a disciplined mind that honors God. Observation involves accurately perceiving the world around us, while understanding requires making connections and gaining knowledge. Evaluating helps us discern what is good and true, and feeling ensures that our emotions are appropriately aligned with reality. Applying and expressing are the culmination of these processes, as we put our thoughts into action and communicate them effectively.

The role of the Holy Spirit in our thinking is crucial. While mental effort is essential, it is not sufficient without the Spirit's guidance. We must pray for the Spirit to illuminate our minds and remove barriers that hinder our understanding. The Spirit helps us align our preferences with God's truth, enabling us to read and interpret Scripture accurately.

Ultimately, thinking serves the ultimate purpose of loving God and others. We cannot truly love God without engaging our minds to know Him. Love is not merely an intellectual exercise but an affectional delight in God. As we study God's Word and the world, we must discern between godly wisdom and worldly knowledge, recognizing that true wisdom aligns with God's truth.

Key Takeaways

1. The Discipline of Thinking: Thinking is a form of worship and obedience to God, as it involves using our minds to grasp truth and apply it in our lives. It is essential for loving God with all our mind, as commanded in the Great Commandment. [02:21]
2. Six Habits of the Mind: Observation, understanding, evaluating, feeling, applying, and expressing are crucial habits for developing a disciplined mind. These habits help us perceive, connect, discern, and act upon truth in a way that honors God. [04:20]
3. Role of the Holy Spirit: While mental effort is necessary, it is not sufficient without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We must pray for the Spirit to illuminate our minds and remove barriers that hinder our understanding of God's truth. [11:45]
4. Loving God with Our Minds: True love for God involves engaging our minds to know Him. Love is not just an intellectual exercise but an affectional delight in God, requiring us to see His beauty and loveliness. [29:57]
5. Distinguishing Wisdom and Knowledge: As we study God's Word and the world, we must discern between godly wisdom and worldly knowledge. True wisdom aligns with God's truth and leads to a flourishing life that honors Him. [40:17]
** [40:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Reflecting on God's Faithfulness
[00:28] - Looking Forward with Hope
[01:04] - Introduction of John Piper
[02:03] - The Discipline of Thinking
[03:10] - Minds, Hearts, and Bodies
[04:20] - Six Habits of the Mind
[09:31] - Thinking and Understanding
[11:23] - Role of the Holy Spirit
[14:34] - The Journey and the Goal
[17:47] - Anti-Intellectualism in Christianity
[23:29] - Intellectualism and Balance
[29:28] - Loving God with Our Minds
[34:18] - Evaluating Non-Believers' Works
[42:32] - The Danger of Relativism
[47:48] - Reading as a Pathway to Thinking

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

Matthew 22:37 - "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"
2 Timothy 2:7 - "Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this."
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform 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."

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Observation Questions:

What are the six habits of the mind mentioned in the sermon, and how do they contribute to a disciplined mind? [04:20]
How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in our thinking process? [11:45]
According to the sermon, what is the relationship between thinking and understanding as illustrated in 2 Timothy 2:7? [09:31]
What does the sermon suggest about the importance of aligning our emotions with reality in the context of thinking? [06:31]

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Interpretation Questions:

How does the Great Commandment to love God with all our mind challenge the way we currently engage with our faith intellectually? [02:21]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that thinking is a form of worship and obedience to God? [02:21]
How can the six habits of the mind help us discern between godly wisdom and worldly knowledge? [40:17]
What does the sermon imply about the dangers of anti-intellectualism in Christianity, and how can we find a balance? [17:47]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your current habits of thinking. Which of the six habits do you find most challenging, and how can you work on developing it this week? [04:20]
How can you invite the Holy Spirit into your daily thought processes to help illuminate your understanding of God's truth? [11:45]
Consider a recent decision you made. How did you apply godly wisdom versus worldly knowledge in that situation? [40:17]
In what ways can you use your mind to deepen your love for God and others this week? Identify a specific action you can take. [29:57]
Think about a time when your emotions were not aligned with reality. How can you use the habit of feeling to ensure your emotions are appropriately aligned in the future? [06:31]
How can you actively engage in reading and interpreting Scripture to transform your mind, as suggested in Romans 12:2? [49:59]
Identify one area in your life where you might be resistant to self-denial. How can you pray for the Holy Spirit to help you overcome this barrier? [28:04]

Sermon Clips

Reflecting on a decade of God's faithfulness, we gather to celebrate and anticipate the future with gratitude and hope. As we look back, we are reminded of the incredible journey that began ten years ago, and we are filled with awe at what God has accomplished. Yet, our focus is not only on the past but also on the future, as we eagerly anticipate what God will do in the years to come. [00:00:28]

Thinking is our business and I would say it's the use of the mind or the use of the reason in order to grasp or understand truth and put it to proper use. Now to expand that, I really do think that the six habits of the mind that we developed ten years ago in that message are still exactly what you're supposed to do with your mind. [00:03:48]

We think that the right use of the mind or the right point of this school is to help students inculcate to instill in them habits of mind and heart, they really overlap, which will carry them forward for the rest of their lives. Six of them: observation, understanding, evaluating, feeling, applying, and expressing. [00:04:41]

Understanding is the outcome, the successful outcome of thinking, and it's the arrival at truth. And the reason that verse is so precious is because it endorses a school or a life of the mind in which you're going to devote significant energies to think because he tells him, he's talking to a pastor, think over what I said. [00:10:07]

Mental effort is essential and not sufficient. He makes those distinctions, get those words in your head. It's essential, necessary because Paul said do it, and then he said and if God doesn't give you this understanding, you won't get it that way. And so many people say well if you get it from God then you do anything. [00:11:38]

The journey is a means to the goal and God is the goal and a right knowing of God and right loving of God is the goal. The journey can be wonderfully stimulating and that's why it can be so deceptive. It can make you think oh I remember still astray ssin what two three years ago those one or two of you might be here. [00:14:27]

The role of the Holy Spirit in thinking is crucial. While mental effort is essential, it is not sufficient without the Spirit's guidance. We must pray for the Spirit to illuminate our minds and remove barriers that hinder our understanding. The Spirit helps us align our preferences with God's truth, enabling us to read and interpret Scripture accurately. [00:27:36]

If you shut your mind off you cannot know God and if you don't know him you can't love him. You love a figment of your imagination. Jesus said the first and Great Commandment is and they give you Luke's version you shall love the Lord your God from all your heart by all your soul and all your strength and all your mind. [00:29:49]

Love God with your mind means the very functioning of the mind is a loving of God. I think that's deadly wrong to cause think to call thinking loving obscures the fact that loving is an affectional delighting in, treasuring, cherishing, valuing of God. The fruits of right thinking, right obeying come from it. [00:31:01]

Natural revelation makes it possible for unbelievers to see millions of true things and write books about them that can be helpful. Give it just maybe another comment here my clarify we were trying to come up a hook working with a group at a conference we were trying to come up with a statement about the sufficiency of Scripture. [00:37:19]

There is plenty to learn from unbelievers as they look at the world and write down what they see. Some of them are very shrewd observers, they're just not making any ultimate sense out of it and we can do that. We can take their raw material and make ultimate sense out of it. [00:39:24]

The most extreme relativism that I'm concerned about is the kind that denies that there is truth, there is absolute truth, and thus relative eise's everything by saying relative to me this is good, this is true, this is beautiful. That's the ultimate and worst kind of relativism, no truth therefore no standard. [00:42:39]

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Thinking as Worship: Honoring God with Our Minds

Devotional

Day 1: Thinking as Worship and Obedience

Day 2: Cultivating the Six Habits of the Mind

Day 3: The Holy Spirit's Role in Our Thinking

Day 4: Loving God with Our Minds

Day 5: Distinguishing Wisdom and Knowledge

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Thinking as Worship: Honoring God with Our Minds

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