Transformed by the Renewal of your Mind

Apr 26, 2015    Don Willeman    Sermon, 2015

REFLECTION QUOTES

“A ‘no’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better and greater than a ‘yes’ merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble.”

~Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), Indian Political and Spiritual Leader

“…So when at times the mob is swayed
To carry praise or blame too far,
We may choose something like a star
To stay our minds on and be staid.”

~Robert Frost (1874-1963), American poet

“We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of….In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons…who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.”

~Edward L. Bernays (1891-1995), widely considered “the father of public relations” in his book Propaganda

“The strongest appeal you can make is emotionally. If you can get their emotions going, make them forget their logic, you’ve got ‘em…At MTV, we don’t shoot for the 14-year olds, we own them.”

~Bob Pittman, American businessman and founder of MTV,
as quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer, November 3, 1982

“The essential thing in life is not so much conquering as fighting well.”

~Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937), French educator and historian, founder of the International Olympic Committee

SERMON PASSAGE

Romans 11:33-12:2 (ESV)

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to himthat he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Chapter 12

1I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 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.

1 John 3:1-13 (NASB)

1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.