Shiloh Baptist Church 515 W. Fourth Street Plainfield, NJ 07060 Rev. Gerald Lamont Thomas, Ph.D., Pastor/Teacher

“The Mind of Christ” To be like Jesus!!! Yes. Isn’t that what the Christian life is all about? Being like Jesus is the necessary, essential, and most vital requirement for entrance into the pearly gates of heaven. That is why God created humanity, right? Read Rom. 8:29 and Heb. 2:9-14. The glory we are to have is the glory of being like God’s perfect Son, Jesus Christ. The objective of our 12 week study is about learning to think the thoughts of Christ – to have the mind of Christ. It is based on the magnificent challenge in Philippians 2:5-11. As you read this hymn, allow the spirit of Christ to speak in your heart so that you might understand how God wants to work in you to transform you into the image of His Son Jesus. This particular kind of study takes time. You will need to let these thoughts sink into your understanding and practice. You want to experience a Person – Jesus Christ. You want to develop His way of thinking and His way of living. Time and meditation are necessary to allow the Holy Spirit to make this renewal process real in your life. The six part study will be organized in the following components: Part 1 – Christ’s Freedom (v.5) “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” Part 2 – Christ Lifestyle (v.6) “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal w/God” Part 3 – Christ’s Servanthood (v.7) “But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant.” Part 4 – Christ’s Humanity (vv.7 & 8) “And was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man.” Part 5 – Christ’s Holiness and Love (v.8) “He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the Death of the cross.” Part 6 – Christ’s Name (vv. 9-11) “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” We are not told by the Apostle Paul to have a good mind, nor a mind purified by discipline, not a sharpened intellect, not even the highest human attainment in godliness and virtue – but the very mind of Christ himself. We are not merely to resemble Jesus.

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We are to think His very thoughts. This is not a wish list, but a command. We are to have the mind of the only perfect human who ever walked on this earth – the mind of the God-man, Jesus Christ. Can you see why this will be a lifelong process? Discuss PART 1 Read Rom. 12:1-2 & John 6:35. Why are these verses so critical to having the mind of Christ? A. THE SIX CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHRIST-LIKE MIND – Learn these!!!  Alive – Rom. 8:6  Single-minded – 2 Cor. 11:3  Lowly – Phil. 2:3  Pure – Titus 1:15  Responsive – Luke 24:45  Peaceful – Rom 8:6

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Shiloh Baptist Church 515-521 W. Fourth Street Plainfield, NJ 07060 Rev. Gerald Lamont Thomas, Ph.D., Pastor/Teacher

“Developing the Mind of Christ” The NT uses 3 verbs concerning the mind. Becoming like Christ is accomplished in a process. If we were to think of the operations of the mind as a process, the 3 verbs can neatly classify themselves as beginning, middle and ending parts of the process. 1. Beginning Stage 2. Growing State 3. Qualified Stage

The Will Principle Set your mind on things above. Col 3:2 The River Principle Allow God to renew your mind. Rom. 12:2 The Readiness Prin. Gird up your mind for action. 1Pet. 1:13

A. The Will Principle – You must set your mind. You must decide, choose or determine the focus of your mind. That is where you start in developing the mind of Christ. The opposite of will, is instinct, or unwilled reactions. With human beings, the will, is that part of you mind over which you have control. Read Phil 4:8. The will enables you to obey in spite of your feelings or intuitions. Often you cannot control your emotions, but you always have control over your will. What you want to do is take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (IICor.10:5). Giving God your will is the first step in having the mind of Christ. Read Matt.26:36-42; Ps. 40:8; Ps. 143:10; Mt. 12:50; Jn. 7:17; Eph.6:6; Heb. 13:18-21. In the Beginning Stage, YOU must set your mind on Christ. You give your will to God and seek His will as your own. Christ repeatedly indentified His will with that of His Father. Study John 12:27 & 28. Jesus openly confessed that His emotions were in one place, but His will was in another. As in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus determined to let His will rule over His emotions or feelings. Jesus’ performance was flawless, because He set His will from the beginning. His mind was given to God. Therefore, His actions worked out the implications of a blameless mind. Jesus’ mind was set on things above. Only the will can choose beyond feelings. Questions for your consideration: 1. Why is it absolutely necessary for a believer to have their will focused on God? 2. Is it true that a believer can overcome temptations through a determined will? 3. What are some of the tempter’s snares that easily removed us from God’s will to seeking our own will? 4. How can a child of God maintain a Christ-like mind that is “set” beyond the earthly things toward their heavenly blessings? 5. Can you name a few of the required mandates that will empower us to not only “set” our minds on God’s will, but will also “keep” our minds there also?

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B. The River Principle – After you set your mind, then it must be renewed. Read Romans 12:1-2 & Eph. 4:17-31. The believer lives in a constant state of renewal. Once you give your will to God, you must continue to allow your mind to be transformed – CHANGED – by a renewing process. This part of the process is a time of growth. Why must believers always be in a perpetual state of growth? Discuss. We call this middle or growing stage of the process the river principle. Jesus made a solid declaration in John 7:37-40. Read and Discuss. Fresh living water flows in and washed out the old and the dead. Most of us do not work on the river principle. We work on the pond principle. Ponds become stagnant, but rivers flow. Ponds become puddles, but rivers become oceans. You are to grow spiritually, and your growth in Christ ultimately is to be enormous. What is the spiritual contrast between these two principles? Your body grows by producing new cells. As long as life continues, your body constantly is producing new ells. That newness is a sign of life. Failure to produce newness is a sign of death. The spiritual life, too, is to be characterized by a constant renewing. Lack of renewal of growth is a sign of death. We have learned to expect spiritual newness and not to be surprised at what form the newness takes: new insights, passionate energy, better understanding of an old familiar verse, deeper relationships in the body of Christ, new commitments of serving, new strength to resist temptation, sincere desire to become involved in social justice issues. Newness is the way of progress as you are moving from one glory to another. Read II Cor. 3:17 & 18. Discuss. The life of Christ demonstrated progress and growth. Read Luke 2:52 and Heb. 5:8. if you are to have the mind of Christ, you must expect newness. That is God’s way of growth and renewal. Can you now see where this principle is vital for your action plan? Which of the following indicate renewal? Check all that apply.  Newness of spiritual growth  Failure to show any signs of spiritual growth  New insights into the meaning or application of the Scripture  Failure to understand or apply Scriptures to my life  Sensing fresh spiritual energy to work for the Master  Weakness, tiredness, and alack of spiritual energy to work for the Master  Waiting for others to take the lead before I make a commitment  Knowing the word, but rationalizing my will in times of decision  Putting God at the center of my life in most things  Having a mind to want better but never pursing what it takes to be better  Seeing a positive pattern of understanding the Word of God  Just taking it one day at a time and knowing everything will work itself out  Believing that God’s grace will cover my lack of focus to become single-minded  Having an obedient spirit towards the plans God has for my life  Allowing the devil to bring discord into my spirit when Pastor asks for help  Taking my emotions to another level of activity for perfect living and vitality  Believing that spiritual death is for other Christians who just don’t get it

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C. The Readiness Principle – The Gird Up has reference to the robes that were worn in the time of Jesus. People could not run or move quickly in such attire. Therefore, they had to lift the robe & tuck it under in order to free the lower legs for movement & action. In this principle, your mind is to be prepared for action. You are now qualified, ready and willing to implement the mind of Christ. You prepare your mind for action by girding it up, being ready and alert like Jesus in Luke 20:20-40. Read & Discuss. Jesus demonstrated a mental readiness AT ALL TIMES. Readiness means being qualified for service. In order to “Develop the Mind,” YOU must do three things: 1. Set Your Will – This requires focused attention. Col. 3:2 2. Renew Your Mind – God will provide growth & newness. Rom. 12:2 3. Be ready – prepared for action. 1Pet. 1:13 Once you “Develop the Mind,” now you are ready to “Fix Your Thoughts.” 1. 1Cor. 2:16 – We have the MoC at spiritual birth, however, one must deal with habits, culture, and the work of Satan in preventing it from growing. The MoC matures in the process of growth. Remember our Goals: A. To be like Christ. Read 1John 3:2; Matt. 10:24-25 B. To think like Christ & follow his lifestyle. 1Pet. 2:21 C. To accept suffering as a tool to put the flesh to death. 1Pet. 4:1 D. How Do You Feel about this “Suffering Syndrome?” (It could be 1 or 2 or all 4) A. Overwhelmed – Too much; can’t do it. B. Fearful – The idea of suffering sounds scary C. Excited – I understand some of the cost, but the results will be worth it all D. Confused – I still don’t understand what Pastor Thomas is getting me into?#*(^ E. God’s Goal & Work – For YOU to be conformed to the image of His Son. Read Romans 8:29 and 2Cor. 3:18 and discuss. You are not in this process alone!!!! 1. To want the MoC – Phi. 2:13 2. To develop the MoC – Heb. 12:1-2 3. To perfect the work until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil. 1:6 4. To overcome the mental battles. James 3:13-4:3 (Crucial Material – Study!!!) According to James, the war that rages in our minds as Christians is due to our desires that battle against each other. The disordered mind has both good and bad desires jumbled with little order. What is a disordered mind? When the control of sin causes mental conflicts in your life, the flesh & the Sprit are at war. The will is not in control of your thinking. Then our Godly thoughts will lead to Godly actions and our wrong thoughts will lead to wrong actions. As you begin to let Christ’s desires become your desires, you will experience genuine freedom and peace. Christ will set you free to live abundantly. F. Traits of a Disordered Mind 1. Clear choices are made regarding what to think about. 2. Little thought is given. 3. The will is not in control of thinking.

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4. The will is in control of thinking 5. Only good ideas 6. Good/bad ideas mixed together

The Mind of Christ Reference Scripture for Suffering OVERWHELMED 1. Psalm 77:3 2. Psalm 143:4 3. James 1:2 4. Psalm 55:5 5. Psalm 61:2 EXCITEFUL 1. Psalm 118:15 2. 1 Peter 5:10 3. Colossians 3:23-24 4. 2 Timothy 2:12 5. 2 Corinthians 1:5 6. Psalm 30:11 7. Ephesians 2:4 FEARFUL 1. Isaiah 35:4 2. Mark 5:40 3. 2 Corinthians 7:1 4. Hebrews 10:31 5. Isaiah 43:1 6. Isaiah 41:10 7. Psalm 118:6 CONFUSED 1. Romans 7:14-23 2. Psalm 115:13 3. Luke 1:29 4. Genesis 11:7 5. James 1:5-8 6. 1 Corinthians 14:33 7. Psalm 71:1 8. Isaiah 26:3

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