We continued our Primal series this weekend and I talked about the mind. Just thought I'd share one excerpt.
A few years ago, researchers from the National Institutes of Mental Health did a study that involved a simple motor task. As subjects performed a finger-tapping exercise, researchers did MRI brain scans to identity which part of the brain was involved in the exercise. The subjects were then asked to perform that simple motor task everyday for four weeks. At the end of four weeks, researchers repeated their brain scans and found that in every instance, that area of the brain had expanded. Their brains had literally recruited new nerve cells and rerouted neuronal connections.
Juxtapose that with Romans 12.
"Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind."
How is our mind renewed? The one word answer is Scripture. Scripture literally re-scripts our brain. As we read Scripture, much like the finger-tapping exercise, we are recruiting new nerve cells and rewiring neuronal connections. The end goal? Not knowledge! The end goal is the mind of Christ. As you read Scripture you are downloading the mind of Christ. His words become our operating system.
A few years ago, researchers from the National Institutes of Mental Health did a study that involved a simple motor task. As subjects performed a finger-tapping exercise, researchers did MRI brain scans to identity which part of the brain was involved in the exercise. The subjects were then asked to perform that simple motor task everyday for four weeks. At the end of four weeks, researchers repeated their brain scans and found that in every instance, that area of the brain had expanded. Their brains had literally recruited new nerve cells and rerouted neuronal connections.
Juxtapose that with Romans 12.
"Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind."
How is our mind renewed? The one word answer is Scripture. Scripture literally re-scripts our brain. As we read Scripture, much like the finger-tapping exercise, we are recruiting new nerve cells and rewiring neuronal connections. The end goal? Not knowledge! The end goal is the mind of Christ. As you read Scripture you are downloading the mind of Christ. His words become our operating system.
14 Comments:
Great sermon this morning ... very powerful case for regularly reading the bible, praying and confessing our sins. Perhaps the most "logically" presented sermon on the topic I've ever heard.
Wow did not know that ...enjoyed your newest book! Thank you!
Dawn Thorpe - Woodstock, GA
Cool way to think about that, Mark. I like it!
love that passage from Romans 12. I always say that it has two parts: the sacrifice/offering & renewal. We presents ourselves as a living sacrifice to be purified, but if we don't renew our minds by replacing what has been burned away with the word of God, we'll simply revert back to what we were. look forward to hearing the podcast of this sermon.
Great word this morning...brought me back to square one. Picked up Primal and Wild Goose after service. Going to gte caught up on reading.
Great sermon today. That hit home for anybody else, or was it just me?
Reading the Bible to have the mind of Christ. Oh I love how God gives you simple yet very profound truth ! God's favor is all over your work ! Thank you !!! Looking forward to listening to your sermon.
Mark - I got the following idea from Steven Furtick but implimented it today in the small rural Virginia church I pastor and it goes well with this and that is to read through the New Testament in 30 days. I want to see the church immerse themselves in the Word and see what a differnce it makes in their lives. I have about 125 in the sevice and had about 65 or so come foreward to accept the challenge. I thought this worked well with the thoughts here on rewiring the mind.
Amen. In this technology age, its seems so right to explain scripture in our everyday language. Great post.
Renewing my mind,
Gladwell
Matt, I did teach Romans 12:1-5 during Sunday School; I like what you say "WE" four times. For many years, I had been taught "me". Please don't neglect Romans 12:3.
I remember something that the band New Song prefaced about one of their songs (Morning Time) on the album Rescue, he said he got up early to allow to spend time with God and to allow the Word of God to speak to him. That is pretty simple, but if you go into the Word with that mindset of letting the Word renew your mind and having it speak to you, you get pretty excited about reading and look forward to that reserved time. A lot different than just ticking off that day's reading assignment.
You know what would make this blog even better?
If you were to bold even more random words to go alone with your half-baked notions
Dan,
LOL. I don't know why but about busted a gasket. It's been a while since someone commented on my crazy bolding habit. What can I say? It's my blog signature!
Mark
nice post. thanks.
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