Romans 12:1-2 Renewing your mind and sacrifice

[Mr King]

Good morning!

I have recently finished reading this book, 'Renewing Your Mind in a Mindless World: Learning to Think and Act Biblically' by James M. Boice. Wow! This is a great book expository on Romans 12:1-2;
1 I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

This thread is open for discussion, to give understanding, encourage and strengthening each other, and praising the Lord on mind renewal and sacrifice.

I need to reread this book again and several more times so I can get into a serious discussion with this but please share with us your knowledge from the written word of God and your experience so that we all may gain more insight and a deeper understanding which leads to deeper appreciation, devotion and love the Lord all the more!

[9Marksfan]

Hi Mr King

This is a great thread idea, but a little too broad at present, which may explain the lack of response so far - care to share some of the things from the book that struck you?

I like Boice's writings and I agree with him that mind renewal is crucial for growth in Christ - but sadly, most Christians today think that it's unspiritual to think, citing the verse "the carnal mind is unspiritual", implying that we can't have a SPIRITUAL mind! But God means to renew EVERY part of us - and if we are to love the LORD with all our MIND, then it needs to be renewed DAILY!

A lot of people don't understand what "reasonable service" (KJV) means - they think that "reasonable" means "passable, average", whereas its original meaning was "rational" - they also feel that "spiritual" is something mystic and not involving the mind and that "worship" is something we do to music on a Sunday - so they totally reinterpret the meaning of "reasonable service" with the NIV's "spiritual worship", failing to understand what the term really means - does Boice touch upon this at all?

[Mr King]

Hi 9Marksfan,

I would be glad to share with you what I've learned but I should read it at least again or several more times so that I may provide a better post.

I'll share with you one thing that this book is greatly helping me with. For a very long time I was a weight lifter and had become very self-centered with my body image and physical strength. I had been a slave to my flesh which felt like hands were gripped a hold to my flesh always craving for satisfaction. This has been a terrible burden and for a long time I've wanted to let that go but was unable to do so. Even after I had quit lifting weights I still was unable to have this terrible burden released. This book by James Boice has helped me to truly rely on the Lord and let go of the the grips that took a hold of my flesh which has been released from my body! This book is that good!

Boice has covered so much on just these two verses in Romans 12. On what it means to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God and renewing our minds. This is one of my favorite books! Read it! If I had another copy I would give it to you!

I'll provide what's on the back of the book cover;

With shallow thinking, mindless materialism, and self-gratification as the accepted norms of our culture, how does a believer remain faithful and fruitful?

Paul's answer in Romans 12:1-2 is to renew your mind. But what does that mean? how are you to renew your mind?
Mind renewal means revolutionizing our thinking-it is not to be determined by the culture of the world around us. Rather, we must develop a distinctively different view of the world and everyday life.
Written by the late James Montgomery Boice, this practical guide to personal application of Romans 12:1-2 to daily life will radically change not only how you see the world, it will change how you live.
Step away from the trends of a mainstream culture, and follow a narrow but rewarding path to the transformation of your mind and life. These principles for discerning and following God's will are perfect for meaningful group discussion or life-changing personal reading.

[Partaker of Christ]

You can read the book preview online

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=V...page&q=&f=true