LHIM Classes

Living Hope International Ministries
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Biblical education classes (BEC) by the team at Living Hope International Ministries (LHIM) are designed to provide you with comprehensible and comprehensive learning experience for books of the Bible, doctrines, and Christian living.

  1. 20h ago

    5. Discipline and Mental Strength: Training Body and Mind

    Download: Renewed Mind Class Notes 1 Peter 5:5-11; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Romans 12:2 The battlefield is in the mind. The devil has established schemes designed to weaken, deceive, and control our thinking (Ephesians 6:11). Therefore, we must intentionally exercise and strengthen our minds so that we can think clearly, discern truth from error, resist the devil’s traps, and live in a manner that reflects Christ. Just as the body becomes weak and eventually atrophies when it is not exercised, the mind can also become weak when it is not challenged, disciplined, and properly nourished. A strong, disciplined mind does not happen by accident; it must be developed through intentional exercise. Positive Disciplines: SCRIPTURE READING – 1 Timothy 4:1-7 Daily reading of the Scriptures is imperative. There is a supernatural component to the word of God. Hebrews 4:12 It is living and active. A common myth about habit is that it becomes automatic in just 21 days. A well-known study by Phillippa Lally and colleagues found that, on average, participants took about 66 days for a new behavior to reach a substantial level of automaticity. The range was very wide, 18 to 254 days, depending on the person and the behavior. The truth is that a habit is developed through repeated practice, not simply the passage of time. PRAYER – The ultimate act of God dependency is daily prayer. The Lord’s prayer is a guideline on what to pray for. Prayer can greatly help develop the mind and assist with reading. Psalm 119:33-41 PHYSICAL EXERCISE – 1 Timothy 4:8 Physical exercise can have a significant effect on the mind, not just the body. It is one of the practical ways a person can support attention, memory, mood, and overall brain health. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain. When you exercise, your heart pumps more blood, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the brain. Regular aerobic exercise can support the brain’s ability to function and adapt. It supports memory and learning. Exercise stimulates processes involved in neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form and strengthen connections. This is particularly associated with the hippocampus, an area important for learning and memory. It improves attention and mental sharpness. Regular physical activity can improve executive functions such as attention, planning, self-control, and the ability to shift appropriately between tasks. 4. It helps regulate emotions. Exercise can reduce stress and help regulate anxiety and mood. Part of this comes from changes in brain chemistry and part from the way physical activity affects the body’s stress-response systems. It helps you sleep. Regular exercise can improve sleep quality, and good sleep is essential for memory, emotional regulation, and mental performance. Protects the brain as we age. Maintaining physical activity throughout life is associated with better cognitive health and a lower risk of cognitive decline. MEMORIZATION OF SCRIPTURE – is an exercise that strengthens the mind with attention, recall, and equips us to rightly respond to temptations like Jesus did in Matthew 4. Again, it releases the power of God’s supernatural word into our lives. It provides godly thoughts. READING – Reading builds focus, expands vocabulary, and strengthens comprehension; especially when it’s slow, reflective reading instead of skimming. In the context of faith, reading Scripture meditatively is especially forming; because it shapes both the mind and the heart towards wisdom and stability. PROPER SLEEP – Sleep is when your brain does maintenance work, consolidating memory and clearing waste products, and helping regulate emotions. Without enough of it, focus, judgment, and even mood suffer. Good sleep is one of the most important things a person can do to keep the mind clear, emotionally stable, and capable of learning and remembering. Here are some of the most effective practices: Keep a consistent schedule. Go to bed and get up at approximately the same time every day, including weekends. Your brain responds well to a regular rhythm. Get morning sunlight. Exposure to natural light soon after waking helps regulate your circadian rhythm and makes it easier to become sleepy at night. Exercise regularly. Physical activity supports healthy sleep, although vigorous exercise immediately before bed can make some more alert. Reduce evening screen exposure. Phones, social media, television, and other stimulating activities can keep the brain engaged when it should be winding down. More importantly, scrolling can make it difficult to transition into a restful mental state. Avoid caffeine late in the day. Caffeine can remain in the body for many hours, so afternoon and evening consumption can interfere with sleep even when you don’t feel particularly stimulated. Don’t use alcohol as a sleep aid. Alcohol may make you fall asleep faster, but it can disrupt sleep later in the night and reduce sleep quality. Create a period of quiet before bed. Give your mind 30–60 minutes to slow down. Reading, quiet prayer, Scripture meditation, or gentle stretching can be helpful. Don’t take your problems to bed. A useful practice is to write down things you’re concerned about and what you need to do tomorrow. That gives your mind permission to stop trying to solve everything during the night. Make your bedroom conducive to sleep. Keep it dark, quiet, and comfortably cool. Develop a calming spiritual routine. Psalm 4:8 – “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Yahweh, make me dwell in safety.” STIMULATING ACTIVITY – Surround yourself with God-centered people who encourage you to think biblically and pursue godly wisdom. Avoid relationships and activities that dull the mind and promote apathy. Choose activities that challenge you to think, learn, create, and engage meaningfully rather than passively consuming entertainment that can lead to mindless, unproductive thinking. We must be intentional about protecting our minds from the constant stream of distractions and making time to think, meditate, and listen to God. Negative Mind Influences: DRINKING ALCOHOL – Can dull judgment and attention in the short term. It also messes with memory and decision-making, and over time heavy use can shrink brain volume, slow processing, worsen mood, and raise anxiety.  Long term misuse is linked with depression, sleep disruption, and trouble with concentration and motivation. MARIJUANA – Impairs memory and attention, slows processing speed, affects motivation, and, in heavy or high potency use, raises the risk of anxiety, panic, or paranoia, especially in adolescents whose brains are still maturing. The use of it is in direct contradiction of God’s clear command to live sober-minded.  Psychedelics like mushrooms, LSD, and mescaline can have profound effects on perception, emotion, and thinking. They aren’t simply “mind-opening” substances; they can also disrupt normal brain function and psychological stability. SCREEN TIME – Too much screen time can fragment attention and make deep focus harder, especially with rapid switching between apps and nonstop notifications. It can also disturb sleep and crowd out quiet reflection. Not all screen use is bad, but setting limits and picking intentional times makes a real difference. AI – Can weaken the mind because it does the thinking for you. The post 5. Discipline and Mental Strength: Training Body and Mind first appeared on Living Hope.

  2. Oct 14

    4. The Joy-Centered Mind: Choosing Joy in Every Circumstance

    Download: Renewed Mind Class Notes Psalm 31:1-7; 16:7-11 David endured enormous difficulty with enemies, betrayal, fear, guilt, loss, and danger, yet his writing repeatedly returned to joy. Acts 16:24-25; Philippians 2:17-18, 4:4 Paul’s suffering did not diminish his joy. Hebrews 12:2 [Jesus] for the joy set before him endured. How did they endure? – The joy of Yahweh was their strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) From a neurological perspective, joy is more than simply feeling good. It is a positive emotional state of mind generated by the brain when neural circuits involved in reward, attachment, and well-being become activated, producing feelings of delight, contentment, gratitude, or deep satisfaction. Simply stated: JOY. Joy not only affects our state of mind, but also the autonomic nervous system by: lowering stress hormones such as cortisol, reducing heart rate and blood pressure, improving immune function, and increasing rest and digestive activity. Not to be confused with pleasure or happiness, joy is a deeper, often relational or meaningful positive emotional state that can coexist even with hardship. “God designed our brains to run on joy like a car runs on fuel. Our brains desire joy more than any other thing.” James Wilder, author of The Life Model: Living from the Heart Jesus Gave You and The Other Half of Church. Joy is received when we see the sparkle in someone’s eye that conveys “I love you and I am happy to be with you.” It is first initiated when a mother holds her baby in her arms in the early months of life, communicating connectedness, safety, belonging, value, acceptance, and most of all, love. The mother’s loving embrace and glance build the joy center in the child’s brain. It can continue to grow from family members and friends. However, far too many people are deprived of this development because of improper parenting, or sickness, or crises due to war, or poverty, etc. Parents are encouraged to hold their babies that are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). A premature or sick newborn’s nervous system is still developing. Gentle, close contact with a parent can provide important sensory and emotional regulation. Research has found that skin-to-skin contact can help: Stabilize heart rate and breathing Improve oxygen saturation Help regulate body temperature Reduce stress and crying Support more stable sleep Promote breastfeeding and feeding development Support weight gain and growth Strengthen parent-infant bonding There is also an important neurological aspect. A baby’s developing brain is constantly receiving information from the environment. The parent’s warmth, heartbeat, voice, smell, touch, and breathing provide organized, reassuring sensory input. The baby’s brain is learning, I am safe, I belong, I am valuable, I am loved, all of which builds joy. This is particularly significant for a premature infant because the NICU environment can involve bright lights, alarms, medical procedures, handling, and separation from the mother. Appropriate skin-to-skin contact provides a very different kind of sensory experience: warmth, containment, human touch, and familiar biological rhythms. Long before a child can understand words, the brain receives information through touch, facial expression, voice, warmth, and physical presence. Many people struggle with sadness and depression because their joy center was never properly developed, or the challenges of life have gradually drained their joy. Without a healthy capacity for joy, navigating life’s difficulties can become overwhelming, leading some people to seek escape rather than develop healthy ways of coping. As Christians, we have two very powerful effective ways to build our joy center – our relationship with our Father and with His family, Jesus and the believers. Joy comes from the face of God and people who love you. We all need FACE TIME! Numbers 6:24-26 Yahweh bless you and keep you; Yahweh make His face [panim] shine on you and be gracious to you; Yahweh lift up His countenance [panim] on you and give you peace. Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence [panim] is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. The Hebrew word “panim” translated literally is “face” and, when it is translated figuratively, “presence.” Biblically, joy isn’t merely the brain responding to pleasant circumstances. Joy is deeply connected to relationship—knowing God, being aware of His presence, and delighting in Him. Psalm 89:14-16 They know the joyful sound because they walk in light of His face: “countenance” is paneh – “face.” Psalm 31:16, 19-20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence. Psalm 67:1 cause His face to shine upon us. Psalm 80:3, 7, 19 When Yahweh shines His face upon us we experience joy. What does God’s face look like to you? Is it guilt, shame, disappointment, or disgust? What is your self-talk? Do you bask in His light? Do you know His unfailing love for you? Do you see a god of vengeance or a Father who looks on you like a nursing mother? Zephaniah 3:17 Yahweh your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult [rejoice] over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. Psalm 149:4 For Yahweh takes pleasure in His people; Jeremiah 31:3 Yahweh appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness. Micah 7:18 He delights in unchanging love. Romans 8:29-39 Who do you stay your mind on – yourself or your Father? 1 John 3:1-2 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.  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. David, Paul, and Jesus gave God space and time to allow God to nurture them by reading and thinking the Scriptures, meditation, and self-talk focused on God and Jesus and not self. God is in Christ and Christ is in you. They are always with you. Psalm 139:6-12; 5:11-12 The word “refuge” occurs 46 times in Psalms.  The refuge isn’t merely a physical place where God hides someone from trouble. God Himself is the refuge. The second way Christians receive joy is the sparkle in the eye of fellow believers that conveys “I love you and I am happy to be with you.” God’s face shines through the face of loving engaged believers. We need each other and we need fellowship with people who are joyful to be with us. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 Joy is experienced in a relationship when someone’s face lights up when they look upon you with love. Acts 2:41-47 Face time at church, prayer partner, mentor, socialize. Galatians 5:13-14, 22 The fruit of the spirit has a progression. LOVE → JOY → PEACE → PATIENCE EXERCISE: Gratitude increases your capacity for joy. Try this joy-building exercise: Think of a memory that makes you feel grateful and connect with God in that memory. Give the memory a short title. What do you think God might have been wanting to impress on you by the memory? Start a list of grateful memories with the goal of having ten. Use this list to go into five minutes of nonverbal gratitude every day. The post 4. The Joy-Centered Mind: Choosing Joy in Every Circumstance first appeared on Living Hope.

  3. Oct 7

    3. Self-Talk and Confession: Speaking Life to Yourself

    Download: Renewed Mind Class Notes God’s Word speaks truth to our minds, while the devil seeks to fill our minds with lies and deception. We choose which voice we will agree with and believe. Our inner talk and what we consistently confess about ourselves reveal what we truly believe. Our confession should agree with God’s truth, for what we believe shapes how we live. John 8:44 “You [scribes and Pharisees] are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. Our adversary is truthless and manipulates people with lies which is evident with his first recorded attack against Eve (Genesis 3:1-6) and again with Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). Ephesians 6:13-14(ESV) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth…. Truth is the first armor of God because it is foundational to everything else in our armor. Truth stabilizes the believer and fortifies us against the lies. The Bible frequently speaks of a person’s heart, mind, and thoughts engaging in internal conversation. Scripture recognizes that what we say to ourselves profoundly influences our attitudes, faith, and actions. Psalm 42:1-11 (ESV) The Psalmist first acknowledges his discouragement, then deliberately redirects his thinking toward God. He replaces despair with truth. The beginning of controlling our inner talk is acknowledging what we are feeling, thinking, or saying is inappropriate and asking God for help. “Father I am feeling very uncomfortable with myself.” “I feel unwanted, please help me.” Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. Psalm 103:1-2 Bless Yahweh, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless Yahweh, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Unfortunately, way too often our inner voice and outward confession align with the devil’s lies like – “I am worthless, I have nothing to offer, I’m a loser, I’ll never change, nobody loves me, nobody wants me, I’m damaged, something terrible is going to happen, everyone is better than me, I’ll never overcome this.” Mark 2:8 “Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves…” Jesus often responded to conversations people were having internally. God and Jesus know the inner fight that is ours and they will help if we pursue their help. Philippians 4:8-9 Note that “true” is listed first:   WHOLESOME EDIFICATION DESTRUCTIVE True God’s Word, godliness Lies, deception Honorable Worthy of respect Worldly acclaimed Just Morally right and fair Dishonest and corrupt Pure Clean and holy Morally filthy Lovely God’s love and beauty World’s ugliness Commendable Good reputation Reprehensible politics Excellence Godly concepts Worldly concepts Worthy of praise God, Jesus, believers Unbelievers This is not instruction to ignore life’s hardships. Earlier in the chapter, Paul addresses anxiety (6–7), urging believers to bring their concerns to God in prayer. Then, in verse 8, he tells them what to do with their minds afterward. The progression is: Bring your anxieties to God in prayer (vv. 6–7). Receive God’s peace, which guards your heart and mind. Intentionally fill your mind with what is true, righteous, honoring… (v. 8). Put these truths into practice (v. 9). This passage teaches that the Christian mind is not meant to be passive. We cannot always control the thoughts that first enter our minds, but we can choose which thoughts we continue to entertain. Believers are to dwell on thoughts that align with God’s truth and character, because those thoughts shape our attitudes, emotions, and actions. 2 Corinthians 10:5 “…take every thought captive to obey Christ.” Lamentations 3:21–24 “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: NEGATIVE SELF TALK: Worthlessness – “I am worthless,” “I don’t matter,” “No one will miss me.” Who evaluates worth – God or man? (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23). You are part of the purpose of the ages, God’s eternal purpose. God had you in mind before the foundation of the world, (Ephesians 1:4) and has called you to be with Him forever (Ephesians 1:10-12). How valuable is someone’s child? “I have nothing to offer” (Ephesians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 12:27). God gave you something to offer – yourself (Romans 12:1). Love for Him and others. No one – not one other person on earth – can do exactly what you can do. “I’m a failure,” “I never do anything right.” You were a failure, but now you are part of an elite spiritual family (2 Corinthians 5:17). You are a new creation in Christ. You are a success – one of the few that accept that Yahweh is God and Jesus is the Messiah. You are a winner. We need you! “No one loves me,” “I’m not wanted,” “People only tolerate me” (Romans 5:8). God Almighty loves you (Romans 5:8; 8:32-39). Stop believing the lies! “I’m damaged,” “I’m dirty,” “My past defines me,” “God could never use someone like me.” Through Christ there is forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9). Paul, David, Peter, and many others were restored after serious failures. “I can’t handle this,” “Something terrible is going to happen,” “I’m going to fail,” “Everything will fall apart.” God repeatedly tells His people, “Do not fear,” because He is with them (Isaiah 41:9-10, Psalm 18:1-3; 31:18-20, 2 Timothy 1:7). Proverbs about the Mouth The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.  Proverbs 10:11 The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked, what is perverted. Proverbs 10:32 The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Proverbs 13:3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. Proverbs 14:3 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. A fool’s lips bring strife, and his mouth calls for blows. A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are the snare of his soul. Proverbs 18:4, 6-7 He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles. Proverbs 21:23 Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him. Ecclesiastes 10:12 Discipline Yourself for the Purpose of Godliness – 1 Timothy 4:7 Godliness does not happen accidentally. Just as physical strength develops through consistent exercise, spiritual strength develops through repeated practice—prayer, Scripture, meditation, self-control, serving others, and resisting ungodly influences. Biblical discipline is the deliberate training of our thoughts, desires, emotions, bodies, and behavior so that we are not controlled by selfish impulses but increasingly learn to live according to God’s Word and the Spirit. A renewed mind does not merely think differently; it learns to practice differently so that new thinking produces new living. How habits are formed – Our brains are designed to recognize rewarding experiences and learn from them. When a behavior is followed by something we experience as rewarding or satisfying, the brain can strengthen the association between the behavior and the reward, making us more likely to repeat it. Over time, repeated patterns can become habits. This normal reward-and-learning system can work for our benefit, but it can also contribute to destructive patterns. Behaviors such as overeating, smoking, excessive drinking, compulsive gaming, pornography, or excessive social-media use can become strongly reinforced patterns that are difficult to break. Therefore, renewing the mind requires us to examine our patterns of behavior and intentionally replace harmful rewards with beneficial ones. We start by recognizing the pattern – For example: Work → alcohol: The brain can begin associating the completion of a stressful workday with drinking. Exercise → junk food: Exercise can become paired with an unhealthy food. Difficult task → cigarette: The habit and the chemicals in cigarettes form an addiction. End of long day → mindless TV viewing or ice cream. Accomplishment → scrolling/ gaming/ social media: The brain can learn to expect immediate digital stimulation after completing something challenging. The goal is not simply to remove a reward. It is to replace an unhealthy reward with one that supports the life we want to live. Replacing unhealthy rewards – for example: Work → walk, engage in a healthy hobby, pray, or biblical meditation Accomplishment → meaningful rest, Bible study, or time enjoying God’s creation Exercise → healthy meal or nutritious (protein) smoothie Worry about someone we love → Scripture, prayer, or listening to biblical teaching Stress → listen to music, fellowship with family or friends rather than isolation The principle is not to deny ourselves everything pleasurable. Rather, we can learn to choose rewards that strengthen rather than weaken the life we want to live. Our God-given reward system is part of being human. We cannot simply eliminate it and we do not need to. We can learn to use it wisely. Discipline becomes necessary because what feels rewarding in the moment is not always what is beneficial in the long term. The renewed mind learns to distinguish immediate gratification from greater and lasting benefits. Hebrews 11:26; Romans 8:18; 1 Corinthians 9:24-25; Colossians 3:23-24 We can begin by using immediate, godly rewards to re

  4. Sep 30

    2. Biblical Meditation: Training the Mind on God’s Truth

    Download: Renewed Mind Class Notes The Bible presents meditation as the intentional practice of filling the mind with God’s truth, reflecting on it deeply, and allowing it to shape one’s thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Biblical meditation is not about emptying the mind, but about focusing the mind on God, His Word, His works, and His ways. Biblical meditation differs significantly from many forms of meditation found in other religious or secular traditions. Romans 12:2 Meditation helps to renew the mind. Memorization of Scriptures is vital. Joshua 1:6-9 The Bible consistently connects meditation with Scripture. Notice the progression given to Joshua to move forward: Read God’s Word Speak God’s Word Meditate on it Understand it Obey it. Meditation is meant to lead to obedience. Psalm 1:1–3 Meditation nourishes the believer just as water nourishes a tree. Psalm 77:11-15 Meditation is not limited to Scripture; also God’s works. The word “Selah” occurs 74 times in Scripture and has three possible meanings: pause to reflect, musical interlude, lift up to praise. Although we cannot be certain of its original technical meaning, its function is clear. Whenever you see Selah, it is a good opportunity to: pause and think deeply about what was just said, let the truth sink into your heart, respond in worship, trust, or repentance as appropriate. Selah can help to remind us that Scripture is meant not only to be read, but also to be pondered and lived. Psalm 46:1-ff Meditation requires patience, stillness, and a peaceful mind. Yet today, the stayed and focused mind is under intense, relentless attack through modern technology being manipulated by evil forces. (Ephesians 6:10–17). This intense and relentless spiritual attack is not directed exclusively at our children, but they are among its primary targets. The devil goes after children! TV, gaming, YouTube shorts, phones, social-media platforms like Instagram and similar technology can ill effect our attention, thought patterns, desires, and habits. Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. These communications train the mind to seek constant stimulation —another picture, video, opinion, advertisement, or story. The mind becomes accustomed to rapid changes in attention. Quiet reflection can then feel uncomfortable or boring. It can pull the mind away from contentment and gratitude – two godly attitudes that shape a joyful life. Social media naturally revolves around me: my picture, my opinion, my followers, my likes, my comments, my influence. That doesn’t mean using Instagram is inherently selfish, but excessive use can strengthen the very self-focused patterns that Scripture tells us to overcome. A renewed mind needs the ability to stop, think, meditate, consider, and choose. Constant notifications and scrolling can make sustained attention more difficult. It can also fill the mind with things that are difficult to unsee, thereby promoting the opposite of God’s instruction: Philippians 4:8 (ESV) Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable… think about these things. Romans 12:2 tells us Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Technology can become one of the forces that conforms our thinking if we passively allow it to determine what occupies our minds. What repeatedly captures our attention eventually influences what occupies our thoughts, what we desire, and how we live. Three major fronts attacked are: 1) attention discipline, 2) godly thinking, and 3) precious time. Psalm 145:1-ff Meditation leads to praise. Meditation includes reflecting on God’s: holiness, love, mercy, wisdom, faithfulness, justice, and power. Psalm 119:14-16, 26-27, 47-48, 78, 97-99, 147-148 Wisdom. Philippians 4:8; 2 Timothy 2:7 Reading gathers information while meditation slows down and asks questions such as: What does this teach about God or Christ? What does this teach about people? Is there a promise to believe or a command to obey? Is there a sin to avoid? How should I live differently today? Meditation naturally flows into prayer. After reflecting on God’s Word, believers may respond by: thanking God praising Him confessing sin asking for wisdom seeking strength to obey This turns Scripture into a conversation with God. Meditation is the disciplined practice of thoughtfully reflecting on God’s Word, His character, and His works until His truth shapes our minds and transforms our lives. It is an active engagement of the mind, not the emptying of it. Biblical meditation leads to greater understanding, stronger faith, deeper love for God, wiser living, and more faithful obedience. Meditation is intended to be a regular, even daily, practice for those who desire to walk closely with God. Choose a Scripture to focus on and begin practicing how to keep your mind fixed on God’s truth. Ask God to help you develop this discipline. Set aside time every day to practice biblical meditation. Like any skill, the ability to quiet and focus the mind develops through consistent practice. Establish healthy boundaries with technology. Consider what boundaries you—and your children—need to set to limit or eliminate the harmful influences and distractions of technology. MEMORIZING SCRIPTURE John 14:26 The goal for memorizing Scripture is to get God’s Word into the mind so thoroughly that it can be recalled, meditated upon, and applied when needed. Choose one verse. Start with a verse that is meaningful and useful for your present need like for prayer, combating temptation, affirmation, or building faith. Understand it first. Read the verse in its context like we did in session one with Romans 12:1. Understanding makes memorization much easier. Read it aloud repeatedly. Say the verse slowly several times. Break it into phrases. Learn one phrase at a time, then connect them. Look at it, then look away. Read the first phrase several times. Cover it and say it from memory. Then check yourself. This is much more effective than simply rereading it. Add the reference along with the verse. Say it before and after the verse. Write it from memory. After you can say it, write it without looking. Then compare what you wrote with the Bible. Rewrite a number of times. Meditate on it. This is where memorization becomes much more than mental exercise. Think about each phrase and what it means. Use the verse during the day. Recall it while driving, walking, exercising, waiting, or before going to sleep. Try to bring it to mind without looking at it. Review it at increasing intervals. This helps move information from short-term into long-term memory. Immediately: repeat several times. 10 minutes later: recall it. That evening: recall it again. Next morning: recite it. Next day: review. 3 days later: review. One week later: review. One month later: review. Psalm 119:11 “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.”   The post 2. Biblical Meditation: Training the Mind on God’s Truth first appeared on Living Hope.

  5. Sep 23

    1. Godly Motivation: Why Renew Your Mind?

    Download: Renewed Mind Class Notes Romans 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. Therefore – Prompts us to consider the preceding chapters, 1-11, that describe God’s grace and mercy. Chapters 12-16 explain the proper response. Urge — Comes from the Greek word parakaleō translated elsewhere as comforted, imploring, entreat, plead, appeal, and, in verse 8, exhort. It is formed from para, meaning alongside, or near, and kaleō, meaning “to call,” or “invite.” Thus, parakaleō carries the idea of calling someone alongside to exhort, implore, plead, appeal to, or encourage them to respond or take action. Paul is neither demanding nor commanding, rather encouraging a loving freewill response. The living sacrifice God desires from us is not motivated out of fear or coercion or any type of intimidation. Brethren — It is significant; he addresses his family, God’s family. By the mercies of God – Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Mercy — two closely related aspects of mercy are: 1) when just punishment is withheld from the guilty; 2) actively helping someone who is suffering or unable to help themselves. Compassion and mercy are presented as synonyms in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). Jesus had mercy on the sick, blind, hungry, and demon-possessed. Mercy is compassion that moves someone to withhold deserved punishment or to relieve another person’s misery and need, while grace is receiving blessings we do not deserve. Ephesians 2:1–5 — “But God, being rich in mercy…”, Titus 3:3-7 — “He saved us… according to his own mercy.” We present ourselves as a living sacrifice because of God’s mercy. Romans 12:1 “Mercies” is plural because it refers to the many expressions of God’s mercy that are described throughout Romans 1–11. God justifies sinners by faith apart from works (Romans 3:21–26; 5:1). God demonstrates His love while we were still sinners (Romans 5:6–8). God reconciles us to Himself through Christ (Romans 5:10–11). God frees believers from the dominion of sin (Romans 6). God delivers us from condemnation (Romans 8:1). God gives us His Spirit (Romans 8:9–17). God adopts us as His children (Romans 8:15–17). God promises future glory (Romans 8:18–39). God extends mercy to both Jews and Gentiles (Romans 9–11). Romans 11:25-36 Mercy is the motivation for obedience. Romans 12:1 does not say present your body so that God will show you mercy, rather He has already given you great mercy, so give your life to Him. Obedience is the response to mercy, not the means of obtaining it. A believer who understands God’s mercy will respond with gratitude rather than mere duty. Instead of thinking: “I have to obey God,” he thinks: “After all God has done for me, how could I not give myself completely to Him?”  Our motivation for becoming a living sacrifice should be rooted in love and gratitude.  Present your bodies (literally physical bodies). There is a reason it says “bodies” and not “self”: Romans 6:12-13,19-23; Matthew 5:29-30; 18:8-9 our eyes (what we look at) our ears (what we listen to) our mouth (what we say) our hands (what we do) our feet (where we go) our minds (which operate through our living bodies) 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 The Greek philosophers such as Socrates and Plato impacted their cultural worldview. They were really steeped in their cultural context, where sexual freedom and idolatrous practices were common. So, they were justifying their behavior by saying, in essence, “We’re free in Christ—what I do with my body doesn’t matter.” But Paul is correcting that misunderstanding, showing them that their bodies are now sacred, belonging to the Lord, and their actions have real spiritual consequences – no entrance into the Kingdom of God. Christian freedom doesn’t erase the godly morals defined in the Scripture. Holy Sacrifice – God is holy, holy, holy – sin is unholy (1 Peter 1:14-16). Acceptable to God – with right motivation, our sacrifice is pleasing to God. KJV/NET have “reasonable service;” while the ESV/NASB/NRSV have “spiritual worship.” Both ideas are relevant. The English words “reasonable” and “spiritual” come from the Greek word logikos, which means reasonable, rational, and fitting from the root logos that means reason, word, thought. When we grasp all that God has accomplished for us in Romans 1–11, presenting ourselves to Him simply makes sense. Christian obedience is not an attempt to earn God’s favor, nor is it an emotional impulse or empty ritual. It is the natural and logical response to the gospel. Grace and mercy awaken gratitude, and gratitude inspires obedience The English words “service” and “worship” come from the Greek word latreian. This word was used almost exclusively for temple service: priestly duties, sacrificial worship, and acts done in God’s presence, hence the translation – “spiritual service of worship.” Romans is redefining worship: it is no longer confined to a temple, not limited to rituals, nor handled by priests alone. Worship is now intelligent, informed, and responsive to God’s mercy and led by the holy spirit. True worship is a life consciously aligned with God’s will. Contrast with OT animals, repetition, external ritual. John 4:23-24. Now that Christ has fulfilled the sacrificial system: the offering is yourself the service is continuous the worship is rational, moral, and spirit led Not ritual without understanding—but obedience shaped by truth. What is the difference between mercy and grace? Our motivation for becoming a living sacrifice should be rooted in _______ and _________. What needs to change in your life so you become a better living sacrifice? Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Conformed — is to bring into harmony or accord, to be similar or identical, in agreement with, to be obedient or compliant. Liquid takes the form of the vessel it is poured into. World — is from the Greek word aion which literally refers to an age, era, or period of time, and by extension can refer to the prevailing character, values, or ways of thinking of a particular age. This is not saying “Do not conform to the physical world,” rather, “Do not allow yourself to be shaped by the values, attitudes, thinking, and patterns of this present age.” The age or world seems to radically change from one generation to the next. 1 Peter 1:13-16 The Greek word translated conformed is only used two times. As a living sacrifice, we must resist conformity to our old nature with its lust and this present evil age. Transformed – is from the Greek word metamorphoo which occurs four times – (Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18). This is inward change that produces outward difference. Allow God to change you from the inside out. Conformed – outward pressure producing worldly similarity. Transformed – inward renewal producing godly change. Renewing — Greek – anakainōsis – ana = again, upward, back, kainos = new in kind (not just new in time, but new in quality). It doesn’t mean polishing the old. Titus 3:5-6 – Anakainosis only appears twice in the NT. Romans 8:4-10 – two vital aspects of renewing the mind include the spirit received by grace and putting on God’s powerful word. (Psalm 119:11, 36, 41). Mind — encompassing thinking, reasoning, moral judgment, and values. The mind is the inner orientation, the control center of our life. So, this is not about becoming smarter. It’s about seeing reality differently. Before Christ: The mind is darkened (Ephesians 4:18) The mind is hostile toward God (Romans 8:7) The mind is shaped by this age (Romans 12:2) After salvation: The Spirit begins reshaping how we think Scripture recalibrates our values Our instincts change Renewal means — Old patterns of thinking are replaced with God-shaped patterns. The spirit is our helper that replaces the present Christ. (John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:7) 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; 2 Corinthians 3:14-18 That you may prove to yourself – This is the bridge from doubt to faith (Philippians 1:9-11). In Romans 12:2, Paul says that the renewed mind enables us to “discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” These three words describe the quality and character of God’s will. Good — beneficial, useful, morally good, or producing good results. God’s will is not harmful or destructive, rather it is genuinely good for us and for others. Acceptable — The idea is not simply that God’s will is acceptable to us. Rather, it is pleasing to God. Perfect — The Greek word Teleios means complete, mature, full, brought to its intended goal. Good → pleasing → complete/mature What must be removed in your life that is due to conformity to this age? What positive change can you make that will help you transform? The post 1. Godly Motivation: Why Renew Your Mind? first appeared on Living Hope.

  6. Jun 5

    16. The Woman of Strength Part 2

    The post 16. The Woman of Strength Part 2 first appeared on Living Hope.

  7. Jun 2

    15. The Woman of Strength Part 1

    The post 15. The Woman of Strength Part 1 first appeared on Living Hope.

  8. May 23

    14. The Teaching of Wisdom Part 3

    The post 14. The Teaching of Wisdom Part 3 first appeared on Living Hope.

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Biblical education classes (BEC) by the team at Living Hope International Ministries (LHIM) are designed to provide you with comprehensible and comprehensive learning experience for books of the Bible, doctrines, and Christian living.

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  • Creator
    Living Hope International Ministries
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    119
  • Rating
    Clean
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    © 2022 LHIM
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