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Renew Your Mind: Resisting Conformity to the World
Every day, Christians are being shaped by voices, ideas, and values that compete for their minds. Romans 12:1–2 calls believers, in light of God’s mercy in Christ, not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewal of their minds.
In this episode of Anchored in the Word, Dave Jenkins explains how the Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to renew believers from the inside out. As Christians submit their thoughts, desires, priorities, and decisions to Scripture, they grow in discernment, reject error, and increasingly reflect the character of Christ.
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Renewed by the Mercy of God
Romans 12 marks a turning point in Paul’s letter. After unfolding the gospel and the mercies of God in the first eleven chapters, Paul calls believers to offer their whole lives to God as living sacrifices. Christian obedience does not begin with self-improvement. It flows from what God has done for us in Christ.
Paul warns believers not to be pressed into the pattern of the world. The world continually presents its own answers about truth, identity, morality, purpose, and success. Yet God transforms His people through the renewal of their minds by His Word.
A Mind Shaped by Scripture
A renewed mind is more than gaining biblical information. It is the lifelong work of God by which believers learn to think, love, and live according to His truth. As we read, meditate on, and obey Scripture, we are equipped to discern what is good, acceptable, and perfect according to the will of God.
God’s Word calls Christians to set their minds on things above, delight in His law, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. Biblical discernment begins with a mind shaped by biblical truth.
Faithful Living in Christ
Christ has redeemed His people from the darkness of sin and set them free to know, love, and live according to the truth. The goal is not merely becoming better informed, but becoming more like Christ through the power of the gospel.
What voices are shaping your thinking more than the Word of God? Ask the Lord to expose areas where culture has influenced your thinking and to renew your mind through His truth.
Scripture references: Romans 12:1–2; Psalm 1:1–3; Colossians 3:1–2; 2 Corinthians 10:5.
Anchored in the Word with Dave Jenkins
Anchored in the Word provides biblical answers to help Christians grow in wisdom, discernment, and faithful obedience to Christ.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
