Reflections with Andy - 1 Corinthians 2: 6-16 – The Mind of Christ
Today, we see that through the Spirit, we can have the mind of Christ. What is that? How is that something we can attain?
What does it mean to have “the mind of Christ”? In today’s reflection, we conclude 1 Corinthians 2 by exploring the work of the Holy Spirit in shaping our hearts and minds. Paul reminds us that God’s wisdom isn’t discovered through human intellect alone but is revealed through the Spirit, who sanctifies us and helps us see the world through Christ’s eyes. Through Scripture, prayer, worship, Communion, and serving others, the Holy Spirit transforms us day by day. If we want to grow in faith, the path is beautifully simple: read your Bible, pray, worship with God’s people, and allow the Spirit to form the mind of Christ within you.
Join us for our daily reflections with Andy. In 10 short minutes, he’ll dig a little deeper into Scripture and help you better understand God’s Word.
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Good morning!
It’s good to be with you on this Friday morning as we wrap up another week together and finish our time in 1 Corinthians 2.
I hope you’ve got some fun plans this weekend. Holly and I are going to run down to Madison today to take care of a few things at our house. If anybody wants to buy a house—this isn’t a swap meet—but if you’re looking for a house in Madison, I’ve got one I’d love to sell you! So we’re going to head down there, get a few things done, and make a day of it.
Then, of course, I’m really looking forward to worship on Sunday here at Starkville First. Whenever I come to a new church and a new community, I like to spend one Sunday sharing my story—talking about what God has done in my life and the journey that brought me here. Some of you have heard that story before, and if you have, I’d appreciate your prayers as I share it again. If you’ve never heard it and you live in the Golden Triangle area, we’d love to have you join us this Sunday at 10:00 a.m. at Starkville First United Methodist Church. Invite your friends, your neighbors...heck, invite your enemies too. We’d love to have everybody.
Today we’re finishing 1 Corinthians 2, reading verses 6 through 16.
Yet among the mature we do speak wisdom, though it is not a wisdom of this age... (passage continues through verse 16).
Back in the 1990s, some of you may remember a series of Bible studies that became very popular. One of the best known was Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. I went through that study as a student, and later, as a youth pastor, I taught the youth edition to our students. It was an excellent study that centered around the life of Moses and reminded us that our job isn’t to ask God to bless what we’re doing. Our job is to see where God is already at work and join Him there.
There was another study from around that same time called The Mind of Christ, and that’s what today’s passage makes me think of.
Paul says, “We have the mind of Christ.”
What a remarkable statement.
The goal of the Christian life is to allow the Holy Spirit to shape our minds so that we begin to think more like Jesus.
Paul says elsewhere to “take every thought captive.” In other words, we allow the Spirit to search our hearts, convict us of sin, show us where we need to grow, and gradually align our thoughts with God’s thoughts.
That’s really the work of the Holy Spirit.
Paul writes:
“These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit... We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God.”
The Spirit helps us see what we could never see on our own.
So how do we put ourselves in a position where the Spirit can do that work?
I’m glad you asked.
I think one of the most important ways is through daily reading of Scripture.
When we read the Bible, we’re not simply looking for information—although information certainly matters. We read looking for transformation.
As you read, pay attention to the words, phrases, or verses that seem to jump off the page.
Then stop.
Listen.
Ask yourself, “What might the Holy Spirit be saying to me through this passage?”
Sometimes the Spirit comforts us.
Sometimes the Spirit challenges us.
Sometimes the Spirit convicts us.
Sometimes the Spirit reminds us of God’s grace and mercy.
But the Spirit is always at work.
The same is true when we come to the Lord’s Table. As we receive Holy Communion and hear again the story of Christ’s death and resurrection, the Spirit speaks.
The same is true in prayer.
And honestly, I think one of the most overlooked places where the Holy Spirit works is through serving other people.
We often think of the Spirit working only through Bible study or prayer, and certainly He does. But I also think one of the primary ways God shapes us is through serving our neighbors.
As we serve, the Spirit changes us.
As we love others, God teaches us what His love looks like.
As we forgive, we begin to understand His forgiveness.
That’s why relationships matter so much.
God often speaks to us through the people He places in our lives.
One way to recognize the work of the Spirit is simply to ask yourself:
Are there things that bother me now that didn’t used to?
Am I becoming more compassionate?
Am I more willing to forgive?
Do I find myself wanting to pray more, read Scripture more, worship more, or serve more?
Those desires don’t simply appear out of nowhere.
That’s the Holy Spirit at work.
That’s what sanctification looks like.
Little by little, the Spirit forms within us the mind of Christ.
We begin to see the world through His eyes.
We begin to love the people He loves.
We begin to desire the things He desires.
So this weekend, give yourself some space for the Holy Spirit to work.
Read your Bible.
Spend time in prayer.
Worship with God’s people.
Years ago, someone gave me some wonderfully simple advice, and it’s still some of the best advice I’ve ever received:
Read your Bible. Pray. Go to church.
If you’ll do those three things faithfully, I really believe God will work in your life.
The Holy Spirit will continue to shape you, transform you, and form within you the mind of Christ.
Thanks for being with us today.
If you would, pray for me on Sunday as I share my story with our church family here at Starkville First. We’d love to have you worship with us if you’re in the area.
Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you Monday morning as we begin 1 Corinthians 3 together.