DNA Week 1

Dna Luke 4:1-3(nasb). '1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness 2for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. 3And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." ' Luke 3:21-22(nasb) '21Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." Romans 12:1-2(nasb) '1Therefore 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. 2And 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. The negative command 1) Paul warns against being "conformed" (Greek: syschēmatizō) to "this world" (or "this age"). The world here isn't just people or creation-it's the system of values, priorities, and patterns opposed to God. It's the pressure to think, desire, and live like everyone else who doesn't know Christ: chasing temporary pleasures, status, power, self-fulfillment at any cost, materialism, pride, or moral relativism. Think of it like a mold. The world tries to squeeze us into its shape-subtly through media, culture, peer pressure, or even "good" things twisted (success, comfort, approval). Conformity happens passively if we don't resist. It's easy to float downstream with the current of culture. But floating leads to spiritual stagnation or worse. The positive command 2) Instead of conformity, Paul commands transformation (Greek: metamorphoō-the root of "metamorphosis," like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly). This is radical, inner change-from the inside out. It's not self-improvement or willpower alone; it's God's work in us. How does it happen? By the renewing of your mind. The mind isn't just intellect-it's our inner person: thoughts, beliefs, desires, values, conscience. Renewal means replacing old patterns with God's truth. It's an ongoing process (present tense in Greek: keep being transformed, keep renewing). The Result: Discerning God's Will When our minds are renewed, we can "test and approve" (or discern) God's will-what is good, acceptable, and perfect. This isn't usually about dramatic signs for big decisions, but developing spiritual wisdom to apply God's revealed will (Scripture) to life's situations. A renewed mind sees clearly: what honors God? What's truly good (not just feels good)? What's mature and complete? How Do We Renew Our Minds? 1. Immerse in Scripture regularly-read, study, meditate, memorize. God's Word is the primary tool for renewal Start your day with it to set your thinking straight. 2. Pray for the Holy Spirit's help-He illuminates truth and convicts where we're off-track. 3. Reject worldly input intentionally-limit what feeds conformity (ungodly media, toxic influences) and replace it with what builds faith. 4. Community-fellow believers encourage renewal through teaching, accountability, 5. Obey actively-as we act on truth, transformation deepens