Renewing Our Minds: A Call to Transformation by Pastor Mensa Otabil

Introduction

In his sermon “Living for God (3): Renewing Our Mind” preached at ICGC Christ Temple East, Pastor Mensa Otabil highlighted the importance of spiritual transformation in the Christian journey. 

Drawing from Romans 12:2, Pastor Otabil emphasised the need for Christians to renew their minds in order to live for God fully. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,” he quoted, explaining that transformation is central to authentic Christian living.

Transformation Starts with the Heart and Mind

In the earlier parts of the series, Pastor Otabil discussed that living for God begins with a heart focused on God. “We live for God based on where our heart is, and our heart is where our treasure is,” he reiterated. 

He cautioned that without a heart transformation, one could live for themselves rather than for God.

In the current message, however, Pastor Otabil shifted focus to the mind, saying, “The Christian life is supposed to be a life of transformation. But you and I know that many times people say they are born again, and yet there’s no transformation in their lives.” 

According to him, while being born again initiates spiritual transformation, the process is incomplete without a renewal of the mind. He stressed, “Salvation does not immediately change the way we think. The mind has to be renewed.”

Three Key Steps to Renewing the Mind

Pastor Otabil outlined three critical steps from Romans 12:2 for renewing the mind:

1. Do Not Conform to This World

Pastor Otabil noted that the world bombards Christians with ideas that are contrary to God’s word. “The world has its values and lifestyles, and the pressure is always on us to live as everybody else lives,” he said. 

He encouraged believers to resist these pressures by rejecting godless ideas that pervade today’s society. “Every idea that is not God-centered or Christ-centered is bogus,” he boldly stated, urging the congregation to have the courage to reject such ideas, no matter how intelligent or widely accepted they might be.

2. Renew Your Mind

The second step is the actual process of mind renewal. Pastor Otabil explained that while salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit, renewing the mind is the responsibility of the believer. “When we get born again, our minds do not become born again. It’s our job to renew our minds,” he explained. 

This renewal involves unlearning the patterns of the old nature, such as fear, selfishness, and greed, and replacing them with the new nature in Christ, which is godly and righteous.

3. Refuse to Fit into the Sinful Mould of the World

Lastly, Pastor Otabil spoke on the need to refuse the world’s sinful mould. He noted how peer pressure and societal norms often push people, especially the youth, into destructive habits. 

“Anything that makes you lose control of your normal thinking process is not good for you,” he warned, referencing harmful behaviours like drug abuse that lead to spiritual and mental degradation.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

Pastor Otabil concluded his sermon by challenging believers to actively participate in renewing their minds. 

He urged the congregation to be vigilant in rejecting worldly influences and to embrace the new nature in Christ. “Life is not about your happiness; it’s about divine purpose,” he said. 

As believers, he encouraged them to be transformed by renewing their minds daily, aligning their thoughts and actions with God’s purpose.

The sermon emphasized that living for God is not merely about external behavior but involves a deep, inward transformation that begins with the renewal of the mind.