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Transformation Through Academics – Brendon Norton – Northpoint Bible College

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Transformation Through Academics – Brendon Norton – Northpoint Bible College (978) 478-3400 [email protected] Facebook Twitter Google Facebook Twitter Google Faculty Login Student Login Prospective Students News & Events Apply Now Who We Are Campus Fast Facts Public Information FAQ Contact / Directions Travel Teams Admissions Undergraduate Graduate Degree Program Online Education Visit Us Financial Aid Academics Programs & Majors Faculty Academic Support Calendar Campus Life Alumni Give Watch Online Select Page Transformation Through Academics – Brendon Norton Nov 1, 2016 Transformation Through Academics – Brendon Norton I remember when I was at Northpoint, every so often a well-meaning pastor or student would remind me not to lose my spiritual fervor in the midst of studying and doing “academic” things. It was unchangingly a statement that struck me as odd. “I am here studying the Bible and learning well-nigh God, how is that going to harm me spiritually?” The problem is this translating makes investing in the mind out to be a bad thing, variegated from and dangerous to our walk with God. Instead we should understand that the life of the mind is essential in loving God and rhadamanthine increasingly like Christ! The Bible speaks in many variegated places well-nigh the role of the mind in our walk with God. The greatest writ in the Bible is to, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37). God commands us to use your minds to love Him. The use of the mind then is not dangerous to our relationship with God, but is unquestionably one of the greatest ways that we love God! And how do our minds help us to be like Christ? Romans 12:2a says, “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (NIV). In this unshortened chapter, until the end of the letter, Paul is telling the Romans what a Christian life, one that is transformed to be increasingly like Christ, should squint like. How does this happen? By the renewing of our mind. Now we don’t practice eastern meditation where the goal is to empty one’s mind, but rather we fill it. We fill it with the Word (studying the Bible), and with learning well-nigh who God is (theology). In short, we transpiration by learning, ant at Northpoint you have an incredible opportunity to learn! When I was a student some of my greatest moments of transformation came through writing exegesis papers. In Prophetical books with Brother Ricci, I wrote on Habakkuk 2:1-4, on the theology of faith. That particular semester I was going through a serious emotional and health related issue which caused me to wilt depressed and anxious. However, in the process of writing my paper, I started to see that a life of faith trusts God and waits patiently for Him to act, considering He undoubtedly would. For Habakkuk he had to wait to understand God’s plan to use Babylon to destroy Judah, while I had to patiently wait for God to come through and help me in my distress. Habakkuk trusted in the promises of God to be true-blue to Israel plane as He disciplined them, and I had to trust the promises of God plane though I did not know why I had to go through a painful situation. That insight steadied my faith that unshortened semester and still keeps me strong today. And you know what, it came through writing an exegesis paper! God’s transformation of my life came through using of my mind to His Word with trappy results! This is what He wants to do for you too! He wants to show His love and transpiration your life as you use your mind for His glory! Don’t squint at your textbook reading, or papers, or lectures as somehow unrelated, or worse harmful, to your growth as a Christian. Quite the opposite! These are the ways God has given you in this season of life to wilt increasingly like Him and to love Him increasingly deeply.   Facebook Twitter Google+ Take the Next Step Thinking well-nigh peekaboo Northpoint or ready to officially uncork the process? Continue your journey with one of the options below. Apply Now Schedule a Visit Who We AreOur Campus Fast Facts Contact/Directions News & Events Public Information FAQ Campus LocationsGrand Rapids Los Angeles AcademicsPrograms & Majors Academic Support Faculty Old Transcript Request Catalog Book Store AdmissionsApply to Northpoint Undergraduate Graduate Degree Program Online Education Visit Us Financial Aid Need to Connect?