Sermon Note: Gospel Humility

Bible reading: Romans 12:2-3; 1 Corinthians 4:3-4, 6

After we offer our lives to be a living sacrifice, what’s next?

In v. 2 Paul is speaking about God’s will. He begins with the negative counsel: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world.” Then he continues with the positive one: “Give your life to be transformed by the renewing of mind.” The renewing of mind is a continual process. For us to know the will of God, it is not going to be a one time event. It needs to be a learning process.

How is it like to have a renewed mind? How does the renewed mind think?

Paul also speaks about the mind renewing in a negative and positive structure. v3 Negative: do not think with hyper-minded, beyond what you must think. Positive: but think soberly; think in the right mind, with proper judgment and moderation.

Now this is remarkable! From all the things he could possibly say about human mind, and how it works, he chooses to speak about pride (hyper-minded). Why?

The answer is: Because Paul believes that the root cause of all divisions, of why we can’t get along, and of war are boasting, pride.

Efek Zeigarnik

Penasaran. Siapa dari kita yang tidak suka penasaran? Kalau kita menonton film seri Korea, atau membaca novel Charles Dickens, kita suka penasaran, bukan? What's the next? Lalu, dengan penasaran kita tungguin seri berikutnya.

Dari pengalaman ini sebenarnya kita dapat memetik sebuah pelajaran. Penasaran adalah modal untuk menyelesaikan suatu tugas. Ini ternyata sudah diteorikan oleh seorang psikolog berkebangsaan Rusia bernama Bluma Zeigarnik. Teorinya diambil dari nama belakangnya sendiri, efek Zeigarnik.

Seorang waiters, misalnya, bisa mengingat pesanan begitu banyak, mondar-mandir dari satu meja ke meja lain. Tapi persis setelah pesanan diantar, ia lupa semuanya. Teori ini mengatakan