“A Mind Without Barriers” (The Culture)

A Mind Without Barriers (The Culture)

Pastor Josiah Nordgren

September 21, 2025

​​In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬ ‭(NIV‬‬)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2a‬ ‭(NIV‬‬)

The Mind of Christ is an standard in a culture.

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬ ‭(NIV‬‬)

The mind of Christ crosses .

When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭11-13‬ ‭(NIV‬‬)

We must grow in Jesus’ for the  

​​Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15‬:‭3‬-‭7‬ ‭(NIV‬‬)

Discussion Questions

A Mind Without Barriers (The Culture)

This week we continued in our series, The Mind of Christ. In Philippians 2:5, the Apostle Paul says:

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”

Each week we’re looking at how the mind of Christ shows up in different relationships. Today we focused on how it shapes our attitude toward culture — toward those who don’t believe in Christ.

Culture changes. It shifts, divides, and sometimes grows hostile. But the mind of Christ does not change. Scripture shows us again and again how Jesus’ revolutionary love crossed social, cultural, and religious barriers. He ate with sinners, prostitutes, and tax collectors. He taught women. He associated with Samaritans. He welcomed those cast aside by society, showed compassion to Roman oppressors, and even prayed for the men killing Him on the cross.

His love should challenge us — even make us uncomfortable — because God’s heart is for the world. “For God so loved the world…” (John 3:16). Whoever you might struggle to picture sitting at the table with Jesus, know this: He’s reaching out to them, too. More than He desires “sacrifices” (our religious practices), He desires “mercy” (steadfast love) – Matthew 9:13.

To grow in the mind of Christ is to grow in love for the lost.

Discussion Questions

1. Read Matthew 9:10–13. What stood out to you from the passage or from the message?
2. Why do you think it matters so much to Christ that we love people well?
3. When your love for people grows cold, what do you do (or what could you do) to regain it?
4. Read Matthew 5:38–48. What does living this out look like in 2025 — for us personally and for us as the church?
5. Close by praying together.  Ask the Lord to give us His mind and His heart for the lost.