This document discusses the carnal mind and how it thinks. It defines the carnal mind as being focused on fleshly pleasures and passions rather than spiritual things. The carnal mind is opposed to God and unable to submit to his law. Examples are given of carnal thinking, such as only doing the minimum required spiritually or prioritizing selfish pleasures over God. While Christians still struggle with carnality, those with carnal minds show it by their lack of consideration for God and others. Guarding the heart and mind against carnal thinking is important.

1. A Carnal Mind
By: Brian Birdow
Romans 8

2. Objective of Lesson
1. To challenge us to guard our hearts
(minds)!
2. To show how the carnal mind thinks.
3. To show an example of a carnal mind.
4. To show how opposed God is to the
carnal mind

3. The heart
Proverbs 4:23
• Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life
(ESV)
• Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the
springs of life (NASB).
• Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life
(KJV).
• Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life (CSB).

4. Carnal mind defined
• Pertaining to or characterized by the
flesh or the body, its passions and
appetites; sensual: carnal pleasures.
• Not spiritual; merely human; temporal;
worldly: a man of secular, rather
carnal, leanings.

5. Carnal mind
• Romans 8:6-7 For to be carnally minded is death; but
to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the
carnal mind is enmity (hostile) against God: for it is not
subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
• 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept
the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him,
and he is not able to understand them because they are
spiritually discerned.

6. Carnal Mind
• Ecclesiastes 2 …turn with me please….
• Note verses 7-8
• The pleasures that tempt and allure humanity are
remarkably similar across 1000’s of years! In our modern
secular Western society so many people desire such
things as:
• Material wealth, a sports personality or music celebrity
lifestyle, and so often unrestrained sexual pleasure. Think
about our current political state. A lot is driven by sensual
pleasures!

7. Christian and Carnal?
• Can a person be a Christian and still
carnal?
• 1 Corinthians 3 …turn with me please…
• Acts 8 …turn with me please…
• Galatians 2 …turn with me please…

8. Christians & carnal minds!
• What is the least that I can do and not be lost? (Romans 9)
• Sunday and Wednesday Bible study with the saints is not
commanded from God! Those that attend are not any better
off than those that don’t! (Philippians 2:25-30)
• So long as I take communion on Sunday, I am fine (Acts
2:44-47)
• I don’t do x, y, or z or so I am a good person. (Acts 10:38)
• Selfish and inconsiderate of others labors and effort for our
own souls. (2 Corinthians 11:21 & following)

9. Christians & carnal minds!
• It is okay to miss worship service for recreational purposes.
Just do not make it a habit. (Psalm 122:1)
• Spend all my money on self and offer to God leftovers. The
only sacrifice that is desired, is of others. (Malachi 1:6-14)
• Does not believe that their talk or dress should be any
different from the world. (James 3; Proverbs 31:25)
• A mindset that thinks like this is totally opposite of God!