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John Stott’s Your Mind Matters-The Place of the Mind in the Christian Life:
A Study Guide
Introduction to the Study Guide
It may be helpful to reflect on what you think of when you hear the
phrase “the Christian mind” or “loving God with all your mind”. Have
you ever heard anyone use these phrases before? If so, where? What
comes to mind when you hear these words? What images and/or feelings
do they conjure up? Why might you have these particular images,
thoughts, feelings and/or attitudes toward developing a Christian
mind? Pray and ask God to guide you as you begin this study.
Chapter One: Mindless Christianity
1. Describe the three examples Dr. Stott gives of anti-intellectualism
in the Church today. What is wrong with each? (pages 8-10)
2. Can you think of other examples of “mindless Christianity”?
3. What kind of balance would Dr. Stott like to see in the development
and use of the Christian mind? (11)
Chapter Two: Why Use Our Minds?
1. How would you paraphrase the quote by A. N. Whitehead on pages 12-
13? Would you agree or disagree? Why?
2. What does the doctrine of our creation by God tell us about the
importance of using our minds? Give some examples. (14-16)
3. How did humanity’s Fall into sin affect our minds? . . . Our
emotions? (16)
4. Consider Stott’s statement found on page 16:
But the fact that man’s mind is fallen is no excuse for a
retreat from thought to emotion, for the emotional
side of man’s nature is equally fallen. Indeed, sin has more
dangerous effects on our faculty of feeling than
on our faculty of thinking, because our opinions are more easily
checked and regulated by revealed truth
than our experiences.
Do you agree? Why or why not?
5. Despite sin’s influence on our thinking, give examples from both
Scripture and secular society of the importance of using our minds.
(17) Can you think of other examples?
6. How does God speak to our rationality via His creation? (18-21)
What are some of the cones-
quences of this “speech without words”? (See Psalm 19:1-4; Romans
1:18-21)
7. How would you summarize the quote by James Orr on page 20? Can you
think of personal or historical examples that would illustrate Orr’s
points?
8. What is the role of our minds in our redemption from sin? (21-22)
Summarize Blamires’ description of the Christian mind and its 20th
century secularization. (23)
9. How are we “judged by our knowledge”? (See Colossians 3:1-2; Romans
8:5-6; Romans 6:3,16; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:2-3, 9, 15-
16, 19)
10. Consider Stott’s words on page 26:
Perhaps the current mood (cultivated in some Christian groups)
of anti-intellectualism begins now to be
seen as the serious evil it is. It is not true piety at all but
part of the fashion of the world and therefore a
form of worldliness. To denigrate the mind is to undermine
foundational Christian doctrines. Has God
created us rational beings, and shall we deny our humanity which
he has given us? Has God spoken to us,
and shall we not listen to his words? Has God renewed our mind
through Christ, and shall we not think
with it? Is God going to judge us by his Word, and shall we not
be wise and build our house upon this
rock?
Take a moment and reflect on the serious nature of Stott’s charges
here. Do any of them apply to you, your InterVarsity chapter (small
groups, large groups, prayer meetings, etc.), your local church? If
so, how? How might this be changed, and what role could you play in
this?
11. Describe the importance Scripture places on gaining knowledge and
wisdom. (26-28) How might you grow in this area?
Chapter Three: The Mind in the Christian Life
1. Summarize the importance of using our minds in our worship, based
upon Psalms 104, 105, 107, and 136. (30-32) How ought we to apply this
to our corporate worship practices today? (32-33)
2. Describe two things faith is NOT. (33-36) How does the bible define
and describe faith? Give some examples of this kind of faith from
Scripture. (36-39)
3. What role does the Christian mind play in our “quest for holiness”?
(39-42)
4. How does God use our minds to guide us in difficult decisions? (42-
46) Can you describe a time God guided you in this way?
5. What role does our mind play in evangelism? (46-49) What are some
objections to Stott’s views here, and how does he answer them? (49-52)
Do you find his answers convincing? Why or why not?
6. How does God use our minds in ordained/pastoral/teaching ministry?
(53-55) What do you make of Billy Graham’s comment on this issue?
Chapter 4: Acting on Our Knowledge
1. Read Stott’s summary of the importance of the Christian mind to all
of life. (56-61) What one area do you find personally the most
encouraging? . . . the most challenging? How might God be leading you
(and your Intervarsity chapter) to serve Him more faithfully with you
heart and your mind? After praying about this, what is the next step
of action you can take in this area? Who can help you with this?
For further study:
Discipleship of the Mind: Learning to Love God in the Ways We Think by
James Sire
Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian Calling by James
Sire
Engaging God’s World: A Christian Vision of Faith, Learning and Living
by CorneliusPlantinga
Postmodern Times: A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and
Culture by Gene Edward Veith
Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of
ShowBusiness by Neil Postman
- Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity by
Nancy Pearcey
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