Podcast Summary: Growing Up Spiritually, Part One

Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Host: Nancy Dufresne
Episode: Jesus the Healer Broadcast
Date: December 31, 2020

Overview

In this episode, Pastor Nancy Dufresne delivers a foundational teaching on spiritual growth, focusing on the believer’s lifelong responsibility to develop their spirit and renew their mind. Drawing from Romans 12, she explains how this process transforms life, ushers in peace and victory, and positions believers to walk fully in God’s plan. The episode is practical and encouraging, woven with stories, examples, and actionable wisdom.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Two Lifelong Professions of Every Believer

• Developing your spirit and renewing your mind are essential and ongoing (00:48).
  • "There’s really two things that are the lifelong profession of any believer. Number one: develop your spirit. And number two: renew your mind." (Nancy Dufresne, 02:15)
• The believer is a three-part being: spirit (the real you), soul (mind, will, emotions), and body (00:50).
• God leads believers through their spirit, never through emotions or intellect (03:30).

2. The Importance of Renewing the Mind

• An unrenewed mind will resist what the spirit directs; a renewed mind agrees with the spirit (04:10).
  • "An unrenewed mind will fight against what God puts in your spirit... but a renewed mind agrees with your spirit." (Nancy Dufresne, 04:45)
• Renewal is continuous—there’s never a point of arrival (05:40).
• Difficulty in life often stems from an unrenewed mind, regardless of whether a person is saved (06:20).

3. Understanding the Three Parts of Man

• At salvation, God gives us a new spirit—not a repaired one, but a completely new, living spirit with His own nature (09:01).
• The soul (mind, will, emotions) and body must be managed by the believer; it's the believer's responsibility (11:25).
• Presenting the body to God and renewing the mind are ongoing acts of spiritual worship and obedience (Romans 12:1-2, 08:30).

4. Practical Application—Presenting the Body

• Presenting your body means using it for what is pleasing and honoring to God (08:40).
  • "We don't mishandle the body... when we handle our bodies in a way that’s pleasing to the Lord... this is one way, one form of worship." (Nancy Dufresne, 08:58)
• Worship is not just singing; it’s daily conduct and discipline of the body (09:10).

5. Transforming Life Through the Word

• A transformed life comes only by feeding on the Word until it changes actions and behavior (16:50).
  • "Getting in a ministry line will not transform your life. Having someone pray for you will bless your life, but it will not transform your life. There’s one way to transform your life, and that is to feed on the Word until the Word directs your actions and your behavior." (Nancy Dufresne, 17:00)
• Quoting scripture is not enough; transformation requires living it (15:40).

6. Addressing Fear, Worry, and Thought Life

• The renewed mind aggressively resists fear, worry, and negative thoughts (21:00).
  • "When a thought comes to your mind, if it troubles you, know that God didn’t give you that thought." (Nancy Dufresne, 18:40)
• Worry is a signal to renew your mind further in that specific area (25:10).
  • "If you’ll pay attention, what things you tend to worry about, those are indicators of where you need to renew your mind." (Nancy Dufresne, 25:28)
• Worry and fear are opposed to faith; when worrying, one leaves the place of hearing from God (23:40).

7. The Role of the Word and Personal Responsibility

• Every believer, including ministers, must continue to renew their mind—spiritual maturity requires it (26:20).
• Believers should "bring every thought captive" to Christ (19:30), meaning to measure every thought against the Word.

8. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Worship:
  "The worship we have toward God is not just when we lift our hands and tell Him how much we love Him... it’s also what we allow our bodies to participate in." (09:07)

• On Transformation:
  "The Word is what transforms the life. When our minds are renewed, we can have a transformed life. And this is God’s plan." (10:25)

• On Fear:
  "God has not given us the spirit of fear. When something fearful attacks your life, know that God is not speaking to you through that fear." (22:00)

• On Worry:
  "A worried mind is a sign of an unrenewed mind. The more someone worries, the further away they are from a renewed mind." (24:15)

• On Personal Responsibility:
  "Just because we’ve been saved a long time or... called to ministry... does not mean that our minds are renewed. Every... minister, every... believer... this is our lifelong profession: develop our spirits… keep our minds renewed... keep our bodies under the dominion of our spirit." (26:15)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Setting the Foundation & Romans 12 Discussion — 00:08–09:10
• Explaining Spirit, Soul, Body — 04:00–11:00
• What Is Worship/Presenting the Body — 08:30–10:45
• Transformation Through the Word — 15:30–17:15
• Thought Life, Fear, Worry — 18:30–25:20
• Why Worry Reveals Where Mind Needs Renewal — 25:10–26:08
• Ministers Need Mind Renewal Too / Closing Thoughts — 26:20–27:27

Tone & Language

Pastor Nancy’s style is gentle, direct, and practical. She weaves in encouragement and clarity, often pausing to invite listeners to take stock and act on the teaching. The tone is pastoral, uplifting, and focused on helping believers mature spiritually.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a strong introduction to understanding spiritual growth as a hands-on, lifelong journey. Nancy Dufresne stresses that while God gave believers a new spirit, the ongoing work of presenting the body and renewing the mind rests with every Christian. By internalizing the Word—thinking, speaking, and acting according to it—believers can experience transformed lives characterized by peace, victory, and joy, rather than fear or worry. The message repeatedly invites personal reflection and offers hope that, with God’s help and the Word as a guide, true transformation is possible for everyone.