Podcast Summary
Podcast: Dufresne Ministries Podcast
Episode: Thinking Like God | Nancy Dufresne | Collinsville, Oklahoma | JTH Crusades 2024 | Monday PM
Date: October 8, 2024
Host/Speaker: Pastor Nancy Dufresne, Dufresne Ministries staff
Overview of the Episode’s Theme
This episode features Pastor Nancy Dufresne preaching at the JTH Crusades in Collinsville, Oklahoma. The central message revolves around "thinking like God" – the necessity of renewing the mind with God’s Word to live in the fullness of his will. Nancy delivers teaching that is practical, bold, and deeply rooted in scripture, interwoven with personal testimonies, ministry updates, and interactive moments with her team and congregation. The episode also highlights a momentous ministry breakthrough—receiving a Falcon 50 jet for Dufresne Ministries—framing it as evidence of God’s faithfulness and divine connections.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. A Breakthrough: Receiving the Falcon 50 Jet
Timestamps: 00:00–15:00
- Nancy publicly announces the ministry’s receipt of a Falcon 50 jet, which she regards as an answer to over 11 years of prayer and partnership.
- She underscores the importance of divine connections, detailing how Carolyn Savelle, along with Keith Moore and his congregation, contributed financially and in faith.
- Quote:
"When God restores, it's far better than the original ... in man's scope, Plan A is the best they can come up with. But in God's, Plan A is just the beginning, and it goes up from there." (04:01)
- The acquisition of the jet and a Texas home to base it are referenced as tools for ministry expansion, not personal luxury:
"This airplane is more than just wings to go somewhere. It is a door that is opening and God is restoring that for the greater degree of anointing..." (11:28)
2. The Importance of Renewing the Mind
Timestamps: 24:20–57:00
- The core sermon centers around renewing one’s mind to think in line with God, using scriptures like Hebrews 4:3, 3 John 1:2, and Romans 12:1-2.
- Nancy explains that true transformation as a believer comes not through deliverance lines or spiritual gifts alone, but through daily mind renewal with the Word.
"We'll partake to the measure our minds are renewed." (24:21)
"You can't be transformed by the gifts of the Spirit ... you're only transformed when you do something with your thought life." (26:55) - She critiques a reliance on “ministry lines” and gifts without fundamentals, stressing:
“Every ministry line, every time a gift of the Spirit goes into operation ... that is only temporary help. Why? God is giving them time to renew their minds.” (29:20)
- Recounts authoritative stories (Dr. Sumrall’s deliverance case, Kenneth Hagin & Healing Revivals) to demonstrate the necessity of using personal faith and knowledge.
3. Levels of God’s Will: Good, Acceptable, and Perfect
Timestamps: 43:30–49:30
- Breaks down Romans 12:2 to explain three levels of God’s will:
- Good (bare minimum—salvation),
- Acceptable/Permissive (some obedience with much self-will), and
- Perfect (full obedience, no add-ons of the self).
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"It's the renewed mind that can discern which is the good, which is the acceptable, and which is the perfect will of God, so that you'll choose the perfect and not settle for the good." (43:30)
- Cautions that many Christians settle for less than God’s best due to unrenewed thinking.
4. Practical Parenting, Leadership, and the Renewed Mind
Timestamps: 49:30–62:00
- Nancy applies the theme to parenting, church leadership, and personal conduct.
- She shares hard-earned lessons, asserting a godly parent’s role involves confrontation, discipline, and not merely “praying things out.”
"You cannot pray disobedience out of your children. I disciplined right thinking and I taught right thinking." (52:13)
- She addresses church splits, ministry struggles, and the error of “blaming the office” for bad behavior or poor leadership.
"Don't ever blame rudeness on the office you stand in ... you better learn you some love and get your mind renewed because God won't allow you to blame office for your bad behavior." (55:49)
- Draws parental and pastoral parallels:
"Pastoring is parenting ... when something needed to be confronted in our church, I confronted it. That's how we kept it safe." (57:22)
5. Testimonies of Obedience and God’s Plan
Timestamps: 62:00–74:30
- Nancy testifies on the results of obeying God’s direction, even when the reasons weren’t clear at the time, sharing about property moves and financial increase:
"If you give up houses, lands, loved ones that don't understand the plan of God, God will give you more than you ever dreamed of."
- Shares testimonies like Mama Jenkins’ miraculous ministry and other stories where long life and provision were tied to obedience—not just “health routines.”
"In the plan of God is every answer for your life ... long life is connected to my plan. It's not connected to your health routine and your bucket of broccoli." (74:00)
6. Ministry: Healing, Faith, and Laying on Hands
Timestamps: 78:43–End
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The latter portion features healing ministry: Nancy leads in song, ministers to individuals for healing, and gives practical faith instructions:
"I don't join my faith with you so that you don't have to use yours ... no one's faith is meant to substitute for another person's faith." (79:40) “Your only assignment is, say, 'Thank God it’s mine. Thank God healing and wholeness is mine.'” (91:50)
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She clarifies the biblical balance:
"The church needs teaching more than anything ... don't just rely on one flow. Jesus didn't just rely on one flow." (90:40)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)
- On God’s Restoration:
"When God restores, it's far better than the original." – Nancy Dufresne (04:02)
- On the Renewed Mind:
"We'll partake to the measure our minds are renewed." – Nancy Dufresne (24:40)
"You can't be transformed by the gifts of the spirit ... but only transformed when you do something with your thought life." (26:55) - On Parenting and Discipline:
"You cannot pray disobedience out of your children." (52:11)
"The ministry doesn't ruin ministries. The ministry did nothing but bless our lives ... it's the unrenewed mind that ruined your family." (57:22) - On Levels of God's Will:
"Be not conformed ... but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, because it's only the renewed mind that can discern ... the perfect will of God." (43:30)
- On Faith and Gifts:
"The gifts of the Spirit don’t belong to us. They belong to the Spirit ... But faith belongs to us. The Word belongs to us. And we can spend it anytime, get any miracle, receive any healing, receive any answer." (38:00)
- On Obedience and Prosperity:
"If you give up houses, lands, loved ones that don't understand the plan of God, God will give you more than you ever dreamed of." (69:17)
- On Living in God’s Plan:
"It's only the plan of God that makes life great." – Nancy Dufresne (74:23)
Key Takeaways
- Renewing the mind is the Christian’s chief occupation: Only by thinking God’s thoughts—rooted in scripture—can believers walk in the fullness of God’s will. Supernatural gifts and ministry lines are helpful, but temporary and not foundational.
- Obedience and knowledge produce lasting transformation: Testimonies are shared to emphasize how following God’s specific directions (even against natural logic) yields fruit and protection.
- God’s best requires pressing into the 'perfect' will, not settling for good or acceptable: Many shortchange themselves or their families by not renewing their thinking and therefore never step into more than God’s “good” or “acceptable” plan.
- Practicality in ministry and family: Nancy’s bold, practical approach to parenting, pastoring, and personal conduct is showcased as a call to action for believers to apply the Word in every sphere of life.
- Ministry tools (like the airplane) are spiritual enablers, not status symbols: The acquisition of the Falcon jet is celebrated openly as a means to serve, not a reward for status.
Important Segments & Timestamps
- Announcement of Falcon 50 Jet & Divine Connections: 00:00–15:00
- Main Sermon on the Renewed Mind: 24:20–57:00
- Romans 12:2 & God’s Levels of Will: 43:30–49:30
- Parenting & Leadership Application: 49:30–62:00
- Testimonies of Obedience/Provision: 62:00–74:30
- Ministry & Healing Service: 78:43–End
For more on Dufresne Ministries or to connect with the ministry, visit dufresneministries.org.
