There are two fundamentally different ways to view being a “good person.” You can either view it from the perspective of your fallen nature, or you can view it from the perspective of a transformed life (with a renewed mind), as advocated in
Romans 12:2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.   (ESV)
. We call this transformed perspective the “Kingdom” mind (as Jesus used the term in the Sermon on the Mount).
Coach: Ask your student to read out-loud the text in the paragraph on the left here and then ask them to talk about whether or not it makes sense to them. Also, the underlined Bible verse will pop up if you mouse over it.

(NOTE TO COACH: Remember, be careful NOT to correct or even comment on your student's answers, except to say "What else?" if their answer is too brief.)

Our Fallen nature — Our Fallen nature (the “natural man”) assumes something is “good” when it has beneficial outcomes in this physical world. This Fallen perspective leads a person to conclude that a “good person” is determined to be “good” by the extrinsic qualities of what they do. This approach necessarily relies on the subjective evaluations of other people (and God) you trust to see your actions (works) as favorable. Christians who live their lives from this Fallen nature perspective that “good is determined by how favorable the outcomes of their actions are,” will question their own goodness based on what they do. But even worse, they may question God’s goodness when circumstances in their life are negative.

Coach: Ask your student to read out-loud the text on the left here and then ask them to tell you which parts of this makes sense and why, and if any parts do not seem right, and why.

(NOTE TO COACH: Remember, be careful NOT to correct or even comment on your student's answers, except to say "What else?" if their answer is too brief.)


Please discuss with your coach about some times when the above description might characterize your life, then click here to proceed.