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5 min readThe Work of Mind Renewal
The Perrys open with a vivid family story—Jackie's first encounter with Preston's extended family in Chicago, where a cousin announced she'd been "in the car giving fellatio" that morning, with no side dishes for the grilled chicken drumsticks. The story is funny, but it sets up the episode's real subject: the mind as the battlefield where everything else is won or lost.
The mind as the gateway
Preston and Jackie Perry anchor the conversation in 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, where Paul writes about destroying arguments and lofty opinions raised against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to obey Christ. Jackie observes that "our minds have a lot to say all the time" and that the mind, in relationship with the heart, dictates how we live, communicate, and listen. Jesus commands us to love God with all our mind—which means the mind is not incidental to discipleship but central to it.
Preston describes his pre-conversion mind as "out of my mind"—reckless, reactive, holding grudges, stealing from corner stores until his picture was posted behind the counter. Underneath the sin, he says, was trauma he didn't know how to process. The problem wasn't just that he needed help how to think, but what to think. He was drawing conclusions and living based on lies that felt true.
Teaching children to think
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:08) **Episode Opening & Personal Catch-Up** - Preston and Jackie Perry return from a summer break, sharing stories about their family in Chicago.
- 2 (06:44) **Main Topic: The Battlefield of the Mind** - Jackie introduces the episode's theme, reading 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 on taking thoughts captive and loving God with the mind.
- 3 (11:34) **Preston's Pre-Conversion Mind** - Preston describes his reckless, trauma-driven mindset before Christ, marked by violence, theft, and resentment.
- 4 (13:16) **The Need to Teach *How* to Think** - The couple discusses the difference between telling someone truth and teaching them to critically process thoughts, using a parenting example with their daughter Eden.
- 5 (15:56) **Parenting Example: Discerning the Root of a Child's Anger** - How they helped Eden see her justice-driven defensiveness as a good goal but with a wrong method.
- 6 (17:55) **The Same Process Applies to Adults** - The couple notes that the skills they teach their children are equally necessary for adult Christians.
- 7 (18:51) **The Lie of Self-Defense** - How the belief that "I am my only defense" leads to sin and blocks trust in God as the ultimate defender.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Jackie and Preston are back with new episodes, and they’re kicking things off with a two-part conversation on the battlefield of the mind.
Our minds have a lot to say, all the time. What we think about – and ultimately what we believe because of those thoughts – will dictate the way we behave, communicate, and relate to one another.
What does it look like to “train” your mind and take every thought captive? How does trauma impact your thoughts and emotions? And what practical things can you do to guard your mind against the enemy?
Be sure to come back next week for part two!
Scripture references:
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
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With The Perrys is a podcast where biblical truth meets honest conversation. Join Preston Perry and Jackie Hill Perry as they discuss theology, relationships, parenting, culture, and the everyday realities of following Jesus. With humor, transparency, and a deep commitment to Scripture, each episode aims to point listeners back to Christ, deepen their understanding of God's Word, and encourage faithful obedience in every area of life.
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