Theology of Human Experience: A Framework for Understanding PTS Jeremy Pierre – Thurs 12, 2:45-3:45pm

Introductory Thoughts: The Image of God as Responders in Context

1. God made our hearts to respond dynamically to our context. Helping people understand the responses of their heart is an important part of connecting their experience to Christ.

The2Dynamic2Heart: Cognition - The Thinking Heart Functions • Cognition is the ability to think, to acquire knowledge, to process information, to believe certain propositions as true, and to interpret new information based on those beliefs. 1 Cognitive: Affective: Thinking,(Knowing,( • The refers to cognitive activity in the heart. Desiring,(Valuing,( Believing,(Reasoning,( Feeling,(Emoting! • What people believe about the world determines how Remembering,(Interpreting they interpret new information they receive as they live in it.

Volitional: Willing,(Deciding,( Affection - The Feeling Heart Intending,(Committing,( § Strong desires and emotions motivate people. Acting § The Bible attributes emotions to the heart.2 § What people desire from the world determines how All Functions they feel in various situations. Interrelated & Overlapping Volition - The Intentional Heart © Jeremy P. Pierre, 2013 § The heart’s intentions drive a person’s actions. § The Bible refers to the heart as the place of intentions and choices. 3 § What people are committed to in their hearts determines their choices.

The Integrated, Worshipping Heart People were made to worship God with all their heart—the full breadth of their internal experience and external conduct.

1 Examples include: Genesis 17:17; Genesis 24:45; Deuteronomy 15:9; 1 Kings 3:12; 1 Kings 4;29; Psalms 139:12; 4:14; :4, par. Mark 2:8, Luke 5:22; :47; Mark 8:17; Romans 10:6; 1 Corinthians 2:9, par. Isaiah 64:4; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 4:18 2Examples include: Deuteronomy 28:47; Judges 19:9; 2 Samuel 13:28; Zechariah 10:7; Job 29:13; Psalm 45:1; Deuteronomy 15:10; Nehemiah 2:2; Psalm 34:18; Psalm 38:10; Psalm 55:4; Psalm 73:24, Proverbs 14:13; Lamentations 1:20; Isaiah 15:5; Isaiah 65:14; Jeremiah 4:19; 1 Samuel 9:20; 1 Samuel 25:25; Hosea 11:8; Deuteronomy 19:6; Psalm 20:4; Psalm 21:2; Psalm 35:25; Psalm 37:4; Psalm 40:8, Proverbs 6:25; Proverbs 13:12; Numbers 15:39; 1 Samuel 23:20; 2 Samuel 3:21; 2 Chronicles 15:5; Job 17:11; Job 31:7; Ecclesiastes 2:10;:28; :21, par. Luke 12:34; Luke 24:32; John 14:1, 27; John 16:6; John 16:22; Luke 2:26; Luke 2:46; Luke 7:54; Luke 14:17; Luke 21:13; Romans 1:24; Romans 9:2; Romans 10:1; 2 Corinthians 2:4; 2 Corinthians 3:2; 2 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 7:3; 2 Corinthians 8:16; Philippians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:17; Philippians 4:7; Colossians 3:15–16. 3 Examples include: 1 Samuel 2:35; 1 Kings 8:17; Jeremiah 23:20; Isaiah 10:7; 1 Chronicles 22:19; Ezra 7:10; Daniel 1:8; Jeremiah 7:31; Exodus 36:2; Numbers 16:28; Psalm 9:1; Psalm 86:12; Psalm 111:1; Psalm 119:2, 10, 34, 68, 145; Isaiah 38:3; Jeremiah 3:10; Jeremiah 24:7; Matthew 5:28; :8, Mark 7:6, par Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:18–19;Matthew 18:35; John 13:2; Acts 5:3-4; Acts 7:39; Acts 8:22; Romans 2:5; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 7:37; Ephesians 6:5, par. Colossians 3:22.

2. A heart’s dynamic response is conditioned by surrounding context. Helping people understand how the active response of their hearts are influenced by their context is an important part of connecting their experience to Christ.

Passive Active External Dynamic Dynamic Conditions Effects Response

External Conditions: the contextual factors that create an ideal state for particular internal responses

Passive Dynamic Effects: the imprint that external conditions make on the heart’s beliefs, values, and intentions

Active Dynamic Responses: the spiritual activity of a moral agent, determined by the individual to some varying degree of awareness