Understanding the Heart
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Intro:
Intro:
Ex: Had a baby and became easily frustrated.
Old: If I don’t excel in my performance, it’s not ok. I need to be exceptional.
New: It is ok that if I am average; so long as I amdoing my best with what God has given me. I am God’s servant.
You ever wonder…
Why did that person do that? What were they thinking?
Why did I do that? What was I thinking.
Q&A
Q&A
Q: What is the “heart?”
Q: What is the “heart?”
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
A: The “heart” is the real, inner self.
Q: Why understand the heart?
Q: Why understand the heart?
A: Twofold:
To better understand yourself, and why you do what you do.
To better understand others, and why they do what they do.
Q: What does God want in our hearts?
Q: What does God want in our hearts?
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
A: God wants our hearts to be dominated by love for him and for others.
Three Problems with our Heart
Three Problems with our Heart
Selfishness - A stubborn, selfish foolishness (Hebrew.: ’ivveleth) Prov. 22:15
Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
Arrogance - We see ourselves as more important and demand more for ourselves than we are due (Hebrew: howleloth)
Damage - We are willing to do damage in order to prevent people from blocking our goals. (Hebrew: ra’) Eccl. 9:3
This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
How the Heart works:
How the Heart works:
People do what makes sense to them.
People do what makes sense to them.
Desires - Eccl. 6:2
a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.
Perspective - Prov. 23:7
For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
Values - Luke 16:15
He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.
Behavior - Prov. 4:23
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
People filter their desires through their perspective and values to come up with their behavior.
People filter their desires through their perspective and values to come up with their behavior.
Perspective: How a person think the world works.
How reality works.
Beliefs about what is real, right and true.
Value System: How a person ranks the relative importance of things in their life.
Ex. Personal goals, status, gratification, money, the goals of others, God, posessions, etc.
Can be shaped by…
Upbringing
Reference Group
Education
Media exposure
Personality type
Personal strengths and weaknesses
Life experiences
Life stage
Culture
Behavior flows out of your perspective and values.
Real life examples:
2 students who both have the same 2 desires: Get a good grade on their assignment; Relax and watch some reels.
One gets his assignment done first and then check IG.
The other never gets his HW done, but checks IG for 2 hours.
The good samaratin: Helped a man who was in need. It was risky, it cost him time, it cost him money. Socially, it was his enemy.
What does this show you about his perspective?
What does this show you about his value system?
Lasting behavior change will come from a change in perspective and value system.
Lasting behavior change will come from a change in perspective and value system.
Seek to align your perspective with God’s perspective.
Learning God’s Word.
Rejecting old beliefs.
Stopping the old habitial thought patterns and developing new ones based on what is true.
Ex: Had a baby and became easily frustrated.
Old: If I don’t excel in my performance, it’s not ok. I need to be exceptional.
New: It is ok that if I am average; so long as I amdoing my best with what God has given me. I am God’s servant.
Seek to align your value system with what God says.
We all need to rearrange our value system.
This is not simple.
Most Christians will tell you they love God. And I believe they do. The question is, “What do they love more?”
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
We are going on a journey to discover 7 biblical values that help you thrive.
These are biblical values that we call, “The Heart Attitudes.”
When a community lives in light of these values, it leads to harmony and success.
Friendships
Challenge
Church
Marriage
It all starts in the heart.
Invitation:
New Sermon Series at Challenge: The Heart Attitudes
Join us as we kick off a new series all about the heart! This week, we’ll be diving into what the Bible says about the “heart” – the real, inner self – and how understanding it can transform our relationships. Ever wonder why you or others act a certain way? Let’s explore what God wants for our hearts and how it can lead to thriving friendships, community, and more.
📖 We’ll introduce the seven biblical values called “The Heart Attitudes” that help you live in harmony with God and others.
🗓 Wednesday, October 16
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 Storm Hall 320, San Diego State University
Bring a friend and join us for this important series! #SDSUChallenge #HeartAttitudes #TransformYourHeart
