Understanding the Bible: Head and Heart provides readers a forum for more fully comprehending the Bible. Each book of the Bible tells a story that relates to the larger story, and to understand each book’s story, it is important to understand the larger story, and vice versa. To do so, however, entails a careful reading of the entire Bible, grasping both the fact of the story and the spirit of the story. Understanding the Bible: Head and Heart provides prose summaries for helping the reader to understand and remember the fact of the story and poetic summaries for helping the reader to experience the story and thereby to more readily ingest its spirit. Since Understanding the Bible: Head and Heart would be lengthy under one cover, it is divided into three parts. Part One addresses the Old Testament, Part Two addresses Matthew through Acts, and Part Three—this publication—addresses Romans through Revelation.

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The Bible reveals glorious things. And yet we often miss its power because we read it the same way we read any other book. In Reading the Bible Supernaturally, best-selling author John Piper teaches us how to read the Bible in light of its divine author. In doing so, he highlights the Bible's unique ability to reveal God to humanity in a way that informs our minds, transforms our hearts, and ignites our love. With insights into the biblical text drawn from decades of experience studying, preaching, and teaching Scripture, Piper helps us experience the transformative power of God's Word—a power that extends beyond the mere words on the page. Ultimately, Piper shows us that in the seemingly ordinary act of reading the Bible, something supernatural happens: we encounter the living God.

ARE YOU BRAIN WASHED? This question has always had a negative connotation, but within this Bible Study Guide you will learn the importance of having your brain washed! Life is full of experiences that are stored in our brains that are a filter for how we see ourselves, the world we live in, our relationship with others, and most importantly how we see God! Scientists have discovered that we actually have two brains: the brain in our heads (the cranial brain-learn and remember), and the brain in our hearts (sense and feel). According to research, the brain in the head is connected to the brain in the heart. The two brains send messages to each other through thousands of neurons and tiny filaments, but the messages don't necessarily coincide. The Bible says in Proverbs 23:7 that as a man "thinks in his heart," so is he. So, the truth in God's Word needs to work its way down (18 inches) from the brain in our head to the brain in our heart so that we can experience its life changing power. Included with the Bible Study Guide is a welcome video which you can view on MariaDurso.com. This study has been designed for individual use as well as applying it to a Small Group.Maria Durso is living proof that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Having come from a childhood devastated by loss and abuse she grew up to thinking she could mask her pain with drugs. Her lifestyle could have left her hopeless and alone-yet God kept and preserved Maria's life. Understanding firsthand the effects of abandonment, loneliness and rejection, she ministers to those whose hurt lies deep in the heart and works to minister to those who need hope. Armed with discernment, insight into the true character of God, honest about her own experience, and down to earth, Maria is an intercessor, teacher and powerful speaker. In 1975, immediately following the first most important walk Maria would ever take down a church aisle Maria took her second most important walk down the aisle and married her life-long love, Michael Durso. God continues to open doors for her to minister in conferences, seminars and retreats. Connect with Maria Durso at www.mariadurso.com.This study has been designed for individual use as well as applying it to a Small Group. To assist you in your study, the Bible Study Guide includes questions entitled Thoughts from the Heart at the end of each lesson. These exercises will hopefully challenge you to study further and apply God's Word to your personal life. In addition, there are Questions for Small Group Discussion, which are formulated to get your Small Group talking about the key issues in each lesson.Let's start to take the eighteen-inch journey from your head down into the deep valley of your heart, so you can slay the giants that are defying God's promises and blocking your blessings!

Make the Connection. The change you long for is just 18 inches away! Have you ever declared in frustration that your head knows what to do but your heart won't agree? The truth is, although the head and heart are only eighteen inches from each other, most of us spend our entire lives trying to make a genuine connection between what we profess to believe in our heads and what we actually believe in our hearts. We believe that God loves us, but our hearts still cling to lies from our past—lies from society, our families and friends, and the enemy of our souls. Don't allow these voices to keep you trapped any longer. “From Your Head to Your Heart” exposes how your negative thought patterns can keep you from the future God wants for you and reveals the secrets to achieve the long-term transformation desired by many, yet missed by most. With powerful examples from the Bible and redeeming stories from the author's own testimony involving abandonment, loneliness, rejection, and drug use, this book will give you the keys to access the power in God's Word. Begin the renewing journey from your head to your heart today.Forward written by Jim Cymbala with Endorsements from Bill Hybels, Chris Hodges, Nancy Alcorn and many more.“The heart and soul of the Christian life is learning to hear God's voice and then developing the courage to do what he asks us to do. “From Your Head to Your Heart” must be added to your life and library. If leaders aren't leading with their heads and hearts, the local church will never reach its full redemptive potential. Well done Maria Durso! This book will be a lifeline for so many people.” —Bill Hybels, Founding and Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church“With honesty, wisdom, and encouragement, Maria Durso helps readers draw closer to God as they seek to know him and not simple knot about Him. From Your Head to Your Heart offers biblical wisdom and practical suggestions for connecting your mind and your heart with your faith. I recommend it for anyone wanting to experience more of God's power in their lives.” —Chris Hodges, Pastor of Church of the Highlands“In my travels over the years in ministry I have seen many people who have a “head relationship” “with the Lord, but not a close personal “heart relationship” with Him. From Your Head to Your Heart explores the depths of having an intimate walk with Jesus that will transform every part of your life and bring about a whole new level of victory and freedom!” —Nancy Alcorn, Founder and President of Mercy Ministries

Understanding the Bible: Head and Heart provides readers a forum for more fully comprehending the Bible. Each book of the Bible tells a story that relates to the larger story, and to understand each book's story it is important to understand the larger story, and vice versa. To do so, however, entails a careful reading of the entire Bible, grasping both the fact of the story and the spirit of the story. Understanding the Bible: Head and Heart provides prose summaries for helping the reader to understand and remember the fact of the story, and poetic summaries for helping the reader to experience the story and thereby to more readily ingest its spirit. Since Understanding the Bible: Head and Heart would be a bit lengthy under one cover, it is divided into three parts: Part One addresses The Old Testament, Part Two addresses Matthew through Acts, and Part Three addresses Romans through Revelation. This publication is Part Two. Part Three is forthcoming. Bob Dowell, English professor, retired from the University of Texas-Pan American in 1999 in order to devote full time to a project conceived while teaching his favorite course: "The Bible as Literature." He envisioned developing a forum in which readers could readily engage in a head and heart understanding of the Bible. For a decade he worked on the project all the while piloting his production through a church sponsored bible study: "Back to the Bible with Dr. Bob." The success of that study spoke convincingly to the efficacy of publishing the materials for purposes of reaching a wider audience. Thus, Dr. Bob's vision becomes a reality in the publication of Understanding the Bible: Head and Heart. Fittingly, his first publication as a professor is an article in College English (1965) entitled "The Moment of Grace in the Fiction of Flannery O'Connor."