Introductory Questions For This Class Series:

The following questions are representative of the type of questions which this series of lessons will be addressing.

What makes a person tick?

Where do many problems come from? Are we responsible for the type of problems we have?

If you follow God's leading on how to live life, will you miss out on something good?

How can I control my anger? Why do I feel so angry?

Is there any solution for a couple who fights over money? If yes, what are the tools which can help?

What did God intend for human life to be like? Can we know what God intended? What has God done toward making the life He intended for us a reality?

What is the best way to live life? How do you know this?

When someone becomes swamped with crises and problems, how can the problems which are resolvable be solved? What could have prevented them? How can I help someone who is willing to be helped?

How important is it to know scripture for daily living? To what degree will scripture impact our lives if we follow its teachings?  

This lesson tries to construct a model which explains how people work. If the model is accurate and biblical, then both the importance of scriptural teaching upon the elements of the model will be abundantly clear and the model will suggest how to live deliberately for Christ.

To illustrate these principles I could have used any secular story, but since this is a Bible class let's look at some Biblical stories to illustrate these principles. A side note regarding biblical interpretation needs to be made clear. I am not claiming that the following scriptural references were intended to teach us about a model that accurately describes how people function, rather - they can serve to illustrate these truths.

A. Draw a large circle. This circle represents our body and how we use it to express behavior and attitudinal expressions. List Saul's behavior. What did he do? What attitudes did Saul express through his body?

1. 1 Samuel 18:6-9 Feelings of anger expressed itself in his voice, eyes, etc. Looked at David jealously. How might he have done this with his body? Based upon what this text tells us, what would you have seen if you would have been there?

2. 1 Samuel 18:12-17, 20-21, 25 Describe his conversations with David and the type of messages he had sent to David. Was Saul trying to obtain something? What? Eliminate David! Why? David was a threat! A threat to what?

 B. Add to this circle an arrow and a box. This box represents the goal of Saul's behavior, that is the need which Saul felt he needed to have filled. It may be that what a person is striving to reach a goal which they may not actually need. What matters here is Saul's perception of what he thought that he needed.

Although it may not be immediately obvious what the goal is, all of our behavior is trying to achieve something (pleasure, material things, security, significance, protection from danger, from memories, from disturbing thoughts,etc.)

1. What was Saul trying to accomplish? Protect his kingdom from David

2. What need was Saul trying to fulfill by protecting his kingdom from David? Ensure his security and his lineage.

3. Would it be accurate to say Saul's behavior and attitudes were motivated from his desire to obtain something?

 

 C. Add within the circle another circle: This inner circle represents the heart with its feelings, values, wants & motivation.

1. What did Saul value that lead to his behavior and attitudes toward David? He wanted to maintain his power and establish his kingdom. 1 Samuel 18:8; 20:31-32

2. Through what other behavioral means did Saul's desire to achieve the goal of meeting his needs manifest itself? 1 Samuel 18:11, 17, 20-22, 24-25

D. Draw a third circle within the two previous ones. This circle represents the mind with its beliefs/ knowledge.

1. The situation with Saul

a) Saul believed that David posed a threat to his security (David would take the kingdom from him) and significance (Saul would not be the head of a kingly lineage). This created the desire and motivation to have him eliminated causing him to throw a spear, and engage in scheming conversations.

b) Why was David a threat to his power? Was David a genuine threat?

1) He correctly knew/ believed that the Lord was with him. 1 Samuel 15:23,28; 18:14-15, 28-29

2) He believed that his son's kingdom would not be established as long as David was alive. 1 Samuel 20:30-31

3) But David was not a physical threat to his life. 1 Samuel 24:4-13

2. John 11:47-48, 53 Describe to me the behavioral responses of these leaders

a) What did these leaders do? Met together to plan & plotted.

b) Why did they plot together to kill Jesus?

c) What did they value? Power, position, status quo

d) What beliefs empowered their motivation and behavior?

(1) Believed Romans take away power and position.

(2) Believed they would be OK, if they could maintain control of their position.

(3) Believed Jesus was undermining the status quo.

e) What need(s) were they trying to meet?

What we end up with is a diagram that identifies the source of our values, behavior and goals. The power of this model in describing what makes people tick and its congruence with what the scripture teaches about human life will become even more evident in future lessons.

Whatever the mind believes creates the feelings and values of the heart which causes internal pressure to be expressed through the attitudes, behavior and language of the body. Fundamentally, the direction of a person's life is focused toward trying to take a path which he believes will provide meaning and security.

How can the following stories be analyzed using this method?

1. Ananias and Saphira Acts 4:34-5:11

a) What body, heart and mind elements of this couple does the text reveal?

b) What did they do?

c) What were they apparently wanting?

d) What did they seem to believe that this would give them?

e) Why would anybody want this?

f) What need do they seem to have been seeking to fulfill?

2. Peter and John before the Sanhedrin Acts 4:1-22

a) What body, heart and mind elements of this couple does the text reveal?

b) What did they do?

c) What were they apparently wanting?

d) What did they seem to believe that this would give them?

e) Why would anybody want this?

f) What need do they seem to have been seeking to fulfill?

3. What other biblical stories can you think of which provide enough detail about someone's body, heart and mind to construct a clear picture?

4. How well does this model explain modern life?

a) Where would temptation fall on this model?

b) How well does this model explain the source of temptation?

c) Why do teenagers like (want) certain brand-name clothing? What do they believe about these brand names? What need are they trying to fulfill?

d) If someone wanted to alter their behavior, what does this model suggest needs to be done?

The next class in this series is: Does Just Knowing What is Right Produce Doing Right?

Barry Newton, Copyright © 2000

Reading Room

Home Page