Hey all!
We're going to take a little break from the Bible today, and try to narrow down the definitions of some words. These words define the concepts that we're going to be talking about alot for the rest of the study.
Specifically, I want you to define the following words for me in the context of the things we are learning from the Word of God, as well as the meanings that are exemplified by your own life.
Nature
Will
Personality
Intellect
Emotion
Self-awareness
Self-determination
Wrestle with these words. Look them up in a dictionary. Consider them with the Word of God. Consider them within yourself. Then write down your thoughts, and make them easier for the rest of us to understand!
David "Bucker" Becker
We're going to take a little break from the Bible today, and try to narrow down the definitions of some words. These words define the concepts that we're going to be talking about alot for the rest of the study.
Specifically, I want you to define the following words for me in the context of the things we are learning from the Word of God, as well as the meanings that are exemplified by your own life.
Nature
Will
Personality
Intellect
Emotion
Self-awareness
Self-determination
Wrestle with these words. Look them up in a dictionary. Consider them with the Word of God. Consider them within yourself. Then write down your thoughts, and make them easier for the rest of us to understand!
David "Bucker" Becker
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10 comments:
Good again, XXX, but you are going big, instead of little.
For instance...
Can nature be defined in small words?
How about the rest of the words we're using...
Let me get you started thinking small...
Nature = Essence (Now tell me what essence means in as few words as possible)
Will = Desire (Now tell me what desire means in as few words as possible)
Personality = ?
Intellect = ?
Emotion = ?
Self-awareness = ?
Self-determination = ?
David "Bucker" Becker
Good job, XXX.
Now let's narrow it down further.
Everyone look at Jake's answers.
Now tell me the difference between your own nature, will , intellect, personality and emotions.
How can we connect these differences without it being difficult.
For instance... Let's start with nature and will..
What is the difference between your nature and your will?
Nature = Instincts or inherent tendencies
Will - Power of control with the mind over its actions
That's a good start of the definition. Now Lou, Jake and Becca tell me what the difference is between the instincts of nature, and the control of will that are within you.
When do you use one over the other? In other words, when do you use your instinct, and when do you use your mind in a given situation?
David "Bucker" Becker
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD XXX. Now your beginning to flow the direction I needed. The fault of the difficulty in understanding lies with your teacher's confusing instruction and not your own!
First, I want you all to know that there are very chaotic events happening today; I'm going to push as much as I can to at least get the difference between nature and will out today. If any of you are online, try to push on with me. Together, maybe we can overcome this attempt to stop the teaching today.
Nature is instinct. Nature is what we are born with. It is what God gives us.
It is also something that can be changed. But it is very, very, very difficult to change. Nature is the sum of the nature of man given from our birth, and the adjustments we make through our life experiences.
When we have experiences, we apply that to our core instincts, and it adds to our nature. Because nature is the essence of us, it touches us deeply...so deeply that everything we do is controlled by it.
If you guys understand Nature, give me an Amen out there. And answer me these questions...
How does each of our natures have exactly the same essence?
How does each of our natures vary in essence from the experience that have been applied?
How does the nature of man that you once possessed differ from the nature of Christ that you now carry within you?
(P.S. This is so important, that we are going to break them down one by one...when some of you answer these questions, I will move on)
David "Bucker" Becker
Okay, gang, I'm going to go just a little bit deeper. Stay with me.
I'm going to list some words, and I want you to tell me how our nature influences these decisions.
Choose to fight or flee in an emergency situation.
Choose to forgive or forget.
Choose to climb the mountain or lie down in the valley.
Choose to sing or cry.
David "Bucker" Becker
NATURE REACTS INSTINCTIVELY
WILL CHOOSES PURPOSEFULLY
How about those definitions? Does that make it more clear.
Let's see...
Taking those basic definitions, can you now tell me how each causes the action to be taken? (Here's a clue...both the nature and the will can direct action...but it is dependent upon something) What is that something that causes either the nature or the will to take action?
David "Bucker" Becker
Okay, we're going to play around with these two definitions for a little bit. I'm going to list different words, and next to the words I want you to tell me whether it is nature or will that causes you to take action. Each of us might differ, depending on that "something" that we are trying to discover...
NATURE REACTS INSTINCTIVELY
WILL CHOOSES PURPOSEFULLY
Jerking away after touching a hot stove
Praying fervently when in a tragic situation
Praying fervently to understand a new Bible Study
Running away from danger
Running toward danger
Standing in the midst of great danger
Forgiving
Faith
Singing
Climbing the spiritual mountain
Staying atop the spiritual mountain
Leaving the spiritual mountain
Loving your children
Loving your spouse
Loving others unrelated
Anger
Hope
Turning the other cheek
Laughing
Bravery
The path of life to walk
Career
Lifestyle
Okay, class...fiddle around with these for a little while. Using the two definitions up top, tell me which you use in each situation to determine action. You may offer an explanation if you wish.
David "Bucker" Becker
Wanted to share my things too! :yes:
NATURE REACTS INSTINCTIVELY
WILL CHOOSES PURPOSEFULLY
Jerking away after touching a hot stove - Nature
Praying fervently when in a tragic situation - Nature
Praying fervently to understand a new Bible Study - Nature
Running away from danger - Nature
Running toward danger - Will
Standing in the midst of great danger - Nature
Forgiving - Nature
Faith - Nature
Singing - Will
Climbing the spiritual mountain - Will
Staying atop the spiritual mountain - Nature
Leaving the spiritual mountain - Will
Loving your children - Will
Loving your spouse - Nature
Loving others unrelated - Will
Anger - Will
Hope - Nature
Turning the other cheek - Nature
Laughing - Will
Bravery - Nature
The path of life to walk - Nature (Once was will, but now has become nature)
Career - Will
Lifestyle - Nature
David "Bucker" Becker
That something is experience! PRACTICE makes our will become our nature! Sometimes. God willing.
Our nature is first given us by God. Experience allows that nature to be added upon.
Okay, now lets talk about the Nature of God and the Nature of Man.
NATURE REACTS INSTINCTIVELY
WILL CHOOSES PURPOSEFULLY[/b]
creation
omnipotence
sin
omniscience
righteousness
eternal
limited
infinite
ending
free
serving
all powerful
limited power
Exists everywhere
Exists somewhere
Rules Time
Obeys Time
Now takes these different natures that I have listed, and tell me whether they belong to God or man.
David "Bucker" Becker
Okay, I have another emergency I have to go to...
While I am gone, I want you to figure out the Wills of God and Man.
Make me a list of the differences, and I will comment when I get home.
Becca and I are in a little bit of danger, and can sure use your prayers. A evil and worldly man is dying, and his wife has frantically called us for help, after he was involved in an accident. We're walking in the midst of danger. Please pray for us.
We'll talk again when we get back.
David "Bucker" Becker
Hey all! We made it and we survived!
Why did we go? This guy is as evil as they get, and his wife has endured his torture for years. She is not of Christ, will probably never be of Christ, and I suspect personally that she is a witch. The whole time we were with her, Becca kept sneaking kisses with me, when no one was looking. I asked her what she was up to...she whispered that she thought the lady might turn her into a frog, but if she kept kissing me it would be okay. I thought I would fall on the floor in laughter right then, cept the lady came up behind us and I had to act dignified and all that. The next chance I got though, I made Becca promise that if she got changed into a frog, and I kissed her, that she wouldn't change into a prince. EEEEECK! Unlike the other guys on this forum, I LOVE WOMEN! :jaw-dropping: Just joshing, guys! :yes:
Okay, back to the lesson. So why did Becca and I go when this evil man's wife summoned us? Isn't it weird how they make fun of the Christians until dying is imminent, then all of the sudden, we ain't so bad. Oh yeah...back to the lesson.
It is simple. It is in our nature. We don't choose to go, and God did not choose for us to go. We did no witnessing, and there will never be witnessing done. In fact, we comforted and drove a pretty good distance and even bought supper without one thanks. So what was gained? Nothing. Never will be. Yet we go.
It is in our nature. We have become what Christ has taught us to be. We took that good Samaritan parable to heart, and applied it to the nature of Christ within us, and recalled the times we were hurting and no one would stop and help...and all of that mixed up together over and over and over until it became our nature.
Now, when someone asks us for our help, we help, because it is our nature. We have no choice. If we could choose, like in this case, we would choose not to go. Nothing of God's glory would shine through, and no purpose would result. Yet, it is not a choice for us because it is an instinctive reaction that happens without our thoughts or plans.
I'm so glad you joined us XXX, and I am so glad that all of you are getting the difference between nature and will. I encourage all of you to make a chart of each others replies, and look at the differences between us. Tomorrow, I think I want to discuss some of those differences in nature and will, and decide why some are one way in some and another in others. Those differences matter, and define our Christian walk.
Our nature and our will are two important parts of our makeup, and we need to start recognizing their meanings. Then when we move on to the old guys in the coming weeks, these differences are going to matter alot, as we start learning the deep things of the nature of Christ, God, man and us. I can't wait.
So tomorrow, lets take one more day to discuss nature and will things, and then we'll move on to the other parts.
Thanks everyone for your participation! :grouphug:
David "Bucker" Becker
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