Changin g Minds Changin g Lives Family Worship Center Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer, Ph.D.

Acts 17:22-31

Part One: The Location For Change

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart so is he.

The Human Brain

Brain Functions

The Reticular Activating System RAS from the Reticular Formation

The brain- Mystery of matter and mind, US News Books, "Gatekeeper to consciousness, spark of the mind, the reticular formation connects with major nerves in the spinal column and brain. It sorts the 100 million impulses that assault the brain each second, deflecting the trivial, letting the vital through to alert the mind. The mind cannot function without this catalytic bundle of cells. Damage to them results in coma - the loss of consciousness."

So here is Bruner's “inhibitory system,” the centralized, indefatigable, quintessential sentinel and manager of the brain, the Reticular Activating System (or what theologians should recognize as the “heart”), as it says in the illustration above, “deflecting the trivial, letting the vital through to alert the mind.” LeDoux, Joseph, Synaptic Self: How Our Brains Become Who We Are Penguin Books 2003

…the RAS will only allow you to perceive accurately those things that satisfy ALL THREE criteria: 1. “Is it my responsibility?” 2. “Is it important?” 3. “Does it match my version of the truth?” God in your goals, Rick Seymour.

Part Two: Changing Your Mind

The Greek word for “repentance” is metanoevw (metanoeo), which means to “change your mind.”

So when God tells you to repent He’s telling you to change the way you think about something so you change the actions that result from your thinking.

How to Change Your Life Accept appropriate responsibility Define what is important Distinguish and deepen your beliefs

Part Three: Changing Minds Changing Lives

To Change Others… You must lead them to Accept appropriate responsibility You must relate to what is important to them They must Distinguish and deepen their beliefs

Distinguishi ng and deepening beliefs

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Relating to and Defining What Is Important

Leading People to Accept Appropriate Responsibili ty

Your mission… Changing minds Changing lives… with love