The God-Shaped Heart: How Correctly Understanding God's Love Transforms Us

Dr Timothy Jennings writes so beautifully that I know many will find their faith renewed and their behavior corrected after reading this book.

This is Dr. Jennings' best book yet, although they have all been written with incredible insight when it comes to the heart of God. The author convincingly explains what have always seemed to me to be major contradictions in the bible. If "God is love," how could He say and do so many unloving things to people? Now, I understand! As a result, my faith in our Creator God has been greatly strengthened and I have found a deeper sense of peace that can only come from knowing God and understanding His plan for us and what otherwise would be a crazy, mixed-up world. I also highly recommend the author's weekly bible studies, provided through Come and Reason Ministries. They are based on weekly teachings offered by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but they are presented in a non-denominational way. Christians who have a scientific mind will especially appreciate Jennings' approach to knowing God, since it is based equally on the bible, science/nature, and experience. God and the Universe do make sense!

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Jennings gives a powerful argument against punitive views of God's law and gospel. He shows that God's law (design law) and the gospel are not rooted in fear of punishment by an angry God. God's law and the gospel are rooted, instead, in God's immense and self giving love for humanity.This book has changed my thoughts about God and exposed some punitive views of God that I learned from a Christian culture which has widely accepted the belief that God is an angry rule keeper. I now know that God always acts in self giving love and indeed He would rather die, as He did on the cross for us, than to impose punitive laws on us.I felt his presentation of God's law in the OT as a "dramatic play" did not convey the seriousness of God's law in the OT well, though the symbolism of the law helped explain how it was meant to foreshadow Christ's sacrifice for humanity. One important reference in the section on sexuality was not available and source may have been biased.Over all I highly recommend this book for anyone who struggles with a view of God as one who punishes harshly when his rules are broken. I invite them to see that God is more concerned with lovingly restoring His children from sin in their hearts so they will be mature in love and at peace with God.

Dr. Jennings' book, The God-Shaped Heart, is thoughtful, insightful and written with clarity and conviction. It has helped to change my view of Christianity as it's conceived and practiced by the majority of Christians, and has enlightened my conception of God and His dealings with mankind. Jennings' professionalism as a psychologist and psychiatrist come through loud and clear, and his theology is right on target even though it's not conventional. My only disagreement with the book are the sections that touch on economics and public policy. For example, his view of redistribution of wealth as a government solution to income and wealth inequality is simplistic. It appears that his view is that all income redistribution is from the wealthy to the poor, which is likely to contribute to resentment and anger on the part of the wealthy and to complacency and dependence and even laziness on the part of the poor. That is not the case. It can be shown that the bulk of the redistribution during the last few decades has been from the working class to the very rich. A serious review of the recent tax legislation proposed by the current administration would show this to be true. There are numerous examples that demonstrate that fiscal and monetary policy, the unjust criminal justice system, housing legislation and a host of interventions by the government that interfere with our "free enterprise system" are repressive on the working class, leaving the working class holding the bag and bearing the brunt economically.

This is the most accurate diagnostic tool of how we view God that I’ve ever come across! We do NOT see God in the correct way in our western world! Everyone needs to read this book before they read anything else!I did not agree with all of his views and physically ‘laying down your life for someone’ as Godly love, since Godly love can ONLY come from the Holy Spirit and if you don’t have the Holy Spirit, you simply cannot possess and produce Godly love!

I just finished reading the God Shaped Heart by Dr. Jennings. The book is full of stories from Dr. Jennings experience as a Christian Psychiatrist showing how misunderstandings about God damage people and relationships. The book presents the idea that God the creator of the human brain, wants us to think intelligently about him and how life works. Dr. Jennings points out the Bible tells us it is in harmony with our experience and nature. For our experience comes from our interaction with nature, God’s other book which also reveals his character. The book reveals how God tells us through scripture he wants us to know and love him and how many of the teachings about God keep us from knowing God. It is an excellent book and will provide many thoughts worth pondering. I expect thoughtfully reading this book to enrich your life in many ways.

This book confirmed what I have come to believe about God. So many times I had to stop reading and share, or stop reading and worship. Dr Jennings was sent to us by God!

I'm utterly in love with this book. I have actually recommended it to two friends already and can't wait to not only put it into practice but share to the whole world.Book of excellence. Totally worth reading.

Many Christians have a poor view of who Good is and what He is doing for us. This book held is to understand the deepest meaning of God's love and plan to save His children from the lie Satan spread.

I have read all of Dr. Jennings books and have not been disappointed. The God Shaped Heart is a must read for all people, Christian or non Christian. This book opens your understanding of God to a level of ture peace and joy. No more fear as in fear God or he will punish you. Finally truth that really sets you free. 1 John 4: 7-8 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. Thank you Dr. Jennings and Come and Reason Ministries.

I have been thrilled by the truths presented in this publication. Praise God for this book. I highly recommend it

I enjoyed this book and found it beneficial as it made me think a little deeper about different things throughout it.