BEHOLDING HIS GLORY | Lesson 6 — The Journey Into Intimacy

Lesson Summary Lesson 6 — The Journey Into Intimacy: The Spirit, the Heart, and the Inner Life 1. Introduction: Contemplation as Intimacy With God The Spirit as the agent of intimacy The heart as the place of divine-human communion The inner life as the new Temple The biblical journey of desire and encounter The voices of early Christian teachers on the heart as sacred space A guided exercise in opening the heart to Christ 2. The Heart in Second Temple Judaism The heart as the center of the person, the seat of loyalty, home of desire, and organ of spiritual perception 3. The Spirit: The One Who Forms the Heart The Holy Spirit's role in intimacy and forming the heart into a Temple The Spirit revealing Christ within 4. The Heart as the New Inner Sanctuary Comparison of God dwelling in the Old Testament Tabernacle and in the heart in the New Covenant 5. Biblical Images of Intimacy and the Heart Stories like Moses' radiant face, Elijah's whisper, David's gaze, and more 6. Jesus’ Teaching on Intimacy: John 15 Key teachings on abiding, love, and friendship as outcomes of intimacy 7. Paul’s Teachings on Intimacy and the Heart Verses emphasizing union, transformation, and Christ living within 8. Early Christian Teachers on Interior Communion Views on the heart as sacred space, Spirit as fire, Christ as light, and union as transformation 9. Common Obstacles to Intimacy Self-will, shame, fear, distraction, woundedness, and misunderstanding God's character 10. The Spirit’s Work: Softening, Unveiling, Filling Roles of the Spirit in softening the heart, unveiling Christ, and filling the inner being 11. Guided Contemplative Exercise: Opening the Heart to Christ Steps for cultivating intimacy through Spirit-enabled presence 12. Reflection Questions Questions about understanding the heart, softening/healing, obstacles to intimacy, resonating biblical images, and daily practices 13. Conclusion: The Inner Journey of Divine Intimacy Christian contemplation as an inward journey into Christ, facilitated by the Spirit