Book Review: The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life

I am not a huge fan of books turned into movies. However, there are exceptions. When a movie is able to bring a character to life from a book I am more inclined to watch. Characters have to be more than one-dimensional. The same can be said in describing a biblical view of the heart. Many use the term heart, even within Christian circles, in a one-dimensional manner. They may inquire the confusing question, “Have you asked Jesus into your heart?” They may speak of the heart as the inner person. Yet, while the biblical view of the heart speaks of the inner person, to stop there in the description is to miss the complex nature of the heart. What we need is a multidimensional understanding of the heart. Pastor and Professor Jeremy Pierre gives us such a gift in his new book, The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life: Connecting Christ to Human Experience.

Written from a pastoral heart, Pierre sets out “to equip counselors, pastors, caretakers, or anyone else interested in helping people with a framework to understand human experience theologically—that is, as God designed it” (Pierre 9). The book is divided into three sections. Section 1 (chapters 1–5) covers how the heart dynamically responds, providing a three-dimensional biblical framework of the dynamic heart, the cognitive, affective, and volitional components . Section 2 (chapters 6–9) moves into examining what the heart dynamically responding to, observing the areas of God, self, others, and circumstances. Section 3 (chapters 10–13) brings the first two sections together to lay out a methodology for counseling, involving reading, reflecting, relating, and renewing.

This work by Dr. Jeremy Pierre fulfills its goal “to give a theological vision of how faith in Christ restores the dynamic human heart and a practical vision of how to help people join in on the process” (Pierre 5). The Dynamic Heart in Daily Life weaves biblical content into practical living contexts. Pierre equips counselors, pastors, and caretakers by clearly explaining the points he makes, by taking seriously the complexity of the subject, and by teaching a comprehensive understanding of the heart. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for any Christian who desires to be equipped in caring and counseling by grasping the complexities of the dynamic heart.

I received this book for free from New Growth Press via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and are my honest review of the book.