Discussion Group Questions
July 24, 2016
Dealing with Anger
In other words, our hearts in their natural sinful state will continually tend toward bitterness.
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Stages of bitterness: Disdain Coldness Irritation
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Avoidance Gossip Detachment
1. It’s important to know yourself
2. If you know yourself well, you will put yourself in community
The first thing this teaching is telling us is that we need self awareness. We need to know ourselves well enough to understand how damaging our anger can be and to know what to do with it.
We all long for community, but community is hard work – it is a discipline that requires the denial of self. The story of Ulysses and the Sirens is an example.
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. (Ephesians 4:26)
The Sirens are mythical creatures that are depicted as beautiful winged singers. In order to lure men from onto their island, the Sirens would sing beautiful songs. If a man fell for the tempting song then they would most likely experience tragedy or death. These Sirens are the embodiment of temptation. In order to defeat the Sirens, Ulysses tells his men to tie him to the ship’s cast. Before sailing in the Siren’s territory Ulysses tells his men to plug their ears with wax so they could not hear his pleas.
Anger in itself is not sin, it is anger that leads to something else that is sin. When anger leads to bitterness it is full grown. a. Bitterness is poison b. The root of bitterness is disdain c. Disdain is caused by pride
1 LISTEN AND WATCH
www.councilroad.org/watch
Follow Us 2900 N. Council Road • Bethany, OK 73008 www.councilroad.org
Discussion Group Questions
July 24, 2016
In other words, in preparation for the temptation ahead, he relied upon the people who were around him. Biblical community is similar in that we plan ahead for the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3 says
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32) Do you remember that Jesus told Peter “Forgive seven times seventy”? As followers of Jesus, we are to live in constant awareness of our own forgiveness. Jesus told Simon the Leper: “He who has been forgiven much loves much”
12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:12-13) The more we are aware of our forgiveness in Christ, the more habitually forgiving we will be. 3. Relationships are in constant need of repair Definition of forgiveness : the give up the right to “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and see repayment. To forgive is to say I don’t need to there remember that your brother or sister has something see repayment. against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer Discussion Questions: your gift. 1. Why is it important to know yourself? Think of how outlandish this must have sounded: To go to an alter the Israelite would in most cases make 2. What does anger do to the human heart? elaborate preparations and sometimes would travel for 3. Why is it important to be in community? days. He was making the point that we are to go to the 4. Why do relationships need constant repair? extreme to maintain and repair our relationships. 5. How do we forgive?
The path to repair is repentance and forgiveness. To stay in community we all have to be good at relationship repair because relationships are constantly falling apart.
6. Why do we forgive?
To repent is to change your behavior. To forgive is to let go of desire to get back. The more you understand the gospel the less you stay angry at people. What is the gospel? I am more forgiven than I deserve. 2 LISTEN AND WATCH
www.councilroad.org/watch
Follow Us 2900 N. Council Road • Bethany, OK 73008 www.councilroad.org
