An Enemy Called Anger
Goals for this Week’s Study:
Review Pastor Daniel’s sermon from Sunday morning.
Help group members (especially new members) get to know one another.
- Share how God has been growing you through the next steps you have been taking!
Getting Started:
Open your group with prayer.
Ice Breaker: What are some pet peeves that you have? (Loud chewing, always being late, drivers not using their turn signals, etc.)
Scripture:
- “Be angry and do not sin. Don’t let the sun go down on your anger, and don’t give the devil an opportunity.” – Ephesians 4:26-27
- “Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.” – Ephesians 4:31-32
- “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light…” – Ephesians 5:8
Sermon Notes: Take time to let everyone share some of the notes they took or anything that stood out to them from the message. Use this time to get everyone in your group talking (a good tip for this situation would be to go around the room and have everyone share one thing that stuck out to them from Pastor Daniel’s sermon)! Keep in mind, not everyone may feel comfortable talking yet, so try your best to help assist them in any way you can!
Study Questions
- Have you ever been extremely angry with someone before? Why?
- Looking back at that moment, was it really worth it?
- Pastor Daniel stated that Anger is a secondary emotion, and that there is always a deeper issue of un-forgiveness. Do you think knowing this will change how you react when someone wrongs you? How?
- Pastor Daniel also shared that when we hold onto bitterness, we assume a debt-debtor relationship with that person. Is there someone in your life right now that you can cancel their “debt” today?
- What would look different in your life if you had no “debt” to anyone and no one had any “debt” owed to you?
- Pastor Daniel taught us that compassion looks past the person and into the pain that they’re going through. What is one way that we can gain a deeper sense of compassion for those around us this week?
- How can our Group help us pursue that this week?
Final Thoughts:
- Hurting people hurt people!
- Anger is based in truth but remains in a lie.
- The same devil that tempts you is the one who comes back to condemn you for it.
- Forgiveness is not for them, it’s for you!
- God would never ask you to forgive someone if He didn’t give you the power to do it!
Pray Over Your Group!
Pray over all prayer requests and the next steps that will be taken this week. Take a little extra time to pray for the unity of our country and for all who will be involved and affected by Operation Christmas Child!