This month, we’ll be going over the sermon “Anger and the Mess Along the Way” from the Ephesians Series. The sermon discusses how anger is a response to some kind of pain. Anger is not the problem. The problem is the problem. The goal for Friday is to get behind the anger and to healthily deal with anger when we feel it arising so that we do not sin.
For a more thorough summary of the sermon, click here.
“In your anger, do not sin…”
(I) What is a recent incident where you felt really angry?
(T1) Why did you feel angry in this situation and what was your response to it? Circle any of the following you were feeling: denied, dismissed, disadvantaged, delayed, disrespected, damaged, danger.
(T2) Why do you think you think you felt this way? What pain was behind your anger?
Ways we respond poorly to anger:
I repressed and suppressed my anger (Avoiding Pain).
I dumped anger on a loved one (Sharing Pain).
I created a monster out of someone (Killing Pain).
I nagged the heck out of someone (Controlling Pain).
(T3) Which of the below do you feel like you’re good at? Which do you struggle with?
Taking ownership of my feelings rather than being controlled by them.
Giving anger an outlet instead of repressing and suppressing it.
Facing the problem head on rather than dumping it on someone.
Imagining someone at their best instead of creating a monster out of them.
Letting go of control by forgiving them instead of nagging them.
Pray.
Bring your anger before God and invite the Holy Spirit. Once you have laid this before the Lord, take a pillow and shout into it. Yell whatever you want to say and cuss at it. This provides a cathartic expression to purge whatever is in your heart. A sense of compassion generally replaces the anger, allowing you to pray for that person. It also prevents you from slandering and dumping it on innocent bystanders.
Share and Reflect
In groups of 2-4, share what this experience was like for you. Close the time praying for one another.