Most people would agree that followers of Jesus should act differently than the rest of the world, but when it comes to anger, rage, and abuse, we may look exactly the same. Find out why these sins are tearing apart church relationships today and the very simple, but difficult solution to reflecting Christ in our interactions. On Sunday, we conclude The Flip-Side Series with “Developing Gentleness.”
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MESSAGE STUDY NOTES
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WARM UP
Would you describe your temperament as more Bugs Bunny or Yosemite Sam? Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck? Why?
SCRIPTURES USED
Colossians 3:8-9; I Corinthians 5:9-11; I Peter 2:23; Ephesians 4:26-27; James 1:19-20; John 13:34-35
Sin Lists:
Proverbs 6:16-19; Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21-23; Romans 1:29-32;
I Corinthians 5:10-11, 6:9-10; II Corinthians 12:20-21; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 5:3-5; Colossians :5, 8-9; I Timothy 1:9-11; I Peter 2:1, 4:3; Revelation 21:8, 22:15
MESSAGE POINTS
Anger = Greek: thymos “intensely, boiling-over expression of passion or fierce anger”
Rage = Greek: orgee “long-term, settled, abiding hostility”
Abuse = Greek: loidoros “put-downs, insults, mocking, poking fun of, name-calling”
GENERAL QUESTIONS
1. Which of these three sins do you most consider under the lordship of Christ? Why?
2. Which of these three sins do you believe needs the most help from God to overcome? Why?
3. Which of these three sins do you most commonly see in church settings? Why?
APPLICATION QUESTION
If the solution to these three sins is telling each other the truth in confession, what setting for Christians do you think is best for this activity? Why? Do you see a lot of truth-telling among church people?
MENTORING QUESTION
If you were mentoring a person who struggled with anger, rage, or abuse, how would you counsel them as a brother or sister in Christ?
