The One Thing
Get wholly angry with unholy anger
The Passages
Proverbs 5:1, 12:16, 14:17, 15:18, 19:3, 19:11, 19:19, 22:24-25, 29:22, 16:32; Ephesians 5:26-27; Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 12:16-21; Matthew 5:44-45; Galatians 6:9; James 1:2-5
Questions for discussion / personal reflection
- Dan shared about totally losing it one day in the church building. Have you ever had a moment where you’ve lost it? What was the cause? How do you feel about that incident now?
Grow questions
- Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit (Proverbs 25:28 NASB) Picture this image of a wall-less city in your head. Then picture yourself when you are angry. Why does this verse compare the two?
- Read Ephesians 4:31. How many types of anger are mentioned? What are the differences between each type? Which type of anger is most like you? Read verse 30-31 – what is Paul’s advice for people who struggle with anger?
- Read Colossians 3:5-9. In these verses God’s anger and our anger are both mentioned? How does God’s anger encourage us to deal with our anger? Is this hypocritical of God? How does God’s anger differ from ours?
- Read Ephesians 4:26-27. How are we told to deal with anger here? What does “non-sinful” anger look like (think of Jesus or other examples in the New Testament)?
- How can we tell the difference between righteous anger and unholy anger in our own lives?
- Dan said that Satan takes what is a good thing (our God-given sense of justice) and weaponizes it against us as unholy anger. How does this knowledge change how you view unholy anger in your own life?
- Dan spoke about two ways that scripture gives us to deal with anger
- 1) face it / deal with it (Matthew 18:15-17). What is the goal of this approach (verse 15)?
- 2) forget it / let it go. Why is overlooking an offense our “glory” (Prov 19:11)? Look at the adverbs (always, never etc) in the verse. Why is Paul’s language so strong?
- Are there any wrongs / sins that fall outside of the face it / forget it categories? Are there times when we are allowed to respond in a different way?
- Satan weaponizes our sense of justice against us as unholy anger. How does Romans 12:20-21 and Matthew 5:44-45 teach us to weaponize Satan’s arsenal against him?
Show questions
- Think of one person you are angry with you can go all “Romans 12:20-21” on? Plan strategically how you are going to bless them in a practical way (it can be anonymous). Tell someone you trust about your plans for accountability’s sake.