The Bridge Church

Ephesians 4:26
Be angry and do not sin...

Thumos: the anger that is fiery, an outburst, but quickly goes away.

Orge: agitated, boiling anger

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:

I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
https://thebridgevenice.churchcenter.com/people/forms/500390

I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism

I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point

I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve

I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups

Dig Deeper:
1. Imagine being a disciple of Jesus while Jesus was on earth. How would His words be heard differently then vs. now? How would they be the same?
2. Why is it important to read the Bible in the same way Jesus read the scriptures during His time on earth? What does it lead to if we don’t?
3. Read Matthew 5:17-18. What does it mean to abolish? What does it mean to fulfill? How does Jesus fulfill the law but, at the same time, not destroy the law?
4. Read John 5:39. Where is eternal life found? How does this passage of scripture affirm what Jesus says in Matthew 5:17?
5. Read Matthew 5:19-20. Is it possible for the original audience, or for us today, to know, remember, and do all that the law commands? Why not? What is Jesus saying instead?
6. Read Matthew 5:21. What commandment is Jesus referring to in this passage? Would people in the crowd listening to Jesus know automatically what he is referring to?
7. Read Matthew 5:22. Would this be shocking to the original audience, in relation to the command not to murder? If so, why?
8. Why is Jesus focused not just on the command, but what’s at the heart of the command? How is anger like a murder taking place in the heart?
9. How can anger be an emotional response? When anger originates from an emotional response, what is it usually linked to?
10. Read Ephesians 4:26. Is it wrong to feel anger as an emotion? Is feeling anger the same as sinning? Can you feel anger and not sin?
11. Read Matthew 21:12-13. Is this the same kind of anger that Jesus is talking about in Matthew 5:22? How is it different? What attributes of Jesus allow us to be certain that these types of anger are different?
12. Give an example of righteous anger. Then, give an example of unrighteous anger. What is at the heart of each? How are they different?
13. There are two ways we can deal with anger – by sharing it or by stuffing it. Which one best describes you when you get angry? Would others close to you agree with you?
14. What are the downsides of either sharing anger or stuffing anger? How are they different? How are they the same?
15. Read James 1:19-20. Spend time talking about each part individually. What does it look like when someone is quick to listen? What about when someone is slow to speak? And slow to anger? Why do you think they are in this order?
16. Describe someone you know who lives out James 1:19-20 well. How do they show you that they are listening? When they speak, how is it different?
17. True or False: Everyone will, at times, give into anger and hurt someone. Discuss your answer.
18. Read Matthew 5:23-26. Summarize this passage. Have you ever experienced this, whether you were the one that left the altar or the one that had been sinned against? Describe the experience.
19. How does Matthew 5:23-26 let us know how important reconciliation is to Jesus?
20. Read Ephesians 4:32. How are we to graciously resolve conflict, regardless of whether we’ve been wronged or wronged someone else?
21. Read 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. How did God reconcile us to Him? What does it mean that we have the “ministry of reconciliation”?
22. What does humble forgiveness look like? Look back on the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12. How is the idea of humble forgiveness displayed in them?
23. What is one takeaway from this sermon that you can intentionally live out this week? Share with others what that is and when you plan to do it!

Live It Out:

Who do you need to reconcile with today? Are you angry with someone? Is there a grudge you are holding onto? Are you bitter towards anyone? Are there people in your life that you need to be reconciled with? Jesus wants to change your heart and help you forgive them and make things right…and to seek peace. This week,

1. Pursue peace quickly. Don’t wait. Worship God by going and being reconciled. Write down the name of the person you need to reconcile with. On the left side of the page, write down all the reasons you don’t want to reconcile with him/her…or why you might be hesitating to reconcile. Then, on the right side of the page, write down all the ways in which God has reconciled with you. Pray to God, asking Him to change your heart so you can go and pursue peace quickly.
2. Graciously resolve conflict personally. Are you talking with others publicly about something you need to be talking with one person about privately? Gossip that leads to slander only causes more relational pain. Read James 1:19-20. Pray to God, asking Him to change your heart so that you can stop talking to others about your grievance and, instead, address it with the right person.
3. Humbly ask for forgiveness. There is something very powerful about asking for forgiveness. There is also something very powerful in releasing bitterness and saying, “I forgive you.” Rather than holding on to your hurts and offences and grievances, be free of them. Let go of them. Because we have been reconciled to God, we must seek to also be reconciled to others. Use these words: “I was wrong. Will you forgive me?”

Reading Plan:

This week, choose one of the scriptures and work on memorizing it!

Monday: Matthew 5:17-18, John 5:39
Tuesday: Matthew 5:19-20
Wednesday: Matthew 5:21-22, Ephesians 4:26-27, 32
Thursday: Matthew 21:12-13, Proverbs 29:11
Friday: James 1:19-20, 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Saturday: Matthew 5:23-26