WELCOME HOME

Welcome to Church at the Shores! If you would like to watch or listen to this message again or share it with a friend, visit www.churchattheshores.com.

Service Times: 9am & 10:45am
Website: www.churchattheshores.com

Sin Does Not Start with the Hands. It Starts in the Heart.

‘Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.’ - Augustine of Hippo

Anger becomes a trap when it stops being a response to injustice and starts being the overflow of an unhealed wound or personal offense.

CYCLE OF ANGER

1 - Offense
2 - Seed
3 - Root of Bitterness
4 - Outburst
5 - Deeper Anger

When we learn to process our anger in a healthy way, we step into freedom. We stop carrying the weight of bitterness, we stop letting past wounds define us, and we start living with the peace God intended for us.

Your relationship with God is not as strong as you think if your relationship with another person is damaged and divided.

Practice of Lament

Three Prayers to Pray

Holy Spirit, help me.
Holy Spirit, heal me.
Holy Spirit, have your way in me.

SMALL GROUP LEADERS GUIDE

Use these questions to take this message on Sunday into your week with family or friends.

BIG IDEA

The narrow path leads to an ever-expanding spacious way of God.

MAIN PASSAGE: Matthew 5

START HERE: ICE BREAKER QUESTION

What is something small that really frustrates you but probably shouldn’t? (Like slow Wi-Fi, people who don’t use turn signals, or autocorrect changing your words.)

If you had to pick a fictional character who represents how you handle anger, who would it be? (Rage Monster from Dude Perfect, the Hulk, or someone more chill like Mr. Rogers?)

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

In Matthew 5:21-24, Jesus connects anger to judgment. Why do you think He takes anger so seriously? How does it impact our relationship with others and with God?

The message talked about anger being a signal rather than a sin. How can we recognize when our anger is pointing to something deeper, like disappointment, shame, or fear?

Jesus didn’t just call out anger—He called for reconciliation. What makes reconciliation so hard? How can we take steps to repair relationships broken by anger?

Have you ever seen righteous anger lead to something good? How can we channel anger in a way that leads to healing and justice rather than bitterness?

Ephesians 4:26 says, “In your anger do not sin.” How do we draw the line between feeling anger and allowing it to turn into sin?

The message ended with three prayers: Holy Spirit, help me. Holy Spirit, heal me. Holy Spirit, have your way in me. Which one do you need most in this season of your life? Why?

E.S.P.N. for the Group Leader to Remember:

Encouragement
Leadership is 51% encouragement. Don’t underestimate the power of a kind word or a thoughtful affirmation. Look for opportunities to call out the good in each person and remind them of God’s work in their life. Encouragement builds trust and fosters connection in your group.

Scripture
Make space to read Scripture out loud together. God’s Word is living and active, and hearing it read aloud can open hearts and minds to His truth in a powerful way. Even a short passage can spark meaningful conversation and reflection.

Prayer
Create intentional moments for your group to pray together. Whether it’s a simple prayer for the week or interceding for specific needs, prayer connects us to Jesus—and Jesus transforms lives.

Next Step
Always point your group toward one clear, actionable next step before you end. It could be as simple as spending five minutes in stillness this week, reading a specific Scripture, or reaching out to someone in love. A clear next step helps people take what they’ve learned and put it into practice.