As we lead our groups, we often need to ask the direct questions that people need to be asked to get the vagueness of discussion to directly apply to life- therefore helping us be transformed in the renewing of our minds. Enjoy it!
Thaw
- Who in your family are you most like? Why?
- What are the benefits of that similarity?
- What are the drawbacks of that similarity?
- What most impacted you from Sunday?
- What is something that you heard before, but forgot?
- Anything new?
Read
Leader note: this may be a great opportunity to create some quiet, reflective space. Assign these texts to be read individually, silently and slowly. Invite each person to write down key words or phrases that seem to pop out for whatever reason they do so. You may want to print the texts out ahead of time for anyone who notoriously forgets their Bible, or doesn't own one.
- Colossians 3:1-15
- Ephesians 4:17-32
- Galatians 5:13-26
- Thoughts?
- What kind of issues would you guess Paul saw a lot in the early church?
- Which themes seemed to most speak to you, for your life?
Discuss
- When has anger served a good purpose for you? Share.
- When have you seen anger in others that was right and good?
- When have you seen anger in others (or yourself) that, with some reflection, you realized wasn't good.
Leader note: You might want to bring up that movies often have a revenge theme in them that feels satisfying on some level. But often, after some thought and comparison with Romans 12, etc., we find that even though it felt satisfying, it was a celebration of using evil to conquer evil.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves….Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse…..Live in harmony with one another. ……Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay"…. (from Romans 12)
- When has anger cost you?
- How could it have been avoided?
Leader note: Try and help people keep the passages they have just read in mind as they offer suggestions.
Read
- James 4:13
- How have you seen what James is saying play itself out?
Leader note: Depending on the time that you have, and whether you think it will fit for your group, consider having 2 people share a story (you may want to ask them ahead of time, especially if you know of specific stories they could tell that would be pertinent) that illustrates angry tensions birthed out of self-centered desires. You may have a story yourself!
Apply
- How has pausing and thinking helped you with anger?
- How has entitlement, or a sense of fighting for yourself, crept into your daily life?
- How is considering the context for someone else ("considering the prequel") helped you love someone that you were angry with?
- How can this group provide an ongoing support for you as you work to allow God to redirect your anger into something beautiful, redemptive?
- What's the daily exercise, beyond service on Sunday and group time, that each member can employ to build a sense of peace into a habitually anxious, low-boil anger life?
- How can this group help you step into good anger (missions, vocational, educational, social....something that isn't right that needs your anger so God can redeem part of it)?
Additional reading
- Proverbs 14:29. 15:1, 15:8, 16:32, 29:11
- Mark 3:1-6
- Ephesians 4:26-27
Leader note: These are great passages not only for further personal study for the memebers of your group, but also work well in an email after group, throughout the week. It's a loving reminder that what was discussed still maters days later, and really helps build permanence once your discussion time is over.
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