Butter than Anger

Main Thought

Everyone knows what it feels like to be angry. We get angry when something we hold dear is threatened. It’s a natural response, but we need to be careful. Anger can build until it breaks. It can cause damage to property, to people, to us and our relationships, and more. God can be angry too, but anger isn’t God’s preferred response. God’s anger is outweighed by God’s love. God told us this Himself, then showed us through Jesus Christ. When Jesus was on the Cross, He looked down at those who were crucifying and mocking Him and said: “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.” Jesus responded with love, setting an example for us in the process. We can let go of our anger and “look with love.” We can look to God; we can look within us to figure out why we’re angry; and, we can look at others with empathy. When we choose love first, we choose a response that’s better than anger alone.

Main Passages

33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.

- Proverbs 30:33

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness… -

Exodus 34:6

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

- Hebrews 4:15-16

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought and Passages above?

2. The Greek Philosopher Aristotle suggested that anger can be useful if someone can be “angry with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way.” Do you think God might be able to help us accomplish that difficult task? Why or why not?

3. Do you think any of these three things might be able to help you let go of anger and “look with love”? If so, which one(s) and why?

   1. Look to God, remembering that we’ve been forgiven and that He offers us help.

   2. Look to ourselves, to figure out what’s happening inside us when we’re angry.

   3. Look at others with empathy, in an effort to understand and forgive.

Life Group H.E.A.R. Journal: Proverbs 22-28

Life Group H.E.A.R. Journal

Weekly Reading: Proverbs 22-28

17Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. - Proverbs 27:17

An easy, memorable way to learn how to read and process the Bible is through the H.E.A.R. journaling method. This process helps us read God’s Word with the goal of understanding it and applying it to our lives. The letters stand for Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond. 

• Highlight a scripture: Pick one verse (or pick a set of connected or related verses) from the Book of Proverbs. (Our church is scheduled to read one chapter per day. We’re covering chapters 22 through 28 this week.) Highlight this verse or write down the Book, chapter, and verse number.

• Explain the context: By asking some simple questions with the help of God’s Spirit, we can understand the meaning of a passage or verse. The following questions can help us understand the context of a passage: What’s happening in the story? Why was this written, and to whom? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? What does God intend to communicate through this text? 

• Apply it to your life: Application is the heart of the process! Answering a series of questions can help us uncover the meaning of these verses to us on a personal level. What is God saying to me? How can this help me? What does this mean today? How would applying this look in my life?

• Respond with action: This is the last part of the H.E.A.R. Journal. Your response to the passage may take on many forms. You may write a call to action. You can describe how you’ll be different because of what God said to you through His Word. You may indicate what you’re going to do because of what you have learned. You can even respond by writing out a prayer to God.

This week, you can share something from your own reading. If you need to read, you can start with the chapter in Proverbs that matches today’s date. We’ll write our responses and share them with our group. (If you journal some other way, feel free to do that!) Pay special to the Apply and Respond steps; that’s where God’s Word comes to life! 

Let’s encourage each other in God’s Word!

Life Group H.E.A.R. Journal: Proverbs 15-21

Life Group H.E.A.R. Journal

Weekly Reading: Proverbs 15-21

3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. - Proverbs 16:3

An easy, memorable way to learn how to read and process the Bible is through the H.E.A.R. journaling method. This process helps us read God’s Word with the goal of understanding it and applying it to our lives. The letters stand for Highlight, Explain, Apply, and Respond. 

• Highlight a scripture: Pick one verse (or pick a set of connected or related verses) from the Book of Proverbs. (Our church is scheduled to read one chapter per day. We’re covering chapters 15 through 21 this week.) Highlight this verse or write down the Book, chapter, and verse number.

• Explain the context: By asking some simple questions with the help of God’s Spirit, we can understand the meaning of a passage or verse. The following questions can help us understand the context of a passage: What’s happening in the story? Why was this written, and to whom? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? What does God intend to communicate through this text? 

• Apply it to your life: Application is the heart of the process! Answering a series of questions can help us uncover the meaning of these verses to us on a personal level. What is God saying to me? How can this help me? What does this mean today? How would applying this look in my life?

• Respond with action: This is the last part of the H.E.A.R. Journal. Your response to the passage may take on many forms. You may write a call to action. You can describe how you’ll be different because of what God said to you through His Word. You may indicate what you’re going to do because of what you have learned. You can even respond by writing out a prayer to God.

This week, you can share something from your own reading. If you need to read, you can start with the chapter in Proverbs that matches today’s date. We’ll write our responses and share them with our group. (If you journal some other way, feel free to do that!) Pay special to the Apply and Respond steps; that’s where God’s Word comes to life! 

Let’s encourage each other in God’s Word!

I Want More!

Main Thought

It’s easy to be enticed by everything the world has to offer. Some things might make us feel good or look good. We may want to have things or do things that cause people (including ourselves) to see us in a better light. Interacting with the world’s temporary, fleeting pleasures inappropriately creates problems. Sometimes, we overspend on things that end. We might also try to rely on temporary things and experiences to bring us fulfillment. But temporary things can only bring temporary happiness.

God created us to be satisfied by more. There’s a hole the size of eternity in our hearts, and only God can fill it. If we want Him to do that, then we need to turn our focus from the temporary to the timeless. We should seek God first, and store up treasures in Heaven. If we do those things, then we’ll eventually discover that living for things that last will produce a satisfaction that lasts.

Main Passages

Better to be lowly and have a servant than to play the great man and lack bread.

- Proverbs 12:9

One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

- Proverbs 13:7

11He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time. He has also planted eternity [a sense of divine purpose] in the human heart [a mysterious longing which nothing under the sun can satisfy, except God]—yet man cannot find out (comprehend, grasp) what God has done (His overall plan) from the beginning to the end.

- Ecclesiastes 3:11, AMP

19  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where  moth and rust  destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

- Matthew 6:19-21

Discussion Questions

1. What stands out to you in the Main Thought or main Passages above?

2. Think about a deeply satisfying experience that you’ve had. What made the experience satisfying? What can that moment teach us about living for eternity?

3. What’s one thing you can do to “turn your attention from the temporary to the timeless,” and live with eternity in mind?

Trust in the Lord: More than a Motto

Main Thought

“Trusting God” should be more than just a motto or a cliché. Trusting God is a defining characteristic of the Christian life. God’s absolute power and love should give us the assurance we need to trust Him absolutely. Wisdom outside of God is limited, but God knows what’s around each corner. He sees the future that we can’t see. We should trust Him by moving forward through life as He leads us. Trusting God doesn’t result in us sitting around, doing nothing. Trusting God moves us to passionately and proactively walk by faith. Clarity and assurance come when we do.

Main Passages

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

- Proverbs 3:1-4

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

- Proverbs 3:5-10

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

- Psalm 28:7

Discussion Questions

1. What are some common misconceptions people have about what it means to trust in God?

2. Name one or two things that inspire you to trust in God.

3. What’s one thing you can do to trust God and walk by faith this week?