Proverbs 14
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Announcements
Summer Camp!
July 8-11 @ YMCA in Grandby
Intro/Background
Last week we talked about success
How God defines success vs. how the world defines success
Tonight we’re going to talk about anger
But as always, I want you to spend a few minutes reading Chapter 14 on your own before we discuss it
Have students silently read Chpt. 14
Proverbs 14:29
There are a lot of good one liners in here - classic of what we attribute to the book of Proverbs
Proverbs 14:4
If you don’t have any oxen, you don’t have to clean up after them
But if you do have them, you can gain much increase
Hard work may be a little messy, but it pays off
Proverbs 14:12
We may know the right way to go in our own pride, but w/o the Lord directing our steps, that just leads to failure
Proverbs 14:15
Be thoughtful, discerning is the biblical trait here
Have wisdom in your steps!
Proverbs 14:21
Pretty straight forward - love others like Jesus called us to!
Proverbs 14:26-27
The fear of the Lord (remember back a few months ago - the fear of the Lord = awe or reverence of Him) is so important for us to have
It brings confidence, safety, refuge, blessing (fountain of life)
There is a reason I want you guys to read through the entire chapter even though we only pick a verse or two to study each week
It’s good to start learning how to read your Bible on your own
You’ll see that it’s not hard, & it doesn’t take a lot of time
But hopefully you also open you heart when you read and ask God to speak to you (we just did during prayer)
The verses we read in Proverbs have so many gold nuggets that we can practically pull into our lives
So when you get to small group and you’re like, “Yo, I know the first question, ‘What verse did you like the most?’”, there’s a reason behind asking that question each week
We want you to have an open heart and let God speak to you through His word!
Proverbs 14:29
This is the verse we’ll use to focus on our topic for the rest of the night
Anger doesn’t necessarily = sin
There is a concept called righteous anger. It’s getting angry about worthwhile things
When you see injustice or pain or suffering, it’s okay to be angry
Jesus got angry - tell story of Him @ temple overturning money tables
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,
Anger, the emotion, is not sin. It’s what you choose to do w/ that anger that can become sin, and is usually what gets us
Anger turns into sin when we act ungodly
Proverbs 14:29
11 Fools give full vent to their rage,
but the wise bring calm in the end.
Full vent - when your anger gets the best of you
Avoiding anger requires listening, talking less, proceeding slowly, and not reacting
James 1:19-20
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
We’re gonna spend some time on this one in small groups
Human anger vs. righteous anger
Getting angry for selfish sinful reasons, rather than for godly reasons
Listening, and not reacting, is a key to avoiding sin
Have you ever been around someone that seems like they’re a bomb waiting to go off on you?
You don’t ever want to tell them anything bad or wrong b/c you know they react impulsively and blow up and get mad and it takes time to calm down
As believers, we’re called to be slow to speak, quick to listen
I struggle w/ this w/ my kids
I think I know the foolish thing they’re going to say so I react instead of being patient and listening
Get in the habit of gentle answers
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs has so much good stuff about anger, and this is one of them
When you’re in a tense situation, respond w/ gentleness instead of yelling back or getting angry back. You can diffuse a situation or argument so quickly
Patience, patience, patience
18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,
but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
Even our verse here in chpt 14, another translation calls the “slow to wrath” “patient”
If you do get angry and sin, resolve it that day
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.
This is that same verse we talked about before, only reading the rest of it
Resolve it!
Fill your heart w/ righteousness, and there won’t be much room for anger
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Small Groups
Sample Small Group Questions
Sample Small Group Questions
What verse in Proverbs 14 spoke to you the most when you read through it and why did it speak to you?
Do you think that when we get angry, we’re usually reacting with righteous anger, or with human anger?
What kind of things make you angry? Are you the type of person that gets angry easy or does it take a lot to get you angry?
How do you typically react when you get angry about something?
Read James 1:19-20. Talk through how that verse tells us to avoid reacting in anger and sinning?
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Why do you think patience is another key to countering anger?
Why do you think the Bible tells us to resolve our anger with another person that day? Read Ephesians 4:26-27 again if needed.
26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.
What is one thing you’re going to put into practice this week based on our study tonight?
Prayer Requests and Group Prayer