Survivor: Overcoming Anger -- Wednesday, July 1st

Tonight we began our new series: Survivor. Tonight we talked about overcoming anger. We read quite a few scriptures tonight addressing anger. We started with James 4:1-2. It tells us what starts many fights and then I talked about 6 things that cause fights:

1. Frustration
2. Alienation
3. Hurt or threat of hurt
4. Injustice
5. Fear
6. Learned

We next read Ephesians 4:26-27. It tells us that is necessary to take care of our anger before the sun goes down so that the devil doesn't get a foothold into our life. It also tells us that we shouldn't sin when we are angry. Anger is not a sin, it is an emotion. But we should learn to control this emotion and not let it rule over ourselves and how we respond with the anger when it appears.

James 1:19-20 tells us that a good and righteous lifestyle isn't an angry lifestyle.

Romans 12:18-21 tells us to do our best to settle conflict, and to leave revenge up to God. Instead we should be treating our enemies with love. Sometimes people will get mad at you and try and start a fight that you didn't intend, in thoset times you need to show them love and allow God to take care of punishment of those that are wrong.

1st peter 3:9 tells us to not return evil for evil, but instead blessing for those who hurt us. It is the opposite of how we want to react.

We finished off with Proverbs 22:24-25. It talks about not hanging out with hot tempered people, because they will influence you.

As way for conclusion we listed 5 things we needed to do in order to overcome anger:

1. Avoid angery people
2. Deal with the root, what is causing you to get angry
3. React in a good way (no intial outburst, confront kindly, relax)
4. Don't dwell on it
5. Turn to God (ultimately this is the only thing that can really help us overcome anger)

I give tonight: C+
Favorite moment: The story of me getting yelled at by cheerleaders for cheering