Redirecting Anger: Embracing Compassion and Eternal Values

Devotional

Day 1: Unmet Expectations and Anger

When our expectations are unmet, it often leads to feelings of anger and frustration. This was evident when the disciples became indignant at the woman who anointed Jesus with expensive ointment. They had their own plans for the resources, and when those plans were disrupted, their anger flared. This scenario is a reflection of our own lives, where we often react with anger when things don't go as we expect. By examining our expectations and understanding their influence on our emotions, we can better manage our anger and respond more thoughtfully. [39:10]

Matthew 26:8-10 (ESV): "And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, 'Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.' But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, 'Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me.'"

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where your expectations were not met, and it led to anger. How can you reframe your expectations to align more with God's plans rather than your own?

Day 2: Irrational Responses to Anger

Anger can often lead to irrational and regrettable actions. Acute pain or frustration can trigger these responses, as illustrated by personal anecdotes shared. Recognizing these triggers is crucial in understanding that our anger often leads to decisions we later regret. By striving to control our emotions and respond thoughtfully, we can avoid the pitfalls of irrational anger. [33:02]

Proverbs 14:29 (ESV): "Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly."

Reflection: Identify a trigger that often leads to irrational anger in your life. What steps can you take to slow down and respond more thoughtfully the next time you encounter this trigger?

Day 3: Mob Mentality and Anger

Anger can spread quickly, creating a tipping point where one person's anger escalates into collective outrage. This "mob mentality" highlights the importance of self-awareness and questioning the reasons behind our anger. Ensuring that our emotions are justified and not just reactions to others is key to managing collective anger. [45:14]

James 1:19-20 (ESV): "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you were influenced by the anger of others. How can you practice self-awareness and ensure your emotions are justified in future situations?

Day 4: Jesus' Redirection of Anger

Jesus' response to the disciples' anger was to redirect their focus to what is beautiful and eternal. Instead of reacting with anger, He gently corrected them, teaching the importance of compassion and understanding in managing our emotions. This redirection helps us to focus on what truly matters and to respond with grace rather than anger. [49:25]

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you can redirect your anger towards understanding and compassion. How can you apply Jesus' example of gentle correction in your own life?

Day 5: Eternal vs. Temporal Focus

Our anger often stems from a sense of wasted resources or unmet expectations. Jesus teaches us to focus on the eternal value of acts of devotion and love, even if they don't align with our immediate plans. This perspective helps us manage our anger and align our actions with the greater mission of spreading the Gospel. [52:32]

Colossians 3:2-3 (ESV): "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you are focused on the temporal rather than the eternal. How can you shift your perspective to align more with the eternal values Jesus teaches?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the emotion of anger, exploring its roots and how it manifests in our lives. We began by examining Matthew 26, where the disciples became indignant when a woman anointed Jesus with expensive ointment. This act of devotion was met with anger because it did not align with the disciples' expectations. This scenario serves as a mirror for our own lives, where unmet expectations often trigger our anger.

We discussed how anger can arise from acute pain or frustration, leading to irrational responses. I shared personal anecdotes to illustrate how easily anger can flare up and how it often leads to regrettable actions. We also touched on the concept of "mob mentality," where one person's anger can quickly spread to others, creating a tipping point that escalates the situation.

Jesus' response to the disciples' anger was a lesson in redirection and reorientation. Instead of reacting with anger, Jesus gently corrected them, highlighting the beauty and significance of the woman's act. This teaches us the importance of redirecting our anger towards understanding and compassion, focusing on what is eternal rather than temporal.

We also explored the idea that our anger often stems from a sense of wasted resources or unmet expectations. However, Jesus shows us that true value lies in acts of devotion and love, even if they don't align with our immediate plans or understanding.

In conclusion, we are called to manage our anger through the lens of the Gospel, allowing it to shape us into peacemakers who bring water, not gasoline, to volatile situations. By focusing on the eternal and practicing emotional intelligence, we can navigate our lives with clarity and purpose, ultimately contributing to the greater mission of spreading the Gospel.

###

Key Takeaways

1. awareness and the need to question why we are angry, ensuring our emotions are justified and not just reactions to others. [45:14]
4. Jesus' Redirection of Anger: Jesus' response to the disciples' anger was to redirect their focus to what is beautiful and eternal. Instead of reacting with anger, He gently corrected them, teaching us the importance of compassion and understanding in managing our emotions.

5. Eternal vs. Temporal Focus: Our anger often stems from a sense of wasted resources or unmet expectations. Jesus teaches us to focus on the eternal value of acts of devotion and love, even if they don't align with our immediate plans. This perspective helps us manage our anger and align our actions with the greater mission of spreading the Gospel.

### [45:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[28:23] - Fall Festival Announcement
[29:33] - Next Gen Ministries Update
[30:39] - High School Ministry Needs
[31:10] - Women's Conference Recap
[31:40] - Emotions and Anger Introduction
[32:28] - Disciples' Indignation
[33:02] - Personal Anecdote on Anger
[35:01] - Common Expressions of Anger
[36:18] - Slowing Down Anger
[37:17] - Context of the Gospel Passage
[39:10] - Unmet Expectations and Anger
[41:39] - The Value of the Ointment
[45:14] - Mob Mentality and Anger
[49:25] - Jesus' Redirection of Anger
[52:32] - Eternal vs. Temporal Focus
[55:28] - The Significance of the Anointing
[57:49] - Final Reflections on Anger and the Gospel

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the disciples' reaction to the woman anointing Jesus with expensive ointment, and why were they upset? ([39:39])
How did Jesus respond to the disciples' anger regarding the woman's act of devotion? ([49:25])
What does the passage suggest about the value of the ointment and the disciples' perception of its use? ([41:39])
According to the sermon, what are some common triggers for anger mentioned by the pastor? ([33:02])

Interpretation Questions

Why do unmet expectations often lead to anger, as illustrated by the disciples' reaction to the woman's act? ([39:10])
How does Jesus' redirection of the disciples' anger towards understanding and compassion serve as a model for us? ([49:25])
What does the concept of "mob mentality" reveal about the nature of anger and how it can spread among people? ([45:14])
How does focusing on the eternal rather than the temporal help in managing our anger, according to the sermon? ([52:32])

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent situation where your expectations were not met, leading to anger. How could you have redirected your anger towards understanding and compassion in that moment? ([39:10])
Think about a time when you reacted irrationally out of anger. What steps can you take to slow down your anger and respond more thoughtfully in the future? ([33:02])
Have you ever experienced or contributed to a "mob mentality" situation where anger escalated quickly? How can you practice self-awareness to prevent this in the future? ([45:14])
Jesus highlighted the eternal significance of the woman's act of devotion. How can you shift your focus from temporal frustrations to eternal values in your daily life? ([52:32])
The pastor mentioned that anger often stems from a sense of wasted resources. Can you identify an area in your life where you feel resources are being wasted? How can you reframe your perspective to see the potential for devotion and love in that situation? ([41:39])
How can you bring "water" instead of "gasoline" to volatile situations in your relationships, whether at home, work, or church? ([44:44])
Reflect on the idea that our anger should be gospel-infused, focusing on the mission of spreading the Gospel. How can you channel your emotions towards this greater mission? ([47:44])

Sermon Clips

1. "Why would we do a fall festival? Why? Because we believe that Jesus Christ is the only hope for our neighborhoods. And we are going to practice gospel hospitality. And we are going to invite people to this. That's what it is. That's our mission. That's what we are doing as we are gathered together. We are also scattered. And when we are scattered, we want to equip you with some of these things." [28:57] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "I hope you have a reaction. I hope you are just like whatever. I hope it's not apathy. I hope you are like man, we are going somewhere, right? We are going somewhere. We are seeing good things happen. Now if I share great things that God is doing. I hope that the reaction that you don't have is that you are angry. I hope there is not someone going golly if they add one more high schooler to that thing I am just going to lose my mind." [31:10] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "I become angry or I can become angry when life doesn't meet my expectation. That is sometimes the trigger point. That's the walkway that we see. So watch this. Here we go. We are going to look at the passage. Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper. Okay. A woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment. She poured it on his head as he reclined the table. And when the disciples saw it. They saw the act. They witnessed the act. His followers. They were angry. They were indignant. Saying, why this waste?" [39:10] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "If you're an angry person and no one has talked to you about it. Often you'll only gather angry people around you. And you'll end up pushing the good out of your life. It'll affect your parenting. It'll affect your marriage. Some of you. Now please, I want to say this with grace. Some of you may wonder why your friendships are dissolving. Why your kids don't want to come home. And maybe it's because the emotional intelligence is out of whack. And you just can't have just a conversation without being disgruntled. Grumpy. Irritable. Frustrated." [51:08] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The way he redirects his anger. Is he reorients my understanding. Of what is eternal. And what is temporal. And that's where I struggle as a leader of a congregation. How do we use our resources? Because people want to know, hey, why wasn't that used for this? That's what the disciples are asking. And there's all kinds of opinions. How do you spend resources? Do you spend it on the community? Do you send all the money overseas? Do you have the poor? Do you give all that? What do you do with resources? Do you spend it all on the next generation?" [52:32] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "If we don't have a control of our anger and know why we're angry about and that we're angry about the right things, we'll spend our whole life just taking our resources from the people that we love. We will take our love from our children because they have disappointed us. And we will say, I will take this and I will go home. I will not come to your wedding. You will not be invited to this. I will take my ball and come home. And it should not be that the way in the church of the redeemed of God. We should be able to control our anger." [53:41] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Two things will shape you in this life. Either the anger or my gospel will shape me in this life. Jesus said what she has done is a good thing. Because she has prepared my life. She has prepared my body for burial. The best thing for that spikenard from that expensive ornament was to be used for Jesus. It was good because it prepared him for burial." [55:28] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "There is real injustice in this world. But my friends, let's have emotional intelligence and put our hands to the work of the gospel. Because that's the greatest justice that we can ever have. So today if you are angry and you don't even know why, I would ask you to look right up here. Look at something physical in front of you. Look at that cross right there. Look at it. How can we be angry, angry disciples in the presence of a God who did not buy us with resources like gold and silver. Because we get so upset about gold and silver. But he gave his life through the precious blood of Christ." [56:36] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "You have been bought with such a costly price. You are so loved today. Look. Take a moment and look. When is the last time you looked at it? Look. Look. Let that anger dissolve. At the feet of Jesus. Look. Take a If you need to let go of this anger, you need to go and pray, pray. I'm going to be right over here in the corner. I would love to pray with you. Again, I'm not saying let's not be angry about the right things. But church, let's not be angry people. Because there is a world to win. Right? And what leads us to repentance? His kindness leads us to repentance." [57:49] (69 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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