January 14, 2024 | Dave McGinley
Passage: Matthew 5:21-26
MESSAGE NOTES:
'You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment;' Matthew5:21-22a
Anger is fueled by unmet expectations and fear.
'What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.' James 4:1-2
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment;” Matthew 5:22a
Anger can produce: -
Isolation – Prideful thinking – Need for control
Unhealthy anger attacks the person
"And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." Mark 10:13-14
Healthy anger has compassion for the person.
Unhealthy anger ignores the hurt.
"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:23
Healthy anger restores the relationship.
What fruit is your anger producing?
Spiritual Practice: One-hour Sabbath time using Psalm 16:10-11 (see instructions below)
Psalm 16:10-11 – For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Spiritual Practice of the Week: Keeping the Sabbath
Read this quote from James Bryan Smith, “Sabbath rest is thus a call to Sabbath trust, a call to visibly demonstrate in our daily living that we know ourselves to be upheld and maintained by the grace of God rather than the strength and craftiness of our own hands. To enjoy a Sabbath day we must give up our desire for total control.” This week you are going to find two hours to intentionally journal, pray, and read the Bible.
1. Look at your calendar. When in the next week can you take 1 hour to do the following activity?
2. Instructions for your Sabbath.
a. Start by reading Psalm 16:5-11 out loud to yourself.
b. Go for a walk or find some other activity that will help you focus on God. As you’re doing that, thank God for providing you with this opportunity. On your walk…
1. Reflect on some times you got angry in the past week. What caused that anger?
2. Think about how you saw God at work in the past week. Try to make a list. Spend some time thanking God for that list.
3. Take some time to also reflect on the many blessings God has blessed you with. See how big of a list you can come up with. Take some time to thank God for this list as well.
Series Information
Jesus had much to teach about wisdom and what it means to live in this world. In this world, we look around and see negative actions that can creep into our lives. Actions like anger, lying, cursing, arrogance, and worry. Jesus shares His wisdom about these in His Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. At the conclusion of this section of teaching, He said, “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does this will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24) We want to be like the wise man. Over the next five weeks, we will reflect on Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount and, we will take on some practical habits that can help us live in His wisdom today. We do not do these things to earn God’s love but instead because, as Jesus says of His own teaching, “those who hear My words and do them is like a wise person.” I pray that this season will be one where we reflect and learn from Jesus’ wisdom as we live our lives built on the rock of Jesus. ~ Pastor Dave
