Anger

Last Wed. Night was Great! I hope you got your fill of pizza, soda and Gods word. You all did a wonderful job looking up Bible verses and talking about anger. Here are some of the questions we asked and some of the responses you gave.

• What does Ephesians 4:26-27 say about anger? We will feel angry at times, but we can control ourselves so that anger doesn’t cause us to sin.
• Is anger good or bad? How can you be sure? Anger itself isn’t good or bad. Jesus felt angry toward sin. What makes anger positive or negative is how we act upon it.
• What does it mean not to allow the sun to go down on your anger? To deal with it right away.
• What does it mean that Jesus felt anger? Anger can be an appropriate response to evil or sin.
• What kind of life does anger produce? An unrighteous life.
• What is the secret of being "slow to become angry"? Talk less; listen more; wait before responding in a flash of anger.
• How do you square this passage with the fact that Jesus got angry? Jesus did not live in a state of constant anger, nor did he let anger control him. He sometimes felt angry and responded with control. He was slow to become angry, and so should we.
• According to these verses, what can anger cause us to do? It can cause us to lose control and do evil things we would not normally do.
• When have you seen anger affect someone’s life in a negative way?
• According to these verses, what are some practical ways to stop anger in our lives before it even gets started? Be patient; overlook offenses; don’t make friends with hot-tempered people.
• When have you seen these principles work in real life?
  
  I look forward to next Wednesday night March 26th @ 6:30 upstairs, when we will continue to look at anger and how to handle it God's way.
  
  In His humble service,
  Todd
  

March Madness (week 2) upstairs March 19th

John 10:14-20 says,

¹⁴ “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

¹⁹ At these words the Jews were again divided. ²⁰ Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”

²¹ But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Jesus tells us he is the good Shepard. Jesus wants a relationship with us, yet we resist that relationship. We would rather run with the wolves, feeding off of the very sheep Jesus loves. We mingle with them, we play with them, we nip at their hooves. Then we turn and attack, devouring the love ones of Christ. You are not a wolf! I you have not made a decision for Christ, what is holding you back? You are a sheep, in wolves clothing. You are loved by God, and He sent His Son Jesus to die for your sins, because He loves you. Trust in Him, and He will open your blind eyes to reveal a path of forgiveness, and grace. You are a sheep, don't be deceived by the wolf.

Please join us Wed. March 19th @ 6:30pm upstairs for more on shedding the wolves and following the good Shepard.

Todd Ledbetter
Life Development Director
Ventura Community Church

March Madness

What is it that drives you mad? Anger, disobedience, jealousy, lust, authority? This month we will look at what drives us crazy and how we can learn from God’s word to fight the evil forces that tempt us and lead a life that is God honoring and blessed. Bring a friend and don’t miss a week of this awesome series.