Little Sins Week 3
Middle & High School Students
Wednesday, March 19th
6:30 – 8:30

PREPARING FOR iGROUPS

BOTTOM LINE: To be angry but not sin means that we must learn to analyze our anger and rightly order our love.  

SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:25-27

MESSAGE SUMMARY: Paul says that we should be angry yet not sin. So anger may not be a sin in and of itself, but it can become sinful depending on why we’re angry and how we respond to our anger. Anger can be devastating to our lives and the lives of others if we’re not careful, so we must learn to analyze our anger and rightly order our love.

TRY THIS: Ask the students in your iGroup/Small Group for a schedule for any upcoming events they have going on, like a sporting event, a game, a school play, a competition, or a concert. It’s a great opportunity for you and the other students in your group to show up and support each other. Try to attend one event for each student if you can! 

Get the group talking… What’s the most ridiculous or smallest thing that can make you angry?  

Ask the group to answer and discuss…
1) Rate on a scale of 1-10, How much you struggle with controlling your anger.
2) Think & Share: 
     a) In what areas of life do you struggle with it the most or least?
     b) Why can it be so challenging to keep your Anger in check?
     c) If someone makes you mad, what is your typical reaction? Why?
3) Read Ephesians 4:25-27. What does the Bible say about anger?
4) Raise your hand if you knew there was a difference between “righteous anger” and “sinful anger”. If you did know, give an example of each.
5) What makes “righteous anger” okay? 
6) Do you agree that love can drive us to anger? Why or why not?
7) Can you relate with any of these examples of love that can drive anger:
     a) protecting yourself, protecting others, maintaining control, feeling safe, etc.? 
     b) If so, what can you learn about yourself from your anger?
8) Read Ephesians 4:25-27, again. 
     a) How can “sinful anger” give the devil a foothold in your life? 
     b) How can you be angry but not sin, as Paul says?

Apply It… Read James 1:19-20. 
9) Challenge yourself to “think first, act later” before you act in anger this week.
     a) Stop, take a breather. Think; “Why am I angry?”,“Is something another situation causing my emotions?”,“Is this sinful or righteous anger?”
10) List some positive ways you can handle a situation when you are angry.

Bottom Line… To be angry but not sin means that we must learn to analyze our anger and rightly order our love.