02/29 – 03/04/2016
Lent Week 4: Anger. REGULAR Devotions
Update: During the season of Lent we are considering the 7 Deadly Sins. This week we consider Anger.
During Lent, our focus is different. In this season we meditate on the depth of our sin as we prepare to
consider Good Friday and the death of God that we might be forgiven. We also consider how much sin
cripples us in order that we might appreciate and long for the fruit of the resurrection in our own lives.
Sinful anger is a very common topic in Scripture. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses sinful
anger more than any other topic. Anger is also a complicated matter for several reasons:
 We often think of anger only as violent outbursts, but anger can also drive “passive-aggressive”
behaviors like silence, withdrawal, and a punishing-pouting.
 There is such a thing as righteous anger.
 Scripture counsels us to “Be angry, but do not sin” and “In your anger, do not sin.”
 We often “re-name” our sinful anger, i.e., “I’m not angry, I’m just frustrated, hurt, stressed,
venting.”
This week we’ll seek to discern the difference between sinful anger and the righteous-anger that is
driven by and bound by love.
NB- Sometimes scholars and theologians have referred to this particular Deadly Sin as Wrath and not
anger. I think that makes it too easy for us to say, “I’m not wrathful, I’m just angry.” In all the quotes
below, “anger” has been substituted for “Wrath.”
Song for this week – Dear Refuge (http://1drv.ms/1icUA0x)
Where possible we will use songs that are live recordings of our worship singing at Church of the
Redeemer. You should be able to access them by clicking the link. You can also download them to your
computer, phone, etc. (Please copy & paste rather than drag & drop).
Some Recommendations
The goal of the study/reflection questions is to help you get into the text and meet Christ in it, i.e., to
worship and meet with God. Avoid engaging with these questions as if it’s a “quiz” where the goal is to
get the “correct answer” and then move onto the next question. My prayer, goal, and hope is that the
questions will help open up the Word of God – what it means and what it is saying – in order that you
might meet God, experience Christ, and hear from the Holy Spirit.
1) I do recommend the full liturgy for each day.
2) The “Bible Study” reflection questions for each day of the week are inserted towards the end of this
document. Most often the questions will require time of reflection and pondering in order to find
answers or to let the answers sink in to our souls. Be prepared to not rush through them. The goal
is to experience/hear from God.
3) Sing the song! (Really) Each week we focus on two songs. Download them to your phone or iPod so
you can listen repeatedly during the day. When we sing, our mind, body, heart, emotions, and will
are all engaged in worship! If this week’s songs do not appeal to you, substitute a personal favorite.
To be transformed by God's mercy and grace into a community of priests engaged in his redeeming work
in Atlanta and the world.
02/29 – 03/04/2016
Lent Week 4: Anger. REGULAR Devotions
CONFESSION (from Psalm 145:8; Proverbs 15:18, 16:32, 19:11)
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Whoever is slow to
anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. A hot-tempered
man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. Good sense makes one slow to
anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
Father, we confess to you our sins of anger. Have mercy on us. For we know we have sinned.
Gracious Father, we also ask that you open our eyes. Show us where anger has crept in.
Anger has led us to lash out with our words and actions. Forgive us.
Anger has led us to withdraw from others with a cold punishing distance. Heal us.
Anger has caused us to seek revenge and to be unforgiving. Free us.
Anger fosters grumbling and complaining in our hearts. Rescue us.
Anger prevents us from experiencing your mercy and love. Save us.
Holy God, hear our confession now. Also, speak to us now. Open our eyes to see the sins that are
hidden from us, even the sins that we have renamed as righteous.
ABSOLUTION (Psalm 145:8-10)
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The Lord is good
to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. 10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
INTERCESSION
Pray this week for your own self, your community, church, city, and this world to know the resurrection of
Jesus in accepting the good news of the gospel. Pray by name those you want God to bring into his
kingdom.
SCRIPTURE READINGS & REFLECTION
N.B. There is a Closing Prayer after the lyrics of this week’s song. Even if you don’t participate in this
song this week, don’t miss the closing prayer (after the song).
MONDAY
Psychologists describe anger as “an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense
fury and rage.” When we get angry, all kind of physiological changes take place: our heart rate and
blood-pressure rises, as do our levels of energy-boosting hormones and adrenalin. Anger doesn’t only
show itself in loud aggressive behavior and throwing things around the room. There is such a thing as
passive anger, when a person punishes the target of their anger by sulking, retreating into a corner, or
even making themselves physically ill.” Graham Tomlin.
Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is
poured. Seneca. (4BC- 65AD)
1) Read Numbers 20:1-13. In this passage we not only read of Moses’ sinful anger, but we also see
the sinful anger of the people of Israel.
2) v2-3 We can understand the frustration and anxiety of the people of Israel, but how has this led
to sinful anger? i.e., What does sinful anger do/sound like in these verses?
To be transformed by God's mercy and grace into a community of priests engaged in his redeeming work
in Atlanta and the world.
02/29 – 03/04/2016
Lent Week 4: Anger. REGULAR Devotions
3)
4)
5)
6)
v4 Notice how they try to justify their anger by claiming that God is on their side.
v5 What has sinful anger done to the “reasonableness” and the memory of the people of Israel?
v10-11 Is Moses coming to provide or to punish?
Picture the scene as Moses gathers the people before the rock and the actions that follow:
a. How does this misrepresent God?
b. How might Moses’ actions give God’s people “permission” for future sinful anger?
7) Read/Sing the Song of Commitment this week through and meditate on the Closing Prayer
below (after the song and before the quotes). Let the words sink in before praying it yourself.
TUESDAY
Like most sins, anger takes something good – a proper hatred of evil and injustice – and twists it into
something destructive: taking the law into our own hands and sustaining a long, smoldering campaign of
vengeance. Anger is a dangerous thing for us humans. It deceives us into thinking that because we are
in the right (and we may well be) our anger is justified, and if our anger is justified, then we can express it
how we like, or however it comes out. The heart of Christian wisdom on anger is that it is God’s
prerogative to exercise anger. Although our anger can do some good, God alone can sustain righteous
anger that will truly sort things out. Our anger tends to be fueled by prejudice. “Prejudice comes from a
Latin root – pre-judice – literally judging before it is time.” Graham Tomlin
1) Read Matthew 5:21-26 & 38-48.
2) What does it tell us that Jesus spends so much time with anger during the Sermon on the
Mount?
3) Focus on the “You have heard it said” passages. In seeking to allow/permit “righteous anger,”
how might these sayings be used to permit sinful anger?
4) Go through each of Jesus’ “But I say to you” sections and ask God to show you the sin of anger in
your own life and heart:
a) v22-26
b) v39-42
c) v44-48
5) As Jesus calls us away from anger, what is calling us to replace it with?
6) Reflect and meditate on how God’s love overcomes anger in Romans 5:6-11. Ask God to speak
to you through this passage about anger and love.
7) Listen to and sing along with this week’s song (following Friday’s questions). If you can’t sing,
enter into the lyrics.
8) Enter into the Closing Prayer (below the song).
WEDNESDAY
Because God in Christ gets angry with us and the world, we don’t have to. We can go on, delivered of
the horribly dangerous terribly self-destructive sin of anger. William Willimon.
We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace
with ourselves because we are not at peace with God. Thomas Merton (1915-68)
To be transformed by God's mercy and grace into a community of priests engaged in his redeeming work
in Atlanta and the world.
02/29 – 03/04/2016
Lent Week 4: Anger. REGULAR Devotions
Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is
poured. Seneca. (4BC- 65AD)
1) It’s entirely possible that Monday and Tuesday’s devotions have left you frustrated, stuck, mad,
or even despairing. If so, that may be because we haven’t yet covered the central truths we’ll
consider today: God is angry, vengeance belongs to him, and there will be justice.
2) Read Romans 12:18-20
a. Is God angry? v19 speaks of an “awesome” reality. Let it sink in.
b. Knowing, remembering, and waiting for God’s anger/judgment, what does that allow us
to do?
3) As we go through life, the weight of injustices we accumulate can grow into a significant burden.
The number of times we have been wronged, treated poorly, and sinned against grows. If we
are not able to forgive and let these things go, then the root of bitterness grows and the devil
has gained a foothold. Consider:
a. Ephesians 4:26-27
b. Hebrews 12:14-15
4) The Christian teaching of “forgiveness” if often and widely misunderstood. Sometimes we think,
“I am willing to forgive, but the person hasn’t asked for it, so, I can’t forgive them if they don’t
want forgive.” This sounds logical, but it is NOT what the Bible teaches us about forgiveness.
Often, forgiveness is “releasing something to God” in accordance with Romans 12:18-20. We
turn matters over to God and leave them with him – trusting him, our Father, to bring justice
when and how he wants.
5) Take some time of silence in God’s presence:
a. Ask God to show you how and where holding onto past grievances might have given the
devil a foothold in your heart and allowed a root of bitterness to grow. been serving
others.
b. What would you need to know from God in order for you to release these things to him
and to leave them with him?
6) Today especially, don’t skip over the Song and the Closing Prayer (below).
THURSDAY
Anyone can become angry – that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at
the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way – that is not easy. Aristotle.
Ultimately, anger is a deadly sin because it separates us from those we ought to embrace and cherish as
fellow children of God. Anger moves us away from those we could potentially spend eternity with. As is
the case with lust, Jesus said that those who let anger take hold in their hearts case themselves into hell:
like lust, anger throws our bodies and souls into that same pile of flaming trash. Anger is not concerned
with restoration, but with revenge and dominance. Jeff Cook.
1) Feeling anger is inevitable. In fact, if someone doesn’t feel anger it means they’ve slipped into a
state of depression or the sin of Sloth. So, what do we do with the anger we feel?
To be transformed by God's mercy and grace into a community of priests engaged in his redeeming work
in Atlanta and the world.
02/29 – 03/04/2016
Lent Week 4: Anger. REGULAR Devotions
2) Read the following passages and list out what the Bible tells us to do when we feel angry:
Proverbs 19:11; 29:11; Psalm 4:4; Psalm 73:12-17
3) Go back through your notes and the passages and ask yourself:
a. In order for me to respond this way, what do I need to know/believe?
4) One of the things we need to do when we are angry is find God, talk to him, and grapple with
him. Consider Psalm 44.
5) Close your eyes and quiet your heart. Ask God to speak to you and for the Holy Spirit to minister
to you.
6) Pray the Closing Prayer.
FRIDAY
Two options today:
1) Wednesday’s devotion this week asked for and opened up a lot! Consider revisiting it.
OR
2) Psalm 4:4 tells us, Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and
be silent. Consider the last time you were angry. Try to remember as much as you can about
the details and feelings. Now, do what Psalm 4:4 tells us to do and “ponder in your own heart,”
i.e., reflect, meditate, analyze, commune with:
a. What was it that bothered me so much? When an answer comes to mind, don’t stop
there, but ask, “Okay, why is it that that (your answer) bothers me so much?” Continue
with this until you’ve gotten to the bottom and then take whatever you find to God.
b. Consider other reasons and factor that might have been part of your anger, i.e.,
 What else had gone on that day/week that might have fueled my anger?
 Was there a “history” to the person or the “topic” that played into things?
 What were the top 5 pressures I was feeling in my life when this happened and how
might they have played in to things?
c. Turn Romans 12:18-20 into a prayer to God. Ask him to meet you in it and speak to you.
d. Close with this week’s song and Closing Prayer.
SONG OF COMMITMENT - Dear Refuge (http://1drv.ms/1icUA0x)
Dear refuge of my weary soul,
On Thee, when sorrows rise
On Thee, when waves of trouble roll,
My fainting hope relies
To Thee I tell each rising grief,
For Thou alone canst heal
Thy Word can bring a sweet relief,
For every pain I feel
But oh! When gloomy doubts prevail,
I fear to call Thee mine
The springs of comfort seem to fail,
And all my hopes decline
Yet gracious God, where shall I flee?
Thou art my only trust
And still my soul would cleave to Thee
Though prostrate in the dust
Hast Thou not bid me seek Thy face,
And shall I seek in vain?
And can the ear of sovereign grace,
Be deaf when I complain?
To be transformed by God's mercy and grace into a community of priests engaged in his redeeming work
in Atlanta and the world.
10/26-10/30 2015
No still the ear of sovereign grace,
Attends the mourner's prayer
Oh may I ever find access,
To breathe my sorrows there
Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat
Reviving Mortification: Complacency vs Adventure
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet,
Thy mercy seat is open still,
Here let my soul retreat
With humble hope attend Thy will,
And wait beneath Thy feet
CLOSING PRAYER
O God, Eternal King and Father of all mercies,
whose light divides the day from the night
and turns the shadow of death into the morning:
Show me this day what anger looks like in my life:
that I might be freed from its bitterness and resentment,
that I might grow in appreciation for the Cross of Christ.
Fill me with your love and patience that I might be more truly free.
Guide my heart and feet in the way of being a passionate peacemaker so that:
serving you I may serve others,
your Spirit might fan into flame embers that have grown cold,
entering into the resurrected life you secured for me, I might live more fully alive.
Quote & Definitions of Anger
Anyone can become angry – that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at
the right time, for the right purpose and in the right way – that is not easy. Aristotle.
Psychologists describe anger as “an emotional state that varies in intensity from mild irritation to intense
fury and rage.” When we get angry, all kind of physiological changes take place: our heart rate and
blood-pressure rises, as do our levels of energy-boosting hormones and adrenalin. Anger doesn’t only
show itself in loud aggressive behavior and throwing things around the room. There is such a thing as
passive anger, when a person punishes the target of their anger by sulking, retreating into a corner, or
even making themselves physically ill.” Graham Tomlin.
Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is
poured. Seneca. (4BC- 65AD)
We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace
with ourselves because we are not at peace with God. Thomas Merton.
Because God in Christ gets angry with us and the world, we don’t have to. We can go on, delivered of
the horribly dangerous terribly self-destructive sin of anger. William Willimon.
To be transformed by God's mercy and grace into a community of priests engaged in his redeeming work
in Atlanta and the world.
02/15 – 02/19/2016
Lent Week 2: Sloth. REGULAR Devotions
Like most sins, anger takes something good – a proper hatred of evil and injustice – and twists it into
something destructive: taking the law into our own hands and sustaining a long, smoldering campaign of
vengeance. Anger is a dangerous thing for us humans. It deceives us into thinking that because we are
in the right (and we may well be) our anger is justified, and if our anger is justified, then we can express it
how we like, or whoever it comes out. The hear of Christian wisdom on anger is that it is God’s
prerogative to exercise wrath. Although our anger can do some good, God alone can sustain righteous
anger that will truly sort things out. Our anger tends to be fueled by prejudice. “Prejudice comes from a
Latin root – pre-judice – literally judging before it is time.” Graham Tomlin
Ultimately, anger is a deadly sin because it separates us from those we ought to embrace and cherish as
fellow children of God. Anger moves us away from those we could potentially spend eternity with. As is
the case with lust, Jesus said that those who let anger take hold in their hearts case themselves into hell:
like lust, anger throws our bodies and souls into that same pile of flaming trash. Anger is not concerned
with restoration, but with revenge and dominance. Jeff Cook.
List of Deep Desires
Distorted/Deceptive Desires
 Distorted desire: you long for impact and you take control or manipulate to get it or you long for
intimacy and you look to pornography
 Deceitful desire: when you look to any material, experiential, positional, or relational desire to
satisfy a deep desire.
 Only God can truly satisfy a deep desire.
Godly Deep Desires
 Purpose, to be part of something larger, transcendence
 Relationship: to love and be loved, to pursue and be pursued, community, family
 Impact, significance
 Honor, respect, valued, understood
 To protect and provide, to be protected and provided for, security
 To come through: duty, to hear “well done”
 Beauty and creativity
 Justice and freedom
 Peace, wholeness, completion, home
To be transformed by God's mercy and grace into a community of priests engaged in his redeeming work
in Atlanta and the world.