DON'T BE ANGRY 

1. Anger Can Begin with Wrong Thinking 

Key Scripture: Proverbs 23:7 (KJV): "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." 

• What we believe influences how we respond emotionally. 

• Believing that we must become angry whenever someone mistreats us can lead to unnecessary emotional struggles. 

• We must replace wrong thinking with the truth of God's Word. 

• Our emotions should not control our decisions. 

Additional Scriptures: 

• Romans 12:2 — Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

• 2 Corinthians 10:5 — Bring every thought into obedience to Christ. 

• Proverbs 4:23 — Guard your heart because the issues of life flow from it. 

Key Spiritual Truth: Changing the way we think according to God's Word helps change the way we respond.

2. God Commands Us to Put Away Bitterness, Rage, and Anger 

Key Scripture: Ephesians 4:31 (KJV): "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice." 

• God does not want bitterness and uncontrolled anger to govern our lives. 

• Anger may arise naturally, but we are responsible for how we handle it. 

• Holding on to anger can produce bitterness, resentment, and destructive behavior. 

• Through the Holy Spirit, believers can develop self-control. 

Additional Scriptures: 

• Ephesians 4:26–27 — Be angry without sinning, and do not give place to the devil. 

• James 1:19–20 — Be slow to speak and slow to wrath, because human wrath does not produce God's righteousness. 

• Colossians 3:8 — Put off anger, wrath, malice, and filthy communication. 

Key Spiritual Truth: We may experience anger, but we do not have to allow anger to control our actions.

3. Jesus Demonstrated the Power of Forgiveness Instead of Anger 

Key Scripture: Luke 23:34 (KJV): "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." 

• Jesus was mocked, rejected, mistreated, and crucified. 

• Despite His suffering, He responded with forgiveness rather than retaliation. 

• Jesus demonstrated that the actions of others do not have to determine our response. 

• As followers of Christ, we are called to imitate His love and forgiveness. 

Additional Scriptures: 

• 1 Peter 2:23 — When Jesus was insulted, He did not retaliate. 

• Ephesians 4:32 — Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving toward one another. 

• Romans 12:21 — Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

• Colossians 3:13 — Forgive others as Christ forgave you. 

Key Spiritual Truth: Forgiveness is a powerful expression of love and spiritual maturity, even when others treat us unfairly. 

4. God Has Given Us the Responsibility to Choose Life 

Key Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV): "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live." 

• God gives human beings the responsibility to make choices. 

• He instructs us to choose what leads to life and blessing. 

• Our emotional responses involve choices that can influence our relationships and spiritual growth. 

• Choosing forgiveness, peace, and love reflects the life God desires for us. 

Additional Scriptures: 

• Joshua 24:15 — Choose whom you will serve. 

• Galatians 6:7–8 — We reap according to what we sow. 

• Romans 8:6 — To be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

• Proverbs 15:1 — A soft answer turns away wrath. 

Key Spiritual Truth: God guides us toward the right choices, and we are responsible for responding to His guidance.

5. Our Emotional Responses Are Not Determined Solely by Other People's Actions 

Key Scripture: Proverbs 16:32 (KJV): "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." 

• We cannot always control how people speak to us or treat us. 

• However, their behavior does not have to determine how we respond. 

• Emotional maturity involves learning to respond wisely instead of reacting impulsively. 

• Through God's grace, we can develop patience and remain peaceful during difficult situations. 

Additional Scriptures: 

• Proverbs 19:11 — Wisdom makes a person slow to anger, and overlooking an offense is honorable. 

• Romans 12:18 — As much as possible, live peaceably with everyone. 

• James 3:17 — The wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, and full of mercy. 

• 1 Thessalonians 5:15 — Do not repay evil for evil, but pursue what is good. 

Key Spiritual Truth: Other people may influence how we feel, but we can learn to choose how we respond instead of allowing their behavior to govern us.

6. We Must Accept Responsibility and Believe That We Can Change 

Key Scripture: Galatians 5:22–23 (KJV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." 

• Emotional change begins when we acknowledge our responsibility for our responses. 

• We must stop believing that anger and bitterness are impossible to overcome. 

• God has provided believers with the Holy Spirit to help them develop self-control. 

• Through renewing our minds and walking in the Spirit, we can grow in emotional maturity. 

• Our past emotional habits do not have to determine our future behavior. 

Additional Scriptures: 

• 2 Timothy 1:7 — God has given us a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. 

• Philippians 4:13 — We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. 

• Galatians 5:16 — Walk in the Spirit and do not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 — Anyone in Christ is a new creation. 

Key Spiritual Truth: We are not powerless against destructive emotional habits. Through Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, genuine change is possible.