A Clear and Present Anger?
Deuteronomy 20:16, 17; Psalm 103:8-14
Richard Dahlstrom, Senior Pastor, stepbystepjourney.com
One of the most difficult questions in the Bible has to do with God’s character as revealed in the Old Testament passages invoking genocide and violence on others. Failure to understand these passages has been a barrier to faith for many, and led to the church’s participation in horrific violence. A closer look, however, reveals an invitation to love and a discovery of healthy anger.
I. Presenting Problem
II. Solution
III. Conclusion
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Discussion Questions
Before questions, attempt to give the group a bit of a summary of the main points of the sermon and then choose a few questions that fit your group’s needs and style. We don’t intend for you to use all of these. Three to five questions may be a good number.
Activity Option:
Lead the group through the Breath Prayer Practice found on page 13 of the Portrait Guide and process the four questions below the exercise description.
Icebreaker Questions:
1. What is the longest book you have ever read cover to cover? What drew you to finish the book’s all the way through?
2. What is your favorite food, that you are glad is now considered “clean food”?
Discussion Questions:
3. How in the past have you understood God’s anger?
4. What challenging Bible scripture(s) do you wrestle with?
5. Pastor Richard talked about interpretation; how do you decide if a passage of scriptures is a “timeless principle” or a “timebound event”?
6. Read Hebrews 1:1-14 aloud as a group
a. If the full revelation of God is in Jesus Christ, what does this mean to you as an individual?
b. What are the full implications?
7. Accommodation is not an endorsement but meeting someone where they are at. Who do you need to be more gracious with, accommodating them, so that you can be the presence of Christ to them?
8. What is God accommodating in your life?
9. What area of brokenness is God meeting you in?
10. Pastor Phil talked about a new ministry and reconciliation to the Duwamish Tribe. What are your thoughts on this? (Feel free to contact him at philm@churchbcc.org with questions or comments from your group!)