2. What does Jesus think about anger?

3. “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”

4. Wouldn’t it hurt you for someone to say things like this to you?

5. “I hate you!”

6. “I wish you were dead!”

7. “You’re stupid!”

8. “You’re a loser”

9. “I want a divorce!”

10. “I wish we never had you!”

11. “I wish you weren’t my parents.”

12. Matthew 5:21-26

13. 1. Recognize that unrighteous anger is sin.

14. Jesus insists that we are all guilty of murder because we’ve been angry enough to kill in word or thought.

15. But I say to you...

16. The words used here.

17. 2. Notice that Jesus includes the phrase “with his brother”—“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother…”

18. Colossians 3:19 “Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.”

19. It’s been said that 90% of the friction of daily life is caused by the wrong tone of voice.

20. Ephesians 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”

21. 1 Timothy 2:8 “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.”

22. Most important if we are angry our fellowship with God is also affected, which means we lack power.

23. Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”

24. 3. There is such a thing as righteous anger.

25. Ephesians 4:26 “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.”

26. 4. So how can we get a grip on our anger?

27. ◦ Admit to ourselves and God that we have an anger problem and ask the Spirit to help us.

28. ◦ Prepare to have your buttons pushed.

29. ◦ When someone starts to rattle your chain, press the pause button.

30. Psalm 145:8 tells us to be “slow to anger.” Proverbs 14:17 tells us that The “quick-tempered do foolish things.”

31. James 1:19: “But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.”

32. Maybe you need to write this verse out on a card and tape it to your steering wheel.

33. ◦ Replace your sharp words with gentle words.

34. Psalms 52:2 David states that our tongues devise destruction and can be likened to a sharp razor.

35. Proverbs 15:1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

36. ◦Take positive steps toward reconciliation.