05-09-2021

Rev. Trevor Johnston, Pastor Efrain Silva (Español)
Sermon Series: Mistaken Identity
Week 5: Angry god
English PDF file for printing.
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1. Read our memory verse for this sermon series, which tells us how to get the most true picture of what God is like - Hebrews 1:3: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.  After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

This Sunday we celebrated Mother’s Day. Share a little about your own mother or a significant mother figure in your life if you wish.

This week we’re looking at what we call “Angry god.”

2. Is there a difference between what you believe about God intellectually (in your head) as opposed to what you believe about God in your “gut”?  Talk about that.

Problematic Idea:  God is angry at sinners.

3. Pastor Trevor talked about how many people go through life believing that God is angry and vengeful. This belief tends to cause people to live in fear of God, which eventually leads to feelings of disdain, distrust and even rejection of God.

Have you ever been in that mindset that God is angry with you for something you have done or not done? Share about that, and talk about where you think that mindset came from.

Disclaimer:  We’re NOT saying sin isn’t serious!

4. While many in the world will teach that sin doesn’t really matter to God, especially when referring to our own sin, the Word of God tells us differently.

Read Hebrews 9:22

"In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

  Now read Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus.”

What do you glean from these passages about how God feels about sin?

5. Read Romans 1:18

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”

What does the word ‘wrath’ mean in your mind?

6. Christian author and theologian Miroslav Volf grew up in war torn Yugoslavia before migrating to America. He witnessed many atrocities of ethnic cleansing, genocide and destruction, which caused him to conclude that he would have to rebel against a God who wasn’t wrathful at the evil cruelties and injustices that go on in the world.

He stated: “God isn’t wrathful in spite of being love. God is wrathful because God is love.”

What did he mean by that?

Consider that God’s wrath is actually his grief about sin. The truth is that God hates sin, but he LOVES sinners!

7. Read Luke 15: 1-2, 11-24

“Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”…” 11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to[a] one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[b] 22 But the father said to his servants,[c] ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

8. In verses 1 & 2, can you tell how the religious leaders of Jesus’ day felt about sinners? How does this differ dramatically from the point Jesus is making in this parable about how God feels about sinners?

9. In Jesus’ day, the treatment of the son towards his father in asking for his share of the inheritance was insulting and hurtful (verse 12). Do you think the father hated his son or his son’s sin? Do you think God hates sinners or sins?

10. Pastor Trevor calls that moment described in verses 15 – 17 a “Pig Pen Moment.” Read those verses again, and share a time in your life when you have found yourself in a particular circumstance because of bad choices and finally ‘came to yourself’.   

11. Re-read verses 20-24. How is the father’s response to his retuning son like our heavenly Father when we turn toward Him?

12. Read John 8:2-11

2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.

Talk about Jesus’ instructions to the woman in verse 11. Is he angry with her? Explain your response.

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