Summer Litany (Is. 55:1a & John 4:11)
Water Pourer: Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters,
Everyone else: the living water from Jesus.
Scripture – James 1:19-20
19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;
20for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.
Prayer
Loving God, this week has been a sad one in our city. It is sad when people hurt others. Help us to remember that You are good.
Help us to remember that Your righteousness is about having a right and good relationship with You and with those around us. Amen.
Questions
- Have your feelings ever been hurt? Share a time when this has happened.
- Have you ever been angry? What made you angry?
- Do you think that angry people are sometimes people whose feelings are hurt? Why or why not?
- It can be hard to listen to someone when we are angry. The writer James does not say we cannot be angry. Rather, he writes that we should be slow to anger. Do you know when you are getting angry? Are there clues like how your body reacts (some people begin to clench their fists or their ears become hot and red); or what thoughts you think (I think this person is saying something mean); or what emotions you feel (I feel like hitting this person)? What are some healthy actions we can take so that little things do not build up, like frustration or hurt feelings, so that we do not become angry quickly (i.e. some people run, others talk to someone they trust, some people turn to music, etc.)?
- How can we turn to God and the truth in God’s word to help us be slow to anger (prayer, reciting a Bible verse like a mantra, …)?