Grow Group Questions // October 3rd, 2021
What is God Like PT. 3 // Exodus 34:6
Introduction
Today we continue in our series of “The Glory Encounter” by looking at the latter half of Exodus 34:6 at God being “slow to anger”. Moses has been in conversation with God and through this conversation has pleaded with God to show Moses “His ways” and “His glory”. As God is passing before Moses He proclaims truths about himself and out of all the myriad of characteristics and attributes God has He chooses to use words like “love and faithfulness.”
To get the most out of your group time, we invite you to look over the questions below and write your thoughts down before you meet with your group.
Ice Breaker Questions
Here are some possible ways to get a conversation started:
If you were given a full day of rest, what would you do with that time?
Where would you spend your perfect vacation? What would you do?
Getting Started
Open up with some prayer, some possible prayer topics:
God would lead your time of discussion
That this study would help our understanding of who God is.
As we grow in our understanding of who God is it would also stir our affections and worship of Him and lead us into loving Him and others more.
That God would help us heal any anger in our hearts.
Discussion Questions
We see that the Lord is “slow to anger” with Israel and continues to bless and protect them despite their turning toward idols. In what areas of our life is the Lord having to be patient with us? Read Romans 2:4. What benefit are the Lord’s kindness and patience is to us?
On Sunday we talked about the difference between being irritated (self-focused) or being grieved (sorrowful at sin's destructive effects on someone else) Thinking about sometimes you recently have become angry, was it irritation, or were you grieved? We are often quick to become angry with the people closest to us. Who are some people that are the quickest to frustrate or make us angry? Is there anyone we need to go to and seek forgiveness from?
In what circumstances have we given up ground to the enemy through our anger? What prevents me from confessing that anger and, canceling the ground, and commanding the enemy to depart? Let's walk in Jesus' authority in this!
Living in a sinful world means that we are going to do things that hurt others and others are going to do things that hurt us. We also know as Christians that God does not hold grudges against us. With that in mind, are there people we are still holding grudges and bitterness toward? What is a step we can take toward healing and restoration with those people?
Read James 4:1-3. What is often the cause or root of our anger toward people? How do we change our perspective of people to help ease our anger? How does God view those people? Is that similar or different than how we see those people?
Closing Prayer
Prayer can often be somewhat of a weird time and we understand can be awkward to pray out loud so as your group grows in comfortability ask people to pray out loud. Prayer is a very effective tool the Holy Spirit uses to draw our hearts closer to God. It is also a time you as a group can come together and come before the throw of God and make requests and just experience Him.
Some suggestions:
Ask if there are any prayer requests.
Pray that Jesus would use the week to reaffirm the truths discussed here.
Pray that God would reveal the areas where anger is being allowed to seep in aand submit that over to Him.
Personal Spiritual Practice
This section is for anyone that wants some practical steps to try throughout their week. they are not required, but maybe a great way to reinforce what has been discussed during group. Maybe this could even be a way to check in either during the week or the next time you meet as a group.
Journal: Each day this week and take time to journal the different emotions you felt that week. Write down each emotion you felt and what sparked that emotion. Take time to not just write about each emotion but pray and bring them before God. If there is repentance needed with the Lord take the time to seek that with the Lord. If the feelings were leading you into fear or anxiousness, take that before the Lord and lay that at His feet.
Apologize: Anytime you get irritated, self-focused, with someone this week, maybe your spouse, kids, co-worker, employee, etc. take the time to go and apologize. Admitting you are wrong often will help in diffusing the anger or bitterness that can be felt and help move toward restoration.