STEP 6. RESTRUCTURE MY LIFE to rely on God’s grace and Word to transform my life.
Below is a video from the “Overcoming Anger” seminar of The Summit Church (Durham, NC). For the various counseling options available from this material visit www.summitrdu.com/counseling.
NOTE: Many people have asked how they can get a copy of the seminar notebook referenced in this verbal presentation. You can request a copy from Summit’s admin over counseling at counseling@summitrdu.com (please note this is an administrative account; no individual or family counsel is provided through e-mail).
“I have learned a great deal about my self [list with examples], my sin [list examples], and my Savior [list with examples]. Because of these truths I want and need to make the following changes [list]. My temptation is to see these things as ‘what I do’ rather than merely cooperating with and celebrating God’s grace in my life.”
Equip Seminars – Anger Pt6 from The Summit Church on Vimeo.
The PDF life restructuring tool from chapter 6 — Life Restructuring Plan
Memorize: Ephesians 4:29-32 (ESV), “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” As you memorize this passage reflect upon these key points:
- “No corrupting talk” – Your standard of speech is that your words should never tear others down.
- “Only… building up” – Your words should strive to cooperate with God’s activity in the life of others.
- “Grieve the Holy Spirit” – As a Christian your words always serve as an ambassador for God.
- “Put away” – The goal is not to merely tame the tongue but remove these traits from your life.
- “Forgave you” –You undertake this effort as a forgiven, redeemed, and indwelt child of God.
Teaching Notes
“It would be impossible for a moral being to stand in the presence of perceived wrong indifferent and unmoved (p. 107).” B.B. Warfield in “The Emotional Life of Our Lord” from The Person and Work of Christ.
“The wise and foolish are distinguishable by how they get angry (p. 43)… Jesus did not live a calm life; He cared too much (p. 48).” David Powlison in “Understanding Anger: Part 1” in JBC (Fall 1995).
“Changes in location, situation, education, training, exercise, or the nature of the relationship will not solve the problem. The tongue is humanly untameable! It is a powerful, restless evil that leaves all of us confounded (p. 37).” Paul Tripp in War of Words
“Anger must be directed toward destroying the problem, not toward destroying the person.” Jay Adams in What Do You Do When Anger Gets the Upper Hand? (brochure)