Don’t Be So Easily Irritable

I. Introduction:

A. Picking up with a point from last week's lesson. The fact that saints are to practice forbearance implies that we could irritate each other (Ephesians 4:1-3 and Colossians 3:13).

  1. There was a dispute among the Apostles (Luke 22:24).
  2. There was an issue among Euodias and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2).

B. Being irritable: “having or showing a tendency to be easily annoyed or made angry” (New Oxford American Dictionary). So, our lesson is essentially about not becoming angry so easily.

  1. What happens when we are easily irritated (Proverbs 14:17)?
  2. Stopping things from escalating (Proverbs 17:14).

II. Body: Ecclesiastes 7:8-9

A. Having self-control (I Corinthians 9:24-27).

  1. Think about what you are without self-control (Proverbs 25:28).
  2. Self-control is part of the process of growing (II Peter 1:5-11).

B. Being at peace (Colossians 3:15).

  1. This is not the kind of peace the world offers (John 14:27 and I Corinthians 14:33).
  2. Putting in the mental work to be at peace (Philippians 4:4-8).

C. Keeping peace and unity (Romans 14:19 and II Timothy 2:22).

  1. The work it takes is a collective effort (I Thessalonians 5:11-14).
  2. Contentious individuals do not belong among the saints (I Corinthians 11:16).
  3. Being easily irritated and quickly made angry will not preserve peace or unity (Proverbs 15:18 and Proverbs 29:22).

D. Being slow to wrath (James 1:19-20).

  1. We know that becoming irritated, and even angry, is not inherently wrong (Mark 3:1-6 and Ephesians 4:26).
  2. Having said that, don’t stand on the edge of the springboard to anger ready to jump (Proverbs 14:29).

III. Conclusion: Proverbs 16:32 


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