HotSermons
educate equip enable
Sermon Illustrations: Anger
Anecdotes
A woman went to see the director of a large camping program and told him the sad story of her divorce. “How long ago was your divorce?” he asked. “Two years ago,” she replied. “How many people have you talked to this week about your divorce?” “A few,” she said. “How many is a few?” “Several,” she replied. “How many is several?” “Six!” “You know, if I were to talk to six people a week for two years about my divorce, I think I would feel like you do. I don’t think that I would heal either.”
Have you ever been in a fight with someone and your words were pretty heated and the telephone rings? Notice how quickly you can manage your anger! You've got a lot more control over your anger than you think you do.
Anger Transference involves displaced anger. This is where you are originally angry with one person and you transfer it to someone else. For instance, a husband gets a blast from his boss, comes home and takes it out on his wife. She then takes it out on the kids, who kick the dog, who bites the cat and so on right down the line. And too bad for you if you're right at the bottom of the food chain!
His father and grandfather were abusers. He was sexually, physically and mentally abused as a child, living in a brutal home. When he was about fifteen, his father was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. He became a chronic drunk, drug taker, brawler, and feared for his own sanity. He grew up damaged and bitter. Was he angry? You bet. He's known as rock star Angry Anderson. Today, however, Anderson is channelling his anger into promoting positive causes.
When Julius Caesar was angry, he used to recite the Roman alphabet before responding. (Then he'd have them executed.)
It's easy to get uptight when we see people getting away with things they ought not to get away with. For instance, an aging movie star has been married for 20 or so years, dumps his wife for some gorgeous bombshell. Then there are people who light bushfires deliberately, seemingly oblivious to the pain they cause. In January 2002, there were hundreds of kilometres of bushfires in New South Wales, Australia. Many were deliberately lit, and many homes were lost. Or take for example a murderer who gets off on a technicality. Or when you're driving, don't you get just a little bit angry when you indicate to change lanes and someone zips up in the other lane and tries to cut you off? But God tells us not to fret or be angry. (Ps 37:7-10)
Why is psychoanalysis quicker for a man than a woman? Because when it?s time to go back to his childhood, he?s already there.
Quotes
Anybody can become angry. That is easy. But to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose and in the right way - that is not within everyone's power and is not easy. Aristotle
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
There is some evidence to suggest that if you assume a smile then your physiology follows and you become happier and less able to be angry.1
I was angry with my friend, I told my wrath my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe I told it not my wrath did grow. William Blake.
A little pot is soon hot.
Speak when you are angry, and you will make the finest speech you will ever regret.
The best way to win an argument is to avoid it.
It'll only get your goat, if you?ve got a goat to get.
Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one. Benjamin Franklin
1 De Bono, Edward Six Thinking Hats p 18