Love is Patient

Welcome To REUNION

We are glad that you are here. We hope that you feel save, welcomed and relaxed. We are going to read the Bible, pray, sing a few songs and listen to a short Lead In. We might even have discussions But.. you’re invited to participate as much as you want. No expects you to speak or share. We do invite you to remain present. We believe that remaining present - even in our minds - is an act of love.

Notes:

Patient:

• In English patient means: able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.

• In the greek, maybe even your own translation of the bible it mean Makrothymia – Be “Slow to Anger.” 

  • what is the difference between tolerance and being slow to anger?

Be Slow to Anger: There is a progression in our anger captured in greek:

• ORGE: being upset that someone or something has devalued something or someone you value.

  • orge is a natural response! Orge is okay!

• Parorgismos or paraorge (para): down under anger or anger from down under. This is suppressed or submerged anger.

  • We swallow anger: this is an unnatural response to a natural reaction (orge)

• Thymos: HOT ANGER!

  • When someone snaps: often a blown out of proportion reaction in light of the trigger.

Anger and Patience? What makes you Impatient?

• Patience is other’s centred way of living

  • impatience is a self centred way of living.

Agape: choice to ascribe worth to another person, often at a cost to oneself.

• Patience is a choice but a state of being that places the other person’s life/agenda on equal or even high value than your own.

Wes is learning:

• Accept and Reflect

• Creating Margin for Disruptions

• God Wears off on Me

Break out Questions:

• When you approach a yellow light while driving what do you do? 

• What is an area of your life tries your patience?

• How do you deal with Anger: speak it, swallow it, pray it won’t pop? 

• Paul invites us to be slow to hot anger.

  • What do you wonder, think or know about the connection between anger and patience? 

• Patience is an other’s oriented way of living. How to do you feel about this statement?

• Wes provided a few things he’s learning about Patience: 

  • accepting & reflecting, creating margins for disruptions and connecting to God.  Is there one of these you find helpful? Do you have other suggestions? 

• What is the difference between tolerance and patience? 

  • How does tolerance help our communities? 

  • How might Patience help our communities differently?

• What is God saying to you and what are you going to do this week?