Anger

A weathered stone chisel rests on a rough-hewn block, its dull edge glinting in the golden hour sunlight streaming through a stained glass window. faint scratches and nicks mar the once-sharp blade, the tool now worn down from countless hours of moses's frustrated labor in sculpting the ten comelementdments.

The Danger of a Moralistic Moses: When Anger Management Replaces the Gospel

The sermon is a topical message on anger, using four instances from Moses' life as negative examples. The homiletical approach is entirely moralistic, presenting Moses as a case study in failed anger management, with the application being a call to 'try harder' with the Holy Spirit's help. This method fails to connect the Old Testament narrative to its fulfillment in Christ, leaving the congregation with the Law's demand without the Gospel's power. Furthermore, the closing prayer utilizes the language of Decisionism, weakening the presentation of God's sovereignty in salvation.

Read MoreThe Danger of a Moralistic Moses: When Anger Management Replaces the Gospel
A rusted anchor, once firmly planted in a bed of stones, now rests atop a driftwood log washed up on a beach. gnarled branches and rough sand surround it, as shafts of golden evening light illuminate the scene.

Beyond Behavior: A Theological Review of ‘Disciplining Anger’

The sermon correctly identifies the sinfulness of unbridled anger and offers sound pastoral applications based on James 1:19. The gospel is clearly articulated as the solution for sin. However, the homiletical approach is a significant weakness; the sermon uses the text as a launchpad for a topical talk on behavior rather than a deep exposition of the passage. This results in a very low Text-to-Talk ratio, starving the congregation of the Word itself and causing the sermon to drift towards moralism, where human effort is emphasized over the Spirit's power.

Read MoreBeyond Behavior: A Theological Review of ‘Disciplining Anger’