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When Emotions Take Over

Sermonette by Ted E. Bowling

Emotions, including fear and anger, are a gift from God, but we must use them responsibly. Uncontrolled emotions can keep us from the Kingdom of God.

How Emotions Affect Spiritual Maturity

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Emotional immaturity is a pervasive issue, blinding individuals to rational solutions in moral dilemmas. It is characterized by a lack of control over feelings, allowing emotions to dominate actions without reasoned thought. An emotionally immature person is often moody, driven by whichever emotion is strongest at the moment, unable to guide their impulses with a sound mind. God endowed humanity with minds to direct actions through reason and knowledge, yet emotional maturity must be learned, ideally from childhood, to fulfill His purpose for human life. The development of right character, central to human existence, requires mastering emotions to make wise decisions. A tragic example of emotional immaturity is seen in a highly educated man who, despite vast knowledge, failed to understand or control his own moods and desires. Pampered as a child and never taught self-restraint, his emotions overruled his mind, leading to the destruction of his marriage, family, and career. His inability to direct his feelings rationally warped his perception, causing suffering to himself and others. Emotionally, he remained at the maturity level of a child, between ages 8 and 12, despite physical and mental growth. Emotions are strong feelings or impulses—such as fear, anger, grief, joy, and desire—that disturb the calm state of rational thinking. They prompt actions not yet approved by the mind. Without control, these emotions can bypass reason, leading to harmful reactions like anger or violence. Emotional maturity involves harmonizing reason and emotion, developing skills like self-awareness, empathy, and the ability to delay gratification. These skills, crucial for coping with negative feelings, must be taught early in life to prevent issues like substance abuse, aggression, loneliness, and depression, all rooted in emotional immaturity. Training in emotional maturity should begin in infancy, alongside mental development. It involves controlling and directing feelings, tempers, and impulses such as anger, jealousy, hatred, fear, grief, resentment, selfishness, and pride. Since the right direction aligns with God's law of love, which emphasizes outgoing concern for others, children must be taught to use their minds to guide moods toward this principle. Emotional immaturity manifests as uncontrolled outbursts, loud talking, rudeness, or bursts of anger, reflecting human nature unchecked by a reasoning mind. The seriousness of emotional maturity is evident in personal growth and spiritual development. Achieving real Christian growth and perfection requires emotional stability. Emotions, designed by God, are not to be eliminated but guided by mind control into the proper conduit of His law. The contrast between human emotional immaturity and God's controlled responses highlights this need. God's anger, always righteous and deliberate, never results in loss of control, unlike human anger, which often erupts impulsively and destructively. Human anger, when unchecked, becomes wrath and sin, whereas God's wrath is a measured response to disobedience, reflecting His holy character. Emotional maturity is essential for spiritual maturity. Without self-control, spiritual growth is stunted. True spirituality, guided by the Holy Spirit, fosters a sound mind and rational control of emotions, not their suppression or unbridled expression. The emotionally mature express joy, compassion, sympathy, and reverence in worship, combining controlled emotion with physical health and a Spirit-led mind. This balance develops hand-in-hand with physical, mental, and spiritual growth, ultimately blending into the perfect spiritual character God intends for humanity.

Love's Emotional Dimension

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Love doesn't become 'love' until we act. If we don't do what is right, the right feeling will never be formed; emotions are largely developed by our experiences.

Developing EQ to Overcome Fear

Sermonette by Bill Onisick

The emotional cues which influence our behavior are complex, often tracing back to events in our youth that demand a compensatory physiological response.

What Lies Beneath

Sermonette by Joseph B. Baity

If we let our emotions rule, we can lose a lifetime acquisition of reputation in a split second. When Jesus Christ undergirds us, there is stability.

What You Feel vs. What You Believe

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Feelings and emotions may throw our faith off course. Our moods are mercurial and we must control them with daily prayer and Bible study.

Are Your Feelings Fighting Your Faith?

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Today's Christianity is more theatrics than theological; feelings have become the replacement for faith, eroding spiritual growth and character.

Love and Fellowship

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Fellowship with God is the only antidote to overwhelming feelings of despair, doubt, and self-condemnation.

Overcoming Troubled Hearts (Part One)

CGG Weekly by Clyde Finklea

With His crucifixion before Him and His departure from this life near at hand, Jesus encouraged His disciples with some final help for troubled hearts.

Disinterestedness: Our Spiritual Iron Dome

Sermon by David F. Maas

Solomon used self-reflexiveness to detach himself and remain disinterested to objectively describe the consequences of an array of life's experiences.

John (Part Twenty-Two)

Sermon/Bible Study by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jesus encouraged His disciples by promising to send the Holy Spirit to empower them for the challenges of the Christian life, making us sensitive to God.

Marriage and the Bride of Christ (Part Eleven)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Our concept of marriage must be positive and more mature, modeled after Christ's attentiveness toward the Church, as opposed to the world's distorted concept.

Truth and God's Governance (Part Three)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

God puts people where He wants them and gives them the responsibilities that He desires them to fulfill. They can be either faithful or unfaithful leaders.