Leader Guide
This week we begin a new series focused on emotions. Not to dismiss them, brush them to the side for later, or put them above the truth, but to understand their purpose. Scripture shows us that emotions are a gift from God. Jesus Himself experienced grief, anguish, compassion, and righteous anger. At the same time, the Bible consistently warns us not to let our feelings become the primary guide for our decisions or morality.
In our culture, emotions are often treated as either a problem to manage or a truth to follow, but God offers a better way. Emotions show us what is happening in our hearts and guide us to deeper truths. They should not be in the driver’s seat of our lives. This week we will explore how emotions function, where they can mislead us, and how being rooted in Christ allows us to respond with wisdom, love, and maturity.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start:
Leader: This section is meant to start meaningful conversation, engage with God’s truth, and connect it to everyday life. Life Group leaders should not assume everyone in the group is a Christ follower. However, participation in a Life Group suggests a willingness to explore faith and spiritual topics. Encourage openness and honesty and pray for the Holy Spirit to lead both the discussion and the people in your group.
Icebreaker: On a scale of 1-10, where would you say you generally fall emotionally?
1= emotionally flat or distant, or 10= very expressive or easily moved (cries at Hallmark movies)
Does your number change depending on the environment you’re in (work, home, friendships)?
In what ways do you feel pressure - spoken or unspoken - to manage your emotions differently in different spaces?
1. Read John 11:35, Luke 22:44, John 2:15–17. What emotions do you see Jesus experiencing in these passages? What does this tell us about whether emotions themselves are good or bad?
Leader: Scripture shows us that Jesus experienced deep emotion. He experienced grief, stress, anguish, and righteous anger. Emotions aren’t sinful or a sign of spiritual weakness. The issue is not that we have emotions, but how we allow them to shape our responses and decisions.
2. Read Proverbs 14:12–13, Jeremiah 17:9–10. What warnings do these verses give about trusting our own hearts? Why do emotions often feel like a trustworthy guide, even when they aren’t? How often do we hear ourselves say, “I just don’t feel like…” when making decisions?
Leader: The Bible doesn’t say emotions are evil, but it does say they can be deceptive. Our feelings don’t always align with the Truth. When emotions dictate our morality, actions, or reactions, the result is often confusion, regret, or harm.
3. Read Proverbs 27:19. How do our emotional reactions reveal what’s happening beneath the surface? If someone is consistently angry, numb, defensive, or overwhelmed, what might that point to?
Leader: The answer is not always to control emotions. It is often necessary to check the root. Emotions are indicators. They reveal what we are rooted in. Like Pastor Will said, if the fruit is bad, check the root! Scripture invites us to examine the soil of our hearts.
4. Read 1 John 3:16–20. According to this passage, how does Scripture define love? Why does John emphasize action over feeling? Where is it hardest for you to love when you don’t feel like it (marriage, parenting, work, difficult relationships)?
Leader: Biblical love, Agape love, is a choice rooted in action and in truth. Even when our hearts accuse us or mislead us, God is greater than our hearts. When we are rooted in the truth of God’s love for us, it becomes easier to walk in forgiveness, service, and love toward others, even if we might feel like they don’t deserve it.
Action Step:
This week, practice allowing emotions to be signals, not drivers.
Choose one of the following:
When emotions run high, pause and ask:
“What am I rooted in right now—my feelings or God’s truth?”
Before reacting emotionally, ask:
“Am I responding out of emotion or truth?”
Identify one relationship where you will choose to love through action—even when you don’t feel like it.
Optional – Deeper Dive
Read Hebrews 5:11–14. How does spiritual maturity change the way we process and respond to emotions? What does it look like to move from being driven by emotion to being guided by discernment?
Leader: Maturity doesn’t mean the absence of emotion; it means learning to respond with wisdom. Like children, we all have emotions. But spiritual growth helps us move from being ruled by them to being formed by truth. Encourage the group to extend grace to themselves and others as they grow.