Categories: Preparing for Sunday

Do Not Judge

Dear Friends,

The hardest command from the sermon on the mount is also the most important, “DON’T JUDGE!”  The tendency to proudly compare and condescend to others is a destructive and witness destroying sin. Jesus and the apostles condemned it repeatedly and severely.

Luke 18:11-12 “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'”

As Religious people, we are especially vulnerable to this tendency because we know the truth of God and speak for God it is easy to begin to play God. This is the most common form of Idolatry. We can do it all under the excuse of I am only “fruit inspecting”. Jesus and the apostles gave a lot of attention to combating this gross sin. We can all do it. We can even be judgmental toward judgmental people. This Sunday we will explore what this is and why we must make a daily effort to not do this in thought or word. We must combat this in our homes and in our media presence. Imagine what power presence the Holy Spirit would manifest through our church if we did not grieve Him so often by judging. What a difference it would make if we would repent and obey Gods word in this area.

Rom 14:10-13 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this–not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.

See you on Sunday,
Joe

STEPS TO PREPARE

PRAY FOR THE SERVICES AND FOR YOURSELF
AND ME AND THE OTHER TEACHERS.

PRAYERFULLY READ THE SCRIPTURES
AND CONSIDER THE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS.

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND A PREACHING SERVICE AND A SMALL GROUP.

INVITE SOMEONE TO COME WITH YOU.

PREPARING FOR SUNDAY: SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Mat 7:1-5 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Rom 14:10-13 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this–not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.

Jas 3:9-10 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

Jas 4:11-12 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

  • Why does Jesus and the Apostles warn so much about judging?
  • What is judging?

kree’-no
Properly to distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish: – avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think. Criticize.

  • Describe an experience where you felt judged and how it affected you.
  • Why should we avoid judging others?

Mat 7:1-2 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”

  • How do feel about Gods promise to Judge you exactly as you judge?
  • How can we stop this? our standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

Mat 7:3-5 “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

  • Make a spiritual examination of yourself. What logs reside in your own eye right now?

Gal 6:1-3 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

  • What is required of the truly spiritual person when they see someone sinning?
  • Lay it out publicly to make a stand for God?
  • Why is it so hard to remember our goal for people is restoration, not probation?
Joe Martin

Senior Pastor - Click Here for full profile