JUDGING—SHOULD WE JUDGE PEOPLE OR NOT?

Judge: form an opinion or conclusion about

Judgmental: having or displaying an excessively critical point of view1

Matthew 7:1-5 1Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

John 7:24 Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.

Romans 2:1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 1It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? 3For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. 6Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? 7Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

REMEMBER:

Invite ‘em ____________

Invite ‘em ____________

Don’t _____________

Don’t _____________

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS IN LIFE GROUP OR WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Passages to consider: Acts 6:8-15, 7:51-60; Matthew 5:38-48; Ephesians 4:2-3; 1 Peter 3:15-17

1. What impacted you from the sermon?

2. Read Acts 6:8-15, 7:51-60. What do you observe about Stephen and his situation?

3. In what ways has the definition of “hate” been shifted in your world? Or what have you noticed about expressing opinions or offended-ness? A) How has this impacted you?

4. When you have a disagreement or different views, how do you handle the situation? (Be as real and honest as possible.)

5. Take a look at Ephesians 4:2-3 and 1 Peter 3:15-17. What stands out in these passages? A) What challenges you personally?

6. What is God, through the Holy Spirit, His Word, and His people saying to you? A) How will you respond? Think specific and practical.