Those People Week 4: Critical People

• Aaron and Miriam criticized Moses. Numbers 12:1-8
• People criticized Paul for being a bad speaker. 2 Cor. 10:10
• Pharisees criticized Jesus for eating with sinners and healing on the Sabbath. Mark 2:16, Luke 13:14

CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

• NEVER IGNORE THE
  Reveal Answer
  OF CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

³¹If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. ³²If you reject criticism, you only harm yourself… —Proverbs 15:31-32 NLT

DEALING WITH UNJUST CRITICISM

• 1) GOD, HELP ME KNOW WHEN TO
  Reveal Answer
  TO CRITICISM.
  

  Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, “Why have you treated us like this?… And they criticized him sharply. ²But he answered them… —Judges 8:1-2 NLT
  …When the men of Ephraim heard Gideon’s answer, they were no longer angry. —Judges 8:3 NLT

• 2) GOD, HELP ME KNOW WHEN TO
  Reveal Answer
  INVALID CRITICISM.
  

  ²³ When they hurled their insults at [Jesus], he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. —1 Peter 2:23
  Good General Rule
  Don’t take

  Reveal Answer

  from somebody you wouldn’t go to advice
  

• 3) GOD, HELP ME OVERCOME MY OWN
  Reveal Answer
  NATURE.
  

  Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. —Proverbs 12:18 NLT

• Share a time when you received constructive criticism. How did you respond to it?
• What steps do you need to take to put God’s opinion of you ahead of other people’s opinion?
• How have you been unjustly critical of others? What will you do to overcome your own critical nature?