Judgment is the attempt to bring things back into proper alignment.

1. Do not judge fellow believers because
a. human judgment

relationships.
Matthew 7:1-5
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 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? How 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? You 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.

2. Do not judge unbelievers because
a. God desires relational

, not behavioral

Reveal Answer

.
Matthew 7:6
Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

3. Jesus shows us another way by (John 4:1-42)
a. defying

.
b.

Reveal Answer

those who are different from us.
c. responding first with

Reveal Answer

, not moral condemnation.
d. living in

Reveal Answer

authenticity.

Question for Application/Discussion:

1. Can you recall a situation where you felt judged? How did that make you feel? How did that impact your relationships with that person?
2. Can you recall a situation where you judged someone else? How do you feel it impacted your relationship? Whether or not that person knows about your judgement, have you worked to repair that relationship?
3. Read John 4:1-42. What sticks out to you about Jesus’ interaction with the woman at the well? What other aspects of Jesus’ interaction represent a life opposed to judgmentalism?