PREPARE

Knowing Jesus changes the way we see ourselves, others, and the world around us. This perspective shift is necessary for living as Kingdom Citizens with Kingdom attitudes towards our self and others. God gives us wisdom whenever we ask Him and helps us to see our own sins and to know how to walk in wisdom towards outsiders. (See Colossians 4:5-6 with Hebrews 4:14-16)

Prepare for this week’s teaching by reading Matthew 7:1-6 with 2 Corinthians 5:11-21

ATTEND

Verses: Matthew 7:1-6

Main Point: Followers of Christ must humbly seek God’s discernment to know how best to help others and point them to Jesus.

1. Do Not Judge: (Matthew 7:1-2)

2. Plank and Speck: (Matthew 7:3-5)

3. Casting Pearls: (Matthew 7:6)

REFLECT

1. What impacted you most from this week’s message? What challenged you or encouraged you? What did you learn about the character of God? How did this week’s sermon affect your perspective on God or your perspective on yourself?
2. Do you think you are a judgmental person? Why or why not? What situations in life do you struggle with judging people inappropriately?
3. Read Matthew 7:1-2. What was Jesus prohibiting in these verses? What is the difference between judgement and discernment?
4. What did Jesus mean when He said, “For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”? How will people who judge be judged with the same judgment?
5. Read Matthew 7:3-5. What is the difference between a speck and a plank? What point was Jesus making with the outrageous example? What is required to “see” the other person’s situation clearly?
6. Why did Jesus call the plank-eyed person a hypocrite? What does it mean to remove the plank from your eye?
7. Read Matthew 7:6. How were dogs and pigs viewed in Jesus’ time? What does it mean to not give the dogs what is sacred or pearls to pigs? What point is Jesus making?
8. How do we determine if we are doing what Jesus commanded not to do in this verse? What is required for right discernment?

ACT

- What is one specific thing you can do this week to put into practice what you learned in this message?
- How can you deepen your relationship with God and follow Him more closely this week?
- Who is someone you can share what you learned with?