We’ve Got Issues

July 8, 2007 by PastorMark.

#282, We’ve Got Issues, Sunday, 07-08-2007

Text: Matthew 7:1-6
Theme: How can we help each other with our issues without judging?

Introduction:

1. I was called to serve for jury duty for a trial.
   1. Before you are picked, you are asked questions.
   2. To see if you have pre-judged the case already.
   3. To see if you are related to the defendants, lawyers.
   4. My responsibility was to listen, learn and study the facts.
   5. After deliberation, we were to come to a decision.
   6. We were making a judgment without being judgmental.
2. Jesus is very interested in our relationships with each other.
   1. He knows we all have faults, weakness, “issues”.
   2. He knows our tendency to fault-find and judge.
   3. He also knows we need each other to discover and overcome issues.

Question: “How can we help each other with our issues without judging?”

1. *What does the Bible teach us about judging?
   1. Judge=Krino, “to distinguish, to decide.” Some places we are instructed to not judge, other times we are to judge.
   2. There is a wrong kind of judging.
   3. We can become critical, fault-finding, and we prejudge people.
   4. Example: There was a story in the “Daily Bread” about a minister who went on a cruise across the Atlantic Ocean. On the first day, he met his roommate. About a half hour later, he went to see the cruise director. He said, “Normally I don’t do this, but I was wondering if I could leave my gold watch in the ship’s safe. I met my roommate and judging from his appearance, he doesn’t seem like a trustworthy person. He looks like the kind of guy who would steal.”
   5. The cruise director said, “No problem. In fact, your roommate left his wallet with us about ten minutes ago for the same reason!”
   6. Those two guys were judging each other based on their outward appearances. They were jumping to conclusions before they knew all the facts! How many of you have ever done that? How many of you have ever jumped to conclusions before you knew “the rest of the story?”
   7. We can find pleasure in another’s fall.
   8. Ex. The woman caught in adultery (John Chapter 8 )
   9. This wrong kind of judging received strong warnings from Jesus:
   10. “You too will be judged” (v. 1).
   11. “In the same way you judge others, you will be judged” (v. 2).
   12. Note: Thank God Jesus didn’t judge us!
   13. There is a right kind of “judging” (discern, decide).
   14. We are to rightly judge doctrinal issues.
   15. Stand for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
   16. “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.” (2 John 10).
   17. We are to judge sin in the church.
   18. “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” (I Corinthians 5).
   19. We are to judge behavior not motives.
   20. Ex. What if a policeman pulled me over for speeding and I said, “But officer, you don’t understand what’s going on in my life right now…”
   21. Note: “The Bible says ‘don’t judge’’” becomes an excuse to do wrong and not be held accountable.
2. How are we to help each other with issues?
   1. Don’t just look for people’s faults.
   2. Ex.: I heard a story about a five-year-old boy named Andrew. While visiting a neighbor with his parents, Andrew pulled out his kindergarten class picture and immediately began describing each classmate. “This is Robert: he hits everyone. This is Stephen; he never listens to the teacher. This is Mark; He chases us and is very noisy.” Pointing to his own picture, Andrew commented, “And this is me. I’m just sitting here minding my own business.”
   3. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye? (v. 3).
   4. 1 Corinthians 13:7 (Amplified)—“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, it’s hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].”
   5. Don’t pre-judge people. (Prejudice)
   6. Deal with your own issues first.
   7. “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye” (v. 5).
   8. “Everybody wants to change the world; nobody wants to change himself.”
   9. It’s amazing how we condemn in others what we so easily excuse in ourselves. (Dirt always seems dirtier on you than on me.)

YOU VS. ME

You’re arrogant…I’m self-confident

You’re rude…I’m assertive

You’re obnoxious…I’m funny

You’re always late…I’m delayed

You’re lazy…I’m well-rested

You’re mean…I’m firm

You’re a procrastinator…I’m cautious

You’re a gossip…I’m a “sharer of concerns”

You’re immature…I’m young at heart

2. 10. Deal with others after your own eyes are clear (v. 5).
   11. Repentance produces sensitivity.
   12. Note: Deal with the issues of others as you would if you were working on their eye. Ex. To take something out of someone’s eye, you need their trust, and the right tools.
   13. Galatians 6:1—“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”

Conclusion:

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

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