Home Group Study Questions // July 26th

What Would Jesus Say Session 20: What Would Jesus Say About Judging Others?

 

[Matthew 7:1–6]

  1. How have you been judged by others in serious or silly ways? How have you responded to such criticism? When has their judgment or criticism been helpful? When has it been hurtful?
  2. What are situations where you have you been tempted to speak or think judgmentally about others? What standard or values are you using when making those judgments? How have your critiques been received?
  3. What is the problem that Jesus exposes in Matthew 7:3–5 when people try to exercise judgment and help others? How have you experienced this from the side of the person who is trying to help? How have you experienced this as the person who is being helped?
  4. Describe the process of taking “the log out of your own eye.” What needs to happen? How does this happen? (See also Psalm 139:23–24; 1 John 1:8–9)
  5. What does Jesus warn us against sharing in verse 6? The Gospel, our opinions, something else? How is your answer consistent with what Jesus says in Matthew 7:1–5 and Matthew 28:18–20?
  6. When are Christians called to be discerning and exercise judgment and when are we to “judge not?” What is the standard by which we are to “measure” and exercise “judgment”? (2 Corinthians 2:2,14–15)
  7. How is Jesus and the power of the Gospel the solution both for your problems (the log) and the issues other people have (the speck)? What should we be ready to share with people and what should be guarded with a careful filter? (1 Peter 3:13–18)
  8. Discuss how one might us the S.P.I.R.I.T. acronym to deal with bad fruit (logs) that the Holy Spirit reveals. Walk through S.P.I.R.I.T. with a hypothetical example that deals with anger, anxiety, or another bad fruit. Discuss this process as a group. How might you use or adapt this model? (See the image summary on the next page for the acronym)
  9. Identify situations in which you may face judgment/criticism or be tempted to offer unhelpful opinions. Pray together that each of you will point to Christ, not yourselves, with gentleness and respect when helping others.