Week 3: Letting Go of Judgment
LOOKING BACK
Family Time (15 mins)
LOOKING UP
Worship (10-15 min)
As we continue in this series on Loving One Another, let’s begin our time by looking at Jesus, who gives us the model of how to love. We’ll sing the verses for this series from John 13, and then fix our eyes on the one who’s loved us first through worship.
Scripture Discussion (25-30 mins)
Either get into small groups of 5-6, or stay as a large group. Have a few people read out these two verses in different versions. We suggest NIV and MSG this week.
Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV) 7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “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? 4 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? 5 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.
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.
Matthew 7:1-5 (MSG) “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
Questions:
Personal Reflection: We suggest playing some instrumental music while people reflect. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjecnmV38pI&t=3438s
Sharing & Prayer
Get into smaller groups of 3-4. Have everyone share:
Announcements (3 mins)
All event details found at epicentre.org/events!
Family Time (15 mins)
- Vision: Invite someone to share your Lifegroup’s vision.
- Connect question: Share a fact about you that nobody would be able to guess based on just meeting you.
- Announcements (see epicentre.org/events)
- God-story Sharing (5 min): (something you can ask people to sign up to do ahead of time) have one person share the way they've seen God move in their life lately. End in having someone else do a short prayer of thanks & blessing for that person.
LOOKING UP
Worship (10-15 min)
As we continue in this series on Loving One Another, let’s begin our time by looking at Jesus, who gives us the model of how to love. We’ll sing the verses for this series from John 13, and then fix our eyes on the one who’s loved us first through worship.
- John 13:34-35 (Verses) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7pypxcDO0c
- In Christ Alone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn9-UNer6MQ
- Humble King: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV_3l6Ng5lA
Scripture Discussion (25-30 mins)
Either get into small groups of 5-6, or stay as a large group. Have a few people read out these two verses in different versions. We suggest NIV and MSG this week.
Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV) 7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “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? 4 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? 5 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.
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.
Matthew 7:1-5 (MSG) “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
Questions:
- What stands out to you from this passage?
- What questions do you have about this passage?
- What does this passage reveal about God?
- What does this passage reveal about people?
Personal Reflection: We suggest playing some instrumental music while people reflect. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjecnmV38pI&t=3438s
- Are there areas in your own heart where God is highlighting where you’re not living in alignment with Him?
- Are there areas where you treat other people with judgment or criticism? If so, confess these things to Him.
- What is one thing God is asking of you in light of this passage? One good way of thinking about this is making an “I will …” statement.
Sharing & Prayer
Get into smaller groups of 3-4. Have everyone share:
- What did God speak to you during your reflection time?
- How might we grow as a Lifegroup or as a larger church in this area?
- Are there any areas of thankfulness or prayer needs you’d like to share?
Announcements (3 mins)
- Medical/Dental/Optical Clinic & Outreach (Saturday, May 18th, 9am-3 pm - Acts of Mercy (AOM) is providing a free medical, dental and optical clinic in Glendale for under-resourced individuals in our area. Will you help us join the team to run the clinic? We need all kinds of people, including medical providers and those who can volunteer, pray, and serve.
- Freedom Day (Saturday, July 27, 9am-4:30 pm) is a one-day gathering that empowers you to remove those things from your life that might be hindering you from having a deep relationship with God. We believe that through Jesus’ death & resurrection, He desires for us to be set free from pain, brokenness and lies through receiving Jesus’s transformational healing in our hearts!
- Churchwide HOPE Room: Saturday, May 4th, 6-8 PM A time and space for us to come together as one body, corporately, to pray, hear God's voice, and worship together at the church office.
- Weekly Sunday Prayer - Every Sunday at 9:30 am, we gather to pray for our church community and invite God's presence. Meet us in the gym near the worship band.
All event details found at epicentre.org/events!