February 15th

Introduction Question: Have you ever felt like you were being graded by someone and you failed the test in their mind?

Read Luke 6:37-42 as a group, and then again individually.

37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." 39 He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 "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? 42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Word List:

judge / condemn - to decide someone is bad.
parable - a story with a spiritual meaning.
pit - a deep hole that you can fall into.
speck - something very small and almost invisible.
sawdust - a tiny piece of wood.
plank - a long piece of wood.
hypocrite - when you say something, but do just the opposite.

Discussion Questions:
1. Which is easier: a) to judge, or b) to forgive? Explain.
2. Can you think of any examples of people judging other people?
3. Why do we sometimes make the mistake of judging other people?
4. How would you explain verse 38?
5. What do verses 41 and 42 mean to you?
6. Is there someone in your life who you need to stop judging and start forgiving?