Why am I such a judgmental jerk? I recently asked God this question while in prayer and, just as promised in His Word (Luke 11:9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you), He answered me. I am going to […]
Whenever I preach a sermon that includes the account of James’ and John’s mother asking Jesus for preferential treatment of her sons, I chuckle, as does the congregation. It’s a ‘roll your eyes’ type scenario, where a mother’s partiality is on full display and her children are completely onboard. It makes me think about how
Unrighteous Indignation Read More »
Raise your hand if you’ve attained sinless perfection. Ok, that’s a dumb request. I mean, who’s arrogant enough to believe this about themselves, right? How about just close to perfection, or really good? Am I getting warmer? How about just good? Or how about everyone’s favorite – are you at least ‘better’ than someone else
An Understanding Heart Read More »
My wife and I had a good chuckle the other day while studying our Bibles together. Somehow, after discussing John 1, we ended up in Romans 2. That’s one of the things I enjoy most about studying the Bible in groups, even if it’s just two of us…you always end up meandering through the scriptures, talking open-endedly
Confessing Someone Else’s Sin Read More »
I struggle with anger sometimes. I’m a pastor. I ought to know better. But a man’s heart is a man’s heart, right? I cannot suppose I am able to control it, modify it, or play pretend with it. Only God can change it, and He has. And yet, here I am, struggling… Struggling with what,
My Struggle With Disdain Read More »
OUTLINE: When we judge wrongly, we are being deceived by sin.Lk 11:46 [Expanded]Jesus answered, “How terrible for [Woe to] you, you experts on the law! You make strict rules that are very hard for people to obey [burden people with burdens hard to carry], but you yourselves don’t even try to follow those rules [or
Part 7 – The Deceitfulness of Sin Read More »
OUTLINE: JudgingThe deception that sin would like us to believe is that we aren’t so bad ourselves, and/or it blinds us to seeing we are falling in the same area we are judging another, so we then become hypocrites, not judging ourselves rightly. Ro 2:1, Mt 7:1-5, 1Co 11:31 1Co 11:31But if we judged ourselves rightly,
Part 6 – The Deceitfulness of Sin Read More »
OUTLINE: JudgingWe cross the line between righteous and unrighteous judging when we suppose we have the ability to judge someone else’s motivation in the absence of admission. Therein lies our human limitation. JudgingOur flesh is so trained to draw conclusions from what is seen. The Bible tells us, “the righteous man shall live BY FAITH” (Ro 1:17). No Sure FootingNothing is ever assured
Part 5 – The Deceitfulness of Sin Read More »
OUTLINE: JudgingOur flesh is so trained to draw conclusions from what is seen. The Bible tells us, “the righteous man shall live BY FAITH” (Ro 1:17). A. W. TozerThe world of sense intrudes upon our attention day and night for the whole of our lifetime. It is clamorous, insistent, and self-demonstrating. It does not appeal to our faith; it is here,
Part 4 – The Deceitfulness of Sin Read More »
OUTLINE: On JudgementThere’s nothing wrong with righteously judging right from wrong. Our judgement translates into evil when we cast a sentence upon another, suggesting punishment, even. Balance StatementWe are not to become “judge and jury” over spiritually private matters, supposing this or that punishment “fits the crime.” For example, we cannot judge another’s heart, only
Part 3 – The Deceitfulness of Sin Read More »