Speaking the Truth in Love: Part 2
Preached on 5.30.10 by Heath Lambert
<a href=”http://crossinglouisville.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/sermons/misc/speaking_the_truth_in_love_part_2.pdf”>Sermon Notes</a>
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<a href=”http://vimeo.com/12263134″>Speaking the Truth in Love Part 2 – Heath Lambert</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user634056″>Crossing Church</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a>.
<em><sup>1</sup>Judge not, that you be not judged. <sup>2</sup>For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. <sup>3</sup>Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? <sup>4</sup>Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye’, when there is the log in your own eye? <sup>5</sup>You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.</em>
<em>(Matthew 7:1-5)</em>
How can we rebuke a fellow Christian in a redemptive way?
<strong><span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>1. Believe the best of your brother or sister (<em>Matt 7:1-2</em></span></strong><strong><span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>)</span></strong><ul> <li> Jesus does not mean that we do not make any kind of evaluative judgment<ul> <li> Jesus encourages some judgments in the context of this passage (<em>Matt 7:6, 15-20</em>)</li> <li> What Jesus condemns is harsh and critical judgments that believe the worst of someone</li></ul></li> <li> Believing the best<ul> <li> DOES NOT MEAN you ignore evidence or get taken advantage of</li> <li> DOES MEAN you give the benefit of the doubt as long as possible</li></ul></li> <li> What does this look like?<ul> <li> Refuse to think only about the faults of your brother or sister</li> <li> Refuse to think you have no responsibility for the sin</li> <li> Refuse to think that change is impossible</li></ul></li></ul><strong><span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>2. Take responsibility for your own sin first (<em>Matt 7:3-5</em></span></strong><strong><span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>)</span></strong><ul> <li> Jesus forbids arrogant rebuke where you skip over your own sin and focus only on the sin of your brother or sister</li> <li> You must be humble and ask what responsibility you share<ul> <li> Did your sin create a context for the sin of your brother or sister?</li> <li> Did you respond to the sin of your brother or sister in a sinful way?</li></ul></li> <li> Where can you humbly identify with the sinfulness of your brother or sister?</li></ul><strong><span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>3. Point out the sin of your brother or sister in a spirit of service (<em>Matt 7:5</em></span></strong><strong><span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>)</span></strong><ul> <li> Just because you have a beam in your eye does not mean there is not a speck in the eye of your brother or sister</li> <li> Jesus wants to use each of you in the life of the other to make you more like him</li> <li> The goal: HELP not HARM</li></ul>