A 4-Week Spiritual Growth Unit on the Problem with Judging
(Part of our Crossroads 7th-12th Grade Curriculum)
Suggested Calendar: February 2-23
For those who know sports, you know a referee's judgment calls are (ideally) neutral - not based on favoritism or bias, but pure truth. That ball was out of bounds; this player was unnecessarily rough; this team was offsides.
In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus blew the whistle on us too commanding us not to judge and warning us of the potential fouls judging tends to bring.
Too often we cast harsh judgment on others and ourselves despite Christ's warning of these fouls, because, let's face it, sometimes we want people to feel bad for things they've done wrong, we want them to "pay." Looking at conflicts in the Bible, we will examine how our Lord blew the whistle on judgmental fouls and taught on avoiding them in the future.
Whether its judging others or judging ourselves, we hope our teens see that Christ's message emphasized extending God's grace, love, and forgiveness because we, in turn are in desperate need of that same grace, love and forgiveness.
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." Matthew 7:1-2