Sunday 2nd September 2007
Morning Service
Jesus – THE EARLY YEARS
Jesus and Judgement
Luke 6:37-45
“…Why do you look at the speck of
sawdust in your brother's eye...” Vs 41
PSALM 108:1-5* (p. 146)
1 O Lord God, my heart is
steadfast,
and with all my soul I’ll sing.
2 Harp and lyre I will awaken,
and my song the dawn will
bring.
PSALM 108:1-5*
(2/4)
3 LORD my God, among the
nations,
I will ever give you praise;
In the midst of all the peoples
I will sing of you always.
PSALM 108:1-5*
(3/4)
4 For your steadfast love is
boundless,
greater than the heavens
high;
And your faithfulness towards
us
reaches even to the sky.
PSALM 108:1-5*
(4/4)
5 Far above the highest heavens
be exalted, O my God;
And through all the earth
around us
let your glory spread abroad.
Brief Prayer
Prayer of Approach to God
Children’s Talk
PSALM 96:7-11 (p. 358)
7 Do ye ascribe unto the
LORD,
of people ev’ry tribe,
Glory do ye unto the LORD,
and mighty pow’r ascribe.
PSALM 96:7-11
(2/5)
8 Give ye the glory to the
LORD
that to his name is due;
Come ye into his courts,
and bring
an offering with you.
PSALM 96:7-11
(3/5)
9 In beauty of his
holiness,
O do the LORD adore;
Likewise let all the earth
throughout
tremble his face before.
PSALM 96:7-11
(4/5)
10 Among the heathen say,
GOD reigns;
the world shall stedfastly
Be fixed from moving; he
shall judge
the people righteously.
PSALM 96:7-11
(5/5)
11 Let heav’ns be glad before
the Lord,
and let the earth rejoice;
Let seas, and all that is
therein,
cry out, and make a noise.
Prayers of Intercession
Followed by a Unison Prayer
Seeking God’s blessing on the
reading of His Word
(See the back page of the newssheet for the words of the prayer.)
UNISON PRAYER
 Great
Father in heaven,
 We pray that You would
incline our hearts to You,
 Bringing Your thoughts
into our minds each day.
UNISON PRAYER
 We
pray that You will
open our minds to Your
Word.
 Please unite our will to
Your perfect holy will.
UNISON PRAYER
 And
please satisfy us
with Yourself,
above all other things.
 We ask this in
Jesus’ name.
 Amen.
Scripture Reading
Luke 6:37-45
Jesus – THE EARLY YEARS
Jesus and Judgement
Why do you look at the speck of
sawdust in your brother's eye…?
Luke 6:37-45 (p. 1034)


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.
Luke 6:37-45 (p. 1034)



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.
Luke 6:37-45 (p. 1034)


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?
Luke 6:37-45 (p. 1034)



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.
43 "No good tree bears bad fruit,
nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
44 Each tree is recognized by its
own fruit.
Luke 6:37-45 (p. 1034)


People do not pick figs from
thornbushes, or grapes from briers.
45 The good man brings good
things out of the good stored up in
his heart, and the evil man brings
evil things out of the evil stored up
in his heart. For out of the overflow
of his heart his mouth speaks.
PSALM 32:7-11*
7
(p. 38)
You are my hiding-place,
O LORD,
my true security.
You keep me safe in
troubled days;
You circle me with joyful
praise
when you have set me free.
PSALM 32:7-11*
(2/4)
8 I will instruct you by my word
and guide you in my way.
My counsel I will give to you;
My eye will keep your path
in view
and watch you day by day.
PSALM 32:7-11*
(3/4)
9 Do not be like the horse or
mule
which cannot understand;
They must be curbed and
kept in check
As bit and bridle turn their
neck,
to go where you command.
PSALM 32:7-11*
(4/4)
10 The wicked’s woes will
much increase;
but those who trust the
LORD
His cov’nant mercy will
surround.
11 You righteous, let your joy
abound
and praise the LORD your God.
Sermon
Jesus – THE EARLY YEARS
Jesus and Judgement
Why do you look at the speck of
sawdust in your brother's eye…?
Reading: Pew Bible page 1034-5
Jesus, Judgement, and Reality TV
Luke 6:37 - "Do not judge, and you will not be judged.”



Are you hooked on The
Apprentice, Big
Brother, or X-Factor?
Why are these
unscripted shows so
popular?
Because we love to
gossip, and we enjoy
judging others???
Reality TV ???
1 – When it’s WRONG
to Judge (37-38)



Jesus is not opposed to
good sense, but he
deplores a judgment that
loves to condemn.
Grain in the lap – a
metaphor of generosity.
How lavish are we with
forgiveness? Too ready
to find faults?
Lavish,
generous
forgiveness
2 – When it’s RIGHT
to Judge (39-40)



Jesus expects his
followers to have biblical
discernment.
Two metaphors: a blind
leader, and an
unteachable student.
Choose your teachers
with great care. Don’t be
gullible: think!
A blind teacher
1 Kings 3 – Solomon’s Prayer



7 "Now, O LORD my God, you have made
your servant king in place of my father
David. But I am only a little child and do not
know how to carry out my duties.
8 Your servant is here among the people
you have chosen, a great people, too
numerous to count or number.
9 So give your servant a discerning
heart to govern your people and to
distinguish between right and wrong.
For who is able to govern this great people
of yours?"
3 – How to Judge Yourself (41-42)
(Jesus banishes hypocrisy)



Jesus clearly used HUMOUR
to teach… the slapstick of an
ophthalmic-surgeon with a
huge plank in his own eye!
Such blindness is COMMON.
We do not know ourselves!
Do you maximise the
faults of others (and
Jesus unmasks
minimise your own)?
all hypocrisy
3 – How to Judge Yourself (41-42)
(Jesus banishes hypocrisy)




The answer: know how to
examine yourself.
Dealing with our “planks” is
very difficult…
The difficulty is no
excuse to avoid the
Lord’s Table, or to fail to
repent.
Do we need to repent of a
judgmental heart?
Jesus unmasks
all hypocrisy
4 – The Judgement Others Must
Form of You (43-44)



Always be recognisable as a
Christian – your life is being
watched!
Others will continue to form
harsh judgements. Show
them real fruit.
Show them what you grow
from your heart (45).
Jackfruit – an
abundant fruit
in Asia
4 – The Judgement Others Must
Form of You (43-44)


Listen to yourself today: The good man
brings good things out of the good
stored up in his heart, and the evil
man brings evil things out of the evil
stored up in his heart. For out of the
overflow of his heart his mouth
speaks. (Luke 6:45).
Remember – you need a Lord and a
Saviour. Appeal to his mercy.
PSALM 67:1-7*
(p. 84)
1God be merciful and bless
us;
shine upon us with your
face,
2That the earth may know
your actions
and all lands your saving
grace.
PSALM 67:1-7*
(p. 84)
3 O God, may the
peoples praise you;
may all peoples sing
your praise.
4 For you judge the
nations justly,
ruling over every race.
PSALM 67:1-7*
(p. 84)
May they sing with joy and
gladness;
may they all rejoice as one.
5O God, may the peoples
praise you
as they all unite in song.
PSALM 67:1-7*
(p. 84)
6Then the land will yield its
harvest;
God will pour his gifts
abroad.
7God, our God, will surely
bless us;
all the earth will fear our
God.
Join us for
Tea & Coffee
Served now in
the church
hall.
God Calls Us to
delight in Christ
and to Share
His Hope.