How to Improve Your Personal Relationships

Matthew 7:1-5 Do not judge, or you too will be judged Matthew 7:1-5 Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 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? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:6-8 Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:9-12 Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others - v1-6 & 12.

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. A. By having the right attitude. Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 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? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. - v1-5

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. A. By having the right attitude. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. - v1 1. Judge (κρίνω) = come to a conclusion, rule, govern.

So - to criticize is to make yourself someone else’s judge! I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. A. By having the right attitude. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. - v1 1. Judge (κρίνω) = come to a conclusion, rule, govern. So - to criticize is to make yourself someone else’s judge!

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. 2. The Sliver & the Board. 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? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. - v3-5

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. 2. The Sliver & the Board. 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? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. - v3-5

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. 2. The Sliver & the Board. 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? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. - v3-5

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. 2. The Sliver & the Board. 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? How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. - v3-5

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. 2. The Sliver & the Board. The lesson: The only one qualified to correct a fault is he who has successfully corrected that fault in himself!

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. 3. Judgments the Lord wants you to make:

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. a. You are to determine who the false teachers are. Romans 16:17 - I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. b. You are to decide if teachings are true or false. I John 4:1-3 - Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. c. You must not tolerate gross immorality. I Corinthians 5:11 - But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. A. By having the right attitude. B. By having the right conduct. So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. - v12

How can the “Golden Rule” be expressed? I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. How can the “Golden Rule” be expressed?

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. How can the “Golden Rule” be expressed? 1. Positively: Decide to do for others what you would want them to do for you!

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. How can the “Golden Rule” be expressed? 2. Negatively: Decide not to treat others the way you would not want to be treated yourself!

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. How can the “Golden Rule” be expressed? 3. Responsively: Decide to do for others what you would want them to do for you even when they are treating you badly!

How can the “Golden Rule” be expressed? I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. How can the “Golden Rule” be expressed? 3. Responsively. Romans 12:20 - If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. (Proverbs 25:21-22)

I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. - v1-6 & 12 II I. How to Have a Right Relationship with Others. - v1-6 & 12 II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. - v7-11

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. A. By asking in prayer. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. - v7

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. A. By asking in prayer.  Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! - v9-11

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. A. By asking in prayer.  Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! - v9-11

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. A. By asking in prayer.  Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! - v9-11

Conditions for Effective Prayers! II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. Conditions for Effective Prayers! 

Conditions for Effective Prayers! II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. Conditions for Effective Prayers! John 14:14 - You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Conditions for Effective Prayers! II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. Conditions for Effective Prayers! John 14:14 - You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. Matthew 21:22 - If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

Conditions for Effective Prayers! II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. Conditions for Effective Prayers! John 14:14 - You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. Matthew 21:22 - If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. I John 5:14-15 - This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him.

Conditions for Effective Prayers! II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. Conditions for Effective Prayers! Jeremiah 33:3 - Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. 3. You must ask with perseverance! 

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. 3. You must ask with perseverance!  Genesis 18

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. 3. You must ask with perseverance!  Genesis 32:22-30

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. 3. You must ask with perseverance!  I Kings 18:41-45

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. A. By asking in prayer. B. By seeking in Bible study. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. - v7

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. B. By seeking in Bible study. 1. Prayer saturated with Bible study helps you pray within God’s will!

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. B. By seeking in Bible study. 1. Prayer saturated with Bible study helps you pray within God’s will! 2. Bible study saturated with prayer helps you understand what you read!

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. A. By asking in prayer. B. By seeking in Bible study. C. By the knocking of Christian service. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. - v7

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. C. By the knocking of Christian service. 1. Knocking is when you expect the door to open!

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. C. By the knocking of Christian service. 1. Knocking is when you expect the door to open! 2. Doors open for those who are really serious!

II. How to Have a Right Relationship with God. C. By the knocking of Christian service. 1. Knocking is when you expect the door to open! 2. Doors open for those who are really serious! 3. Joy, meaning & purpose come with open doors!

“I have come that you may have life & that you might have it more abundantly!” John 10:10