4. A Measure Running Over Luke 6:37-42 p. 951

Famous Words  “Judge not, and you will not be judged” (v 37)  Move from Moralism to Grace  Last week – first part of the sermon:  Those hungering to end poverty & unrighteousness - God is acting  Called us to be as the prophets: speaking truth  Be part of reversing sin: by loving enemies, forgiving, …

1. God’s Purpose: Judgment or Forgiveness?  Four parallel statements (v 37-38):  Judge not, and you will not be judged;  condemn not, and you will not be condemned;  forgive, and you will be forgiven;  give, and it will be given to you.  Jesus, God himself, went to his death – for US.  God is not a stern judge recording our every mistake.

1. God’s Purpose: Judgment or Forgiveness?  He calls us to New Life: fullness, joy, peace  Turn away from judgment & condemnation.  Turn towards forgiveness & generosity. We will begin to understand God’s love for us  God is not trying to judge and condemn  He wants to forgive and bless abundantly. He is asking us to join Him

1. God’s Purpose: Judgment or Forgiveness?  God’s promise: a measure running over.  Part of God’s character (Luke 6:35-36)  God will ensure that our reward will be great  God is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.  God is merciful.  We should be wary of Moralism, embrace Grace.

2. God’s Plan: Being like the Teacher.  The teacher to be like, is JESUS!  If the blind lead the blind, both fall into a ditch.  Helping each other: e.g Peer tutoring.  Help those newer in the faith  Help those going through something we have gone through.  Goal: become like the true teacher. i.e. WWJD?

2. God’s Plan: Being like the Teacher.  Those who are “fully trained” (v 40)  The process of training & practice cannot be bypassed  Takes diligence, patience and hard work.

3. God’s Point: We ALL fall short.  This is the reason to be forgiving & generous.  Our struggle: we like to know our position in the rankings  Am I doing well?  Am I producing good work? The wrong question!

3. God’s Point: We ALL fall short.  Right Question – Am I what God intends me to be?  Being better than someone else is irrelevant.  God never makes me higher than anyone else.  E.g. Jesus’ words: Luke 9:48; Mark 9:35  Follow Rom. 12:3 and we realize we fall way short.  Help others out of our weakness & failure (Gal 6:1)

Living It  Moment of Reflection  Been a victim of judgmental attitudes – let Jesus heal  Been judgmental & condemnatory – let Jesus forgive  God is merciful, forgiving & generous  Embrace it for yourself  Be it for others.

Living It  Seems almost contrary to other stuff we know –  “Do not judge” does not mean “Do not be discerning”.  Some things are right or wrong.  What Picture is Jesus painting?  It is about being. Same action, different attitude.Same action, different attitude.  It is where I am and what I am doing. It is not more; doing it in a grace-filled way.It is not more; doing it in a grace-filled way.