Sermon 15 December 2015 By Bruce McCallum

1. How to respond to
criticism & judgemental
people

2. Matthew 7:1-6 (NIV)
1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the
same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with
the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 "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? 4 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? 5 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. 6 "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.

3. Matthew 7:1 (NIV)
1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

4. John 19:11 (NIV)
11 Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me
if it were not given to you from above.

5. Romans 13:4 (NIV)
4 For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do
wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for
nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to
bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

6. Galatians 1:8-9 (NIV)
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should
preach a gospel other than the one we preached to
you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have
already said, so now I say again: If anybody is
preaching to you a gospel other than what you
accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

7. 1 Corinthians 5:3 (NIV)
3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with
you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on
the one who did this, just as if I were present.
1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (NIV)
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside
the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God
will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from
among you.“

8. Matthew 7:16 (NIV)
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people
pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Matthew 7:20 (NIV)
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

9. John 7:24 (NIV)
24 Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right
judgment.“

10. 1 John 4:1 (NIV)
1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the
spirits to see whether they are from God, …

11. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NIV)
21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.

12. “If we ever know the feeling of being rather pleased
when we hear something unpleasant about another;
that is the wrong spirit”
Martyn Lloyd Jones

13. THREE SCARY REASONS YOU
SHOULD NOT JUDGE OR BE
CRITICAL OF ANOTHER PERSON

14. If you are a horrible, critical, nasty judgmental
person, you will become your own judge.
Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV)
1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the
same way you judge others, you will be judged, and
with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

15. Romans 2:1-3 (NIV)
1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment
on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the
other, you are condemning yourself, because you who
pass judgment do the same things. 2 Now we know that
God's judgment against those who do such things is based
on truth. 3 So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on
them and yet do the same things, do you think you will
escape God's judgment?

16. You don’t know all the facts.
Only God knows
1 Corinthians 4:5 (NIV)
5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time;
wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is
hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of
men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise
from God.

17. We ALL have a self-awareness problem
Matthew 7:3-6 (NIV)
3 "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? 4 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? 5 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.

18. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO
CRITICISM AND JUDGEMENTALISM?

19. 1. Feedback is your friend
2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)
2 …. correct, rebuke and encourage--with great
patience and careful instruction.

20. “Get a friend to tell you your faults, or better still,
welcome an enemy who will watch you keenly and
sting you savagely. What a blessing such an irritating
critic will be to a wise man, what an intolerable
nuisance to a fool” (C.H.Spurgeon.)

21. 2. Love people, Love God’s church, Love your
cell group, Love your family
Galatians 5:15 (NIV)
15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other,
watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

22. 3. First speak peace
Luke 10:1-5 (NIV)
5 "When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this
house.'

23. 4. Are there any limits?
YES
Matthew 7:6 (NIV)
6 "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.

24. Acts 18:6 (NIV)
6 But when the Jews opposed Paul and became
abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said
to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am
clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the
Gentiles."