Sunday 2 nd 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) 1O Lord God, my heart is steadfast, and with all my soul I’ll sing. 2Harp and lyre I will awaken, and my song the dawn will bring.

PSALM 108:1-5* (2/4) 3LORD 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) 4For 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) 5Far 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) 8Give 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) 9In 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) 10Among 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) 11Let 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 news- sheet 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* (p. 38) 7You 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) 8I 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) 10The wicked’s woes will much increase; but those who trust the LORD His cov’nant mercy will surround. 11You 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

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 minimise your own)? Jesus unmasks 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.

God Calls Us to delight in Christ and to Share His Hope. Join us for Tea & Coffee Served now in the church hall.