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Are you new to Lakes Free? Please take a moment and fill out our digital connect card.  We would love to connect with you this week and say thank you for worshipping with us.

Vocational Scholarship Fund: Lakes Free provides scholarships for students going into full-time ministry. Must be a junior or senior in a Christian college or a student in seminary going into full-time Christian ministry. Applications should be turned in by May 1. If you would like to contribute to the Vocational Scholarship Fund, you may do so at any time. Contact the church office for an application.

Lakes Free Golf League: Mondays, 5:15pm | Begins May 6 | Chisago Lakes Golf Course. Come and be part of building relationships with other Christian guys. All levels of play welcome! For more details and cost, pick up an info sheet at Next Steps. Please contact Tom Tengwall, 651-214-1197 to sign up.

Summer Camp Scholarships: We are offering scholarships for our kids, Kdgn-12th grade, to attend Camp Shamineau and other Bible Camps this summer. One per child/per year. Contact the church office for details and to get a sponsorship code. Camp Shamineau is now accepting registrations and offers a discount if paid in full by April 1.

Red Cross Blood Drive: Monday, April 22, 10am-4pm. Sign up to donate here.

Congregational Meeting: Sunday, May 5, 12:00pm, Worship Center. At this meeting we will approve new members, hear updates, and vote on a candidate for Pastor of Student Ministries.

New Member Candidates: The Elder Board has interviewed and    recommends the following individuals be accepted for membership at our Congregational Meeting on May 5: Gerald & Marlene Kern, Max & Elsie Rymer, Charles & Lois Durenberger, Chris & Vicki Taylor, Mark & Louise Bye, Deloris Bethke, Darrell & Sue Anderson, Larry Pearl, Mark & Nancy Carlson.

Family/Child Dedication Class: Sunday, April 28, 9:00-10:20am, one-session class for parents/guardians interested in Parent-Child Dedication. This class is mandatory for those who have never taken it before and would like to dedicate their children at the Parent/ChildDedication service on Sunday, May 12. Sign up here.

Lakes Free 101 – An Introduction to the Life and Ministry of Lakes Free Church: Sundays, April 14, 21 & 28 | 9:00am | Room 219. A three week class for newcomers to our church. If you’ve been attending our Sunday morning worship services for a few weeks or a few months, and are ready to get more acquainted with us, this class is for you!

Vacation Bible School: June 10-14. For kids who have completed K-5th grade. Cost: $15. Register here

The Dangers of Being Judgmental
Matthew 7:1-6
Pastor Scott Roen

Matthew 7:1-6

It is dangerous to be judgmental.

Three warnings:

1. It is dangerous to be judgmental in general because we are then taking on God’s role as the judge. 1-2

• We are bringing God’s judgment on ourselves when we are judgmental.

“Put simply, self-righteousness [being judgmental] is the art of always being most bothered by somebody else’s sin. It’s pursuing a PhD in the faults of others while being content with a GED-level grasp of your own.

To the degree you’re aware of and grieved by your own faults, you’ll extend charity toward others. To the degree you’re not, you won’t.

And most chillingly, Jesus says that with the measure you extend charity or condemnation to others, the Judge of heaven will dole it out to you.” -Eric Bargerhuff

Psalm 32:3-4
1 Cor 3:13-15

1. Ask yourself three questions:

Do you take pride in your strong opinions?
Do you always feel the need to share them?
Do you generally assume you have all the facts, or at least better facts?

2. Be quicker to encourage than to criticize.

• We are not listening to God speaking to us about our sin when we are judging other’s sins.

2. It is dangerous to be judgmental in Christian relationships because, even though we might attempt to help our brother or sister in Christ, (which is what we are supposed to do), we might do more harm than good. Vs. 3-5

What our Lord means to condemn is a . . . fault-finding spirit. A readiness to blame others for trifling offenses, or matters of indifference; a habit of passing rash and hasty judgments; a disposition to magnify the errors and infirmities of our neighbors, and make the worst of them. -J.C. Ryle

• Jesus is warning us that if we are attempting to help someone while being judgmental of them, we may do more harm than good.

So how do we speak to our brothers and sister without being judgmental?

Approach our brothers and sisters as equals.
“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder…” 1 Peter 5:1

Approach our brothers and sisters gently with the goal being their spiritual growth.
Brothers, if any one of you is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness…Bear pone another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ…for if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. – Galatians 6:1-3

3. It is dangerous to be judgmental as we engage our culture because then the gospel will be veiled – Vs. 6

• They won’t hear the gospel message that can save them.

John 3:17
Mark 10:45
1 Tim 1:16
Titus 2:11-12

Ultimately, only one thing can break the sin of being judgmental – humility.

Sermon Discussion Questions

Questions for Reflection

1. As you reflect on Jesus’ warning, has God spoken to you about being judgmental?
2. When have you experienced someone being judgmental to you?
3. When have you witnessed someone being judgmental to another brother or sister in Christ? How might you go to that person without being judgmental?

Questions for Discussion

1. Given the NT admonition to help each other deal with our sinfulness, how can we at Lakes Free nurture a culture of accountability that is not judgmental?
2. As we engage culture, what specific behaviors, by well-meaning Christians, communicate being judgmental? How might this apply in this election year?

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