When In Rome: Those People R Us

Here are some questions to help you process this message and apply it to your life:

1. On Sunday we heard some short, pithy sayings that are full of practical wisdom, like “slow and steady wins the race”. What are some similar sayings that you’ve heard or used? 

2. Garry shared how it’s far easier to point out other people’s behaviours, faults or sins. Why do you think that is? Why do we do it?

3. You [referring to Christians] therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Romans 2:1 (NIV)

Those verses speak to hypocrisy - saying one thing but doing another. In this case, calling someone out for doing something when we’re doing the same thing. To quote a phrase, it’s “the pot calling the kettle black”. Share a time when you have judged someone else for something you do yourself. 

4. “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 7:1-5 (NIV)

What does taking the plank out of our own eye look like in a practical sense? How do we actually remove the plank? How do we know we have a plank to remove?

5. What other questions, thoughts or observations came up for you in this week’s message? 

6. Commit to talking with God this week about what part you could play in sharing the good news of Jesus to those in your circle of influence who may not have heard it.