Front Row Faith - Do Not Judge

We're confronted with one of Jesus' most challenging yet most misunderstood teachings: 'Do not judge.' This message takes us deep into Matthew 7:1-5, where Jesus addresses the log in our own eye before we dare point out the speck in someone else's. The sermon unpacks why we judge so frequently—spiritual blindness that comes from ignoring the Holy Spirit's conviction, insecurity-driven pride that elevates us by diminishing others, the dangerous comparison game where we thank God we're not 'like them,' and our own unhealed brokenness that hasn't truly received forgiveness. What's particularly powerful here is the distinction between hypocritical, self-righteous judgment that Jesus condemns and biblical discernment that He actually commands. We're called to church discipline, spiritual discernment, and loving restoration—not condemnation. The real-life story of a two-hour Uber ride with a Muslim woman named Aminah illustrates how our prejudgments rob us of divine appointments and keep us from seeing people as God sees them. This isn't about never making judgments; it's about examining our hearts first, acting with mercy, and remembering we all stand on equal ground at the foot of the cross. The call is clear: drop the stones we're hiding in our pockets and become people who restore rather than condemn.