How quick are you to judge someone’s outfit, their anger, or their life choices? We all do it—but what if the harsh conclusions we make about others reveal something deeper about our own hearts? This message challenges us to stop accumulating planks in our own eyes so we can finally see others—and Jesus—clearly.
How quick are you to judge someone’s outfit, their anger, or their life choices? We all do it—but what if the harsh conclusions we make about others reveal something deeper about our own hearts? This message challenges us to stop accumulating planks in our own eyes so we can finally see others—and Jesus—clearly.
A weekly guide to carry the conversation beyond Sunday morning.
Ask God to help your group see themselves honestly, to cultivate compassion for others, and to grow in Christlikeness through this discussion.
Question: On a scale of 1-10, how judgmental were you on the way to church/group this morning? What triggered that response?
Leader Note: This is the exact question Pastor Josh opened with. Keep it light but honest. The goal is to help people recognize how automatically we judge others—even in small moments like someone’s driving or outfit choices.
Question: Pastor Josh mentioned that we all operate with a “standard of normalcy” throughout our days, and when someone acts outside that standard, we easily become critical. What are some examples of these standards in your own life? When has someone violated your “normal” and triggered a judgmental response?
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh talked about how we judge constantly—from how people drive, to how they dress, to how they respond in moments of stress. He shared that when people act outside our predetermined norms, we’re quick to think “What is wrong with you?” rather than showing patience or curiosity about their story. Jesus isn’t asking us to be absent-minded toward others, but to examine the process by which we reach conclusions about them.
Leader Tip: Help the group distinguish between healthy discernment (which Scripture encourages) and harsh, conclusive judgment (which Jesus condemns). The issue isn’t assessment—it’s the spirit and process behind it.
Question: Jesus says, “The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.” What does this mean to you? How does this apply not only to how others will judge us, but to how God will judge us?
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh unpacked Matthew 7:2, explaining that there are two layers to this teaching. On the surface, others will use our own measuring stick against us. But deeper still, God our Father will use that same standard. He shared multiple verses showing that God is our ultimate Judge (Isaiah 33:22, Psalm 75:7, Romans 2:16). When we judge harshly, we’re essentially placing ourselves on God’s throne. Pastor Josh reminded us of the parable of the Unforgiving Servant—when we judge others, we’ve lost sight of the magnitude of what we’ve been forgiven.
Leader Tip: This is a sobering reality. Give space for people to wrestle with what it means that God will hold us accountable for how we’ve held others accountable. Encourage humility and self-reflection.
Question: Jesus uses vivid imagery—why worry about a speck in someone’s eye when you have a log in your own? What are some “planks” we might be carrying while focusing on others’ “specks”? How do planks accumulate when we don’t address them?
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh called this a funny but convicting question from Jesus. He showed a video of railroad ties being stacked one by one, illustrating how we accumulate logs when we judge others regularly without looking at our own lives. Eventually, you can’t even see the train tracks anymore—just like we can’t see others’ lives clearly when we’re blinded by our own unaddressed sin. He named specific planks: alcohol, lust, anger, greed, careless words. The subtle message: if we aren’t addressing the logs in our eyes, we’re accumulating them—and we lose the ability to see where others are going or how to help them.
Leader Tip: Invite people to get specific and personal. This isn’t theoretical. Ask: “What plank might God be asking you to address right now?” Remind the group that Jesus says “FIRST get rid of the log in your own eye”—there’s an order to accountability.
Question: Pastor Josh warned that some people will never hold anyone accountable because they’re too wrapped up in their own planks, thinking “Who am I to say anything?” But he also said, “We’re always going to have planks.” How do we balance humble self-examination with the responsibility to lovingly speak into others’ lives?
Context from Sermon: Jesus says “THEN you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” There’s an expectation that we will address specks—but only after dealing with our own logs. Pastor Josh clarified: If the speck you’re addressing in someone else is a plank in your own life (like judging someone’s momentary anger when you’re a walking storm of chaos), then first address your own plank. But Jesus doesn’t want us paralyzed by our imperfection—He wants us to be in healthy, accountable community. Pastor Josh pointed to his Tuesday night men’s group as an example: “We hold one another accountable. We’re not judging, but we’re holding feet to the line.”
Leader Tip: This is crucial for healthy Christian community. Emphasize that accountability isn’t about sinless perfection—it’s about mutual pursuit of Christlikeness. If anger is your lifestyle and someone has an angry moment, deal with your lifestyle first. But we shouldn’t avoid all accountability just because we’re imperfect.
Question: Jesus says, “Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs.” This seems harsh and even contradictory to the Great Commission. What does Jesus mean here? When have you exhausted yourself trying to give the gospel to someone who showed no interest?
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh called this a “strange addition” that seems randomly thrown into Jesus’ teaching on judgment. But there’s a tension He’s addressing: we’re quick to judge AND we’re quick to force-feed the gospel to people who don’t want it. The “holy things” and “pearls” are the gospel—anything God has set apart for His purposes. Jesus is saying some people will devour what’s precious and it will mean nothing to them—like feeding steak to a dog that responds the same as if you gave it trash. Jesus told His disciples: if a town doesn’t welcome you, shake the dust off your feet. Pastor Josh applied this especially to parents with wayward kids: “Don’t just keep feeding them what is holy. Maybe what they need to see more than your capacity to feed them is you quietly pursuing Jesus.”
Leader Tip: This will be especially relevant for parents or those with unsaved loved ones. Help people see the difference between faithful witness and exhausting themselves by chasing people with the gospel. Sometimes the most powerful thing is a quiet, steady pursuit of Jesus that isn’t rattled by others’ rejection.
Question: Pastor Josh ended by saying Jesus is calling us to a “razor thin edge life”—don’t judge, but don’t force. Stop judging as if you know every detail, but also recognize that not everyone is your evangelistic project. How do we walk this narrow path?
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh acknowledged this sounds like a thin line—and it is. He quoted Matthew 7:13-14 about the narrow gate and difficult road. His answer: “Stop walking around judging people as if you know every detail of their life. You don’t. Then don’t misunderstand that being holy means every human is your evangelistic to-do. How about we get over ourselves a little bit? We quietly pursue Jesus, allowing Him to address the planks in our eye. THEN we will see clearly—and we’ll see where He is moving, and we can bring those holy things to those who are curious and pursuing, and it will be well received. But we can’t see where God’s moving with a bunch of planks in our eye.”
Leader Tip: This is the practical takeaway. Encourage the group: the solution to both problems (judging and force-feeding) is the same—quietly, humbly pursue Jesus and let Him remove your planks so you can see clearly where He’s working.
The GrowCard Exercise:
Have group members take out their phones or a piece of paper and work through the questions Pastor Josh gave at the end:
Leader Note: Give people timeLeader Note: Give people time to write. This will be uncomfortable—that’s the point. Assure them they won’t be required to share names, but they should be honest before God.
After 3-4 minutes of silent reflection and writing:
Sharing (Optional but Encouraged): Invite group members to share their reflections—not necessarily the person’s name, but perhaps:
Leader Tip: Model vulnerability by going first if appropriate. Share your own plank and what God is showing you. This isn’t about shame—it’s about growth and becoming more like Jesus.
Question: Pastor Josh said, “Our children want to see these things taking hold of our heart. They will learn a whole lot more from mom and dad when mom and dad let the Word of God shape their life.” How does this apply beyond parenting? Who in your life needs to see the Word taking hold of your heart more than they need to hear what you know?
Context from Sermon: When Pastor Josh asked his daughter Nya if there was anything she wished they’d done differently as parents, she said she wished they’d done family devotions. But then she admitted that if they’d forced it, it probably wouldn’t have landed well. Pastor Josh’s point: His daughters learned more from witnessing his and Summer’s hidden pursuit of Jesus than they would have from formal family devotions. Kids (and everyone around us) don’t need to know how much we know about the Bible—they need to see how much the Bible has taken hold of us.
Leader Tip: Help people see that this applies to all relationships—coworkers, friends, spouses, neighbors. A transformed life speaks louder than theological knowledge.
Pray together as a group, incorporating these themes:
Optional: Have group members pray the blessing they wrote over the person they’ve been judging (they can do this silently or aloud without naming the person).
The Mirror Exercise: Each day this week, before you judge someone else, pause and ask God: “Show me my planks first.” Spend 2-3 minutes in honest reflection before the Lord, asking Him to reveal what’s in your own heart before you conclude anything about someone else’s.
Accountability Check-in: If you’re in a healthy rhythm with this group, consider sharing one plank with a trusted group member this week and asking them to check in on how you’re doing with it. Remember Pastor Josh’s Tuesday night group—accountability isn’t judgment; it’s holding each other to the standard of Jesus with grace.
The Blessing Practice: Each time you catch yourself judging someone this week, immediately pray a blessing over them instead. Don’t just stop the judgment—replace it with something life-giving.
A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.
Give an example of choosing grace instead of judgment. Ask: “How can we treat others the way God treats us?”
A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.
Challenge: Deal with Your Plank
The Challenge: Identify one person you judge — and examine yourself instead.
Concrete Action:
