02/18/2025
Practical Tips To Avoid Judging Others
When I research a sermon, such as Sunday’s message on judgmentalism, I always try to think through some practical steps or tips in how to implement God’s desire for our lives. I rustled together a herd of ideas this week and I offer them to you. If you have a tendency (and maybe we all do) to look down in judgment on others, pick one or two of the following and put them into practice. See if it doesn’t move you closer to the ideal Jesus holds out for us.
Practical Tip: Before forming an opinion, ask: “Is this based on deep thought or just personal bias?”
Practical Tip: Observe patterns of behavior, not just moments.
Practical Tip: When correcting someone, start with empathy before offering truth.
Practical Tip: If you catch yourself gossiping or complaining, redirect the conversation to something uplifting.
Practical Tip: Each morning, thank God for one specific way He has shown you grace, and let that gratitude shape how you treat others.
Practical Tip: Whenever you feel the urge to "correct" someone unnecessarily, say: "God, I trust You with this person."
Practical Tip: When you feel the urge to criticize someone, pause and say a quick prayer: “God, help me see this person as You see them.”
Try This Daily Prayer: "Lord, help me to see others as You see them. Remove any pride, bitterness, or self-righteousness in my heart. Teach me to love, extend grace, and encourage rather than condemn. Amen."
Archived Posts
What just missed the cut for Sunday’s Sermon
Naaman’s servants may actually become one of the hidden gems of the sermon. They say, essentially: “If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it.”
One of the Longest Benedictions I Ran Out of Time to Share
Maybe you know the story of how Joseph and Mary accidentally left Jesus at the gas station on their way home from Jerusalem. Well, not the gas station bathroom in Jesus’ case. Joe and Mary are far down the road before they realize Jesus isn’t with them...
So many quips and quotes...
So little time to preach
I wonder what Mary and Martha’s phones might look like:
* Martha = the open browser with 27 tabs
* Mary = the single window that matters
* Psalm 46 = God saying, “Close the tabs.”
Quotable Outtakes That Didn’t Make the Sermon This Week
“When you try to control everything, you don’t just exhaust yourself—you quietly replace trust in God with trust in you.” & more
There is a challenge when it comes to preaching the Word of God.
Preachers are called to open up and interpret the word—inspired and written down thousands of years ago—and make it relevant to a very different world. On top of that there’s a degree of persuasion that goes along with the process.
What Jessica Really Meant to Say in Her Sermon…
When Jessica or Rick or a guest preacher takes the pulpit it’s hard for me to write a One More Thing Blog. I can’t share with you what didn’t make it into the sermon because I have no idea, not having written or delivered it.
Jesus Keeps On Ruining Funerals!
I didn’t have anything this last week that didn’t end up in the sermon. No catchy illustrations that didn’t make the cut. No theological insights that slowed down the main point. No one can ruin a funeral like Jesus. Told as I saw it and that was it. So I did some quick research and I thought I’d share just a reminder of what Easter is all about.