Rutledge Methodist Church

09/08/2026

POOR JUDGMENT
SEPTEMBER 8

MATTHEW 7:2_and with what measure ye mete…

Poor judgment makes no allowance for mistakes of others. When punishment has been received for mistakes, and grief expressed, yet all doors are closed to the offenders, watch out for poor judgment.

This type of judgment causes great damage to offenders. They are bound to the bo***ge of worthlessness and lack of self-esteem, because that is exactly how they are judged. Bondages are always
from the devil. Freedom is always from God.

The devil carefully works his plan making sure both the offenders and the ones who permanently judge, are in bo***ge. The offenders are constantly bombarded with the devil’s whispers, “You can’t do anything right. You’ll never be any good. You’re just a bad person. No one will ever give you an opportunity because everyone knows all about you. There is no need to try. Even if you do something right, they’ll say it is wrong—just because you did it!”

The ones passing judgment are also bombarded with the devil’s accusations against the offenders, “Just because they’ve been punished doesn’t mean they should have another chance. They messed things up before and will again. It’s best to keep them at a distance. They have lost the privilege of being trusted.”

PRAYER
God of Mercy, You have forgiven and helped me, let me do the same for others. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ knows how to love everyone—He will help me!

09/07/2026

LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE
SEPTEMBER 7

MATTHEW 7:2_ye shall be judged…

In whatever form of discipline is considered best, children, and plenty of adults, need correction. Ever heard of a jail called a correctional facility? Wise judgment is discipline with love and acceptance: “Because you were disciplined does not mean you are a bad person, you are a beautiful person. God loves you. I love you.”

A case of poor judgment is if boundaries are never verbally set, or written, yet they are enforced. The violator is judged guilty without ever having had an opportunity to obey by understanding the rules.

Another case of poor judgment is after someone has apologized, or made right, or been disciplined, the violation is not erased. A situation arises for someone to perform some kind of task. The previous violator is never given a chance: “The last time I trusted you with …”

The one who violated, trespassed, or knocked over the boundaries, is bound to their past. No opportunity is given for renewed trust and worth. Judgment has been passed before an opportunity to show trustworthiness is given. This is not the kind of judgment you want to return to you.

Give everyone the kind of trust you want given you.

PRAYER
God Who Hears, It is so easy to judge. Your wisdom and grace will change me. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ does not want poor judgment—He will help me!

09/06/2026

WISE JUDGMENT
SEPTEMBER 6

MATTHEW 7:2_For with what judgment ye judge…

Ephesians 6:1-4 (KJV), “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

There is night and day difference in the discipline of a child by spanking, and child abuse. To abuse a child verbally and/or physically and call it discipline shows a lack of judgment. Discipline administered with hot tempered anger causes more damage than it ever will cause good.

“4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

Some Christians believe in spanking young children, and others do not. The core is to help children grow to become responsible and discerning. Placing boundaries, and enforcing them (otherwise they are futile), is the best way to guide little ones. When boundaries are crossed there has to be some type of discipline.

Today’s verse focuses on using wise judgment, because how you judge is how you will be judged. Wise judgment will always be founded upon love. Firmness laced with some calmness administers discipline in a positive way.

Anger and name calling destroy obedience and respect—not wise judgment.

PRAYER
Loving Father, Help me know my judgment will come back to me. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ teaches wise judgment—He teaches me to obey!

09/05/2026

NONE OF US WILL BE THE JUDGE
SEPTEMBER 5

MATTHEW 7:1_that ye be not judged.

Let’s ask God to give us wisdom, understanding, and knowledge about this judgment thing.

To be like Jesus means to live according to the principles He taught. Jesus gives us a good reason not to judge—so we won’t be judged.

Judging breeds judging.

To take a step toward freedom from judging consider the other person—put yourself in their place.

There is an excellent chapter in the Bible dedicated to this practice:

Romans 14 (KJV), “3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.”

Different Christians believe in different dietary standards. Some are vegetarians. Some follow the dietary laws of the Old Testament.

“6 … He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.”

Christians should give each other freedom in how they worship and serve God. “10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”

A judgment day will come—but none of us will be the judge.

PRAYER
One True God, Help me do to others as I would have them do to me.
In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ has a judgment seat—I will stand before it!

09/04/2026

JOIN US SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 11:15a.
Hear Pastor Bryce's message, "There Is Power in the Blood."

RMC is the Place to Be!
Come and See!

09/04/2026

FREE SOULS
SEPTEMBER 4

MATTHEW 7:1_Judge not…

The kind of freedom Jesus teaches is not about keeping out of prison (although Jesus’ type of freedom could save you from that). Jesus wants to free souls.

A free soul gains wisdom.

Therefore a free soul has the ability to make wise decisions.

Wise decisions save from many forms of harm.

Wisdom is able to forgive and not carry the baggage of bitterness which so often leads to physical sickness.

The wisest man who ever lived, the phenomenal King Solomon, teaches this principle.

Proverbs 2:10-13 (KJV), “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness.”

Notice where wisdom enters: your heart.

Proverbs 4:7-9 (KJV), “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.”

PRAYER
God of Wisdom, Help me be free from judgment and make wise decisions.
In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ is wisdom—He wants me to learn to be wise!

09/03/2026

THEY COULD SAY THE SAME ABOUT YOU
SEPTEMBER 3

MATTHEW 7:1_Judge not…

Jesus says plainly not to judge. It is one of the Sermon on the Mount principles. All salty-lit-up disciples would call this a good principle and agree it is wrong to judge others. No one wants to be judged.

More times than not when you say “Don’t judge me,” you judged the person you accused of being judgmental. You just judged someone by your standard of judgment when you called them judgmental. They could say the same about you.

Romans 2:1-3 (KJV), “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?”

There just isn’t any place for Christians to judge each other, or to judge unbelievers. God is the judge.

Psalm 75:7 (KJV), “But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another.”

God judges according to what He sees inside a heart, and according to what He knows will bring freedom.

PRAYER
Holy Father, Help me not to be judgmental of others.
In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ does not want me to judge others—He helps me!

09/02/2026

09/02/2026

POWERFUL!
SEPTEMBER 2

MATTHEW 7:1_Judge not…

Mercy sakes, if there is any phrase that is overplayed in our time it is, “Don’t judge me!”

Judging was not a part of Jesus’ agenda.

John 12:47-48 (KJV), “47And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.”

Judgment was a part of the old covenant. When Jesus taught this sermon He taught Law transformation. He transformed the Law with mercy. Jesus’ presence in the world is how mercy was added. This is how Jesus became the perfect balance of judgment and mercy.

Jesus did not take away judgment, He just added mercy. “48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”

When Jesus went back to heaven He had dramatically changed the world. He did it in a radical salty-lit-up fashion. His disciples should keep that world-changing alive in the same way. So, if Jesus was more mercy than judgment, that’s the life for salty-lit-up disciples.

In the short amount of time Jesus spent on the earth, He affected the world in a way no one ever had.

John 12:19 (KJV), “The Pharisees therefore said among themselves,

Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him [Jesus].”

Powerful!

PRAYER
Almighty God, I want to follow Your example of mercy, not judgment.
In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.

Christ changed the world—He calls me to!