Introduction

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a joy to gather with you today, to share in the fellowship of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are here, not by accident, but by divine appointment. God has called us together to delve into His Word, to glean wisdom and understanding, to be challenged and transformed.

Today, we will be considering a topic that is often misunderstood and misapplied in the Christian life - the delicate balance between discernment and judgment, and the role of spiritual accountability. It is a topic that requires careful navigation, a compassionate heart, and a deep understanding of God's Word.

In the words of the esteemed preacher Charles Spurgeon, "Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right." This quote, though simple, encapsulates the challenge we face as believers. We are called to discern, to distinguish truth from falsehood, right from wrong. Yet, we must do so without falling into the trap of judgment, without assuming the role of God in the lives of others.

Distinguishing Discernment from Judgement

To understand this, we need to first clarify what it means to judge. When we judge, we are essentially assuming a position of moral superiority. We are looking at someone else's actions or character and deeming them to be less than our own. This, Jesus warns us, is a dangerous position to take. For one, it blinds us to our own faults. Like a person trying to remove a speck of sawdust from someone else's eye while there is a plank in their own, we become hypocrites, quick to point out others' shortcomings while ignoring our own.

Discernment, on the other hand, is not about elevating ourselves above others. It is about understanding the difference between right and wrong, truth and falsehood. It is about being able to identify what is sacred and what is not, who will value the pearls of wisdom we have to offer and who will not. It is about making wise decisions in our interactions with others, guided by the Holy Spirit and the teachings of Scripture.

Defining Spiritual Accountability

The call to spiritual accountability is a call to a higher standard, a call to live in a way that reflects the character of Christ ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO