The Plank Problem - The Sermon E15

Welcome to Episode 15 of The Sermon, a teaching series from the Sermon on the Mount. In this message, Pastor Michael Lowenberg leads us into one of Jesus’ most pointed and often misunderstood teachings in Matthew 7:1–6. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” With humor, honesty, and spiritual depth, Pastor Michael unpacks the heart behind this command—not as a call to abandon discernment, but as a challenge to confront our own brokenness before we critique others. Through illustrations about baseball rivalries, unsolicited advice, and even pearls and pigs, we’re invited to see judgmentalism for what it really is: a way to elevate ourselves at someone else’s expense. Instead of judgment, Jesus calls us to a radical love that costs us something; to adopt His mindset—a mindset shaped by humility, service, and grace. If you’ve ever struggled with the impulse to fix others before dealing with your own “plank,” this episode will hit home.