“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
     “And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
     “Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
     “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
     “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
     “Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
     “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
     “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

     Concerning growth of congregations, God has given us several challlenges.  We are to persuade the lost to be reconciled to God.  We are to exhort and edify each other as Christians.  We have to be careful how we discern and as to what we condemn.  And in particular importance, while we must convict people of their sin, we must take care not to execute condemnation upon those same people.
     Huge challenges, indeed!  However in the passage above from Matthew 7:1-12, Jesus gives us a special key to begin unlocking those challenges.

     How can we begin to overcome these difficult challenges in dealing with other people, Christians and non-Christians alike?  The particular key I see Jesus providing here is this:  Whatever your problem in dealing with other people, start with your end first.
     Do you find yourself wanting another person to “get their just desserts”?  Or holding grudges against anyone for whatever reason?  Stop condemning and start discerning what is really right and wrong.
     Do you have trouble getting people to listen to you about the Bible?  Start learning to express yourself in a way they will understand.
     Do you have trouble getting encouragement from other members?  Start offering some meaningful encouragement.  Make yourself encourageable – allow yourself to look for and to accept encouragement.
     Are you failing to get any edification or anything else worthwhile from the worship assembly and bible classes?  Start contributing productive energy into them – looking for ways to edify – shifting your focus for Sunday and especially during assemblies from yourself back toward God and other Christians.
     Are you feeling like God should be giving you more?  Start focusing on giving more of yourself and your trust back to God.