By Al Felder The Golden Rule does not stand alone. Jesus placed it after a beautiful teaching on prayer and the Father's goodness. He said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). Then He explained that even earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to their children. A father does not give his son a stone when he asks for bread. He does not give him a serpent when he asks for a fish (Matthew 7:9–10). T

By Al Felder Correction is one of the hardest parts of Christian living. Sometimes correction is necessary. Sin must not be ignored. Error must not be treated as truth. Harmful behavior must not be excused. A brother or sister may need help seeing something clearly. A child may need instruction. A friend may need warning. A congregation may need truth spoken plainly. Jesus teaches that correction must begin in a place many people want to skip: self-examination. In Matthew 7:3

By Al Felder Few words of Jesus are quoted more often, and misunderstood more often, than these: “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). Some people use those words to suggest that Christians should never identify sin, never correct error, and never make moral distinctions. However, that cannot be what Jesus meant. In the same chapter, Jesus warns about false prophets and says, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). That requires discernment. Therefor