Joyful Moments in Christ

Seeing Clearly in Christ

This Sunday School lesson is intended for upper elementary students. All lessons on this website are protected by copyright, but you can use them for free in small groups or Sunday School classes. You may share a link to this page, but please do not copy these pages and put them on other websites.

The Big Idea

Jesus calls his followers to show mercy, forgive others, and first examine their own hearts before correcting others.

Lesson Objectives

1. Students will learn that only God knows the heart and judges rightly.
2. Students will understand that God forgives those who forgive others.
3. Students will see that following Jesus as teacher makes us more like him.
4. Students will be encouraged to look at their own lives before pointing out others’ faults.

Class Setting Notes

1. Recommended for upper elementary Sunday School.
2. Lesson length: 45-60 minutes. Can be shortened or extended based on activities selected.

Opening Activity

“Speck and Log” Object Lesson

1. Bring a small piece of sawdust or a tiny crumb (the “speck”) and a large stick or block of wood (the “log”).
2. Hold them up and ask students: Which is easier to see? Which is sillier to ignore?
3. Connect this to how we often notice little mistakes in others while ignoring bigger problems in ourselves.

This activity helps introduce Jesus’ teaching that we must examine our own hearts first before correcting others.

Bible Reading

Ask the class to read Luke 6:37-42 aloud together or have one person read it.

• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 6:37-42 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 6:37-42 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 6:37-42 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 6:37-42 (ESV)

Additional Reading: Choosing the Right Bible Translation: A Comparison of 7 Versions

Suggested prompts:

As the class reads aloud, consider asking some of these prompts:

1. What does Jesus say about judging and condemning others?
2. What promise does Jesus give to those who forgive?
3. Why can a blind man not lead another blind man?
4. What lesson do we learn from the speck and the log?

Teacher Background Notes

1. In Jewish culture, teachers and leaders often judged others harshly, focusing on external obedience rather than the heart.
2. Jesus warns against a judgmental spirit, reminding his followers that only God sees clearly.
3. Forgiveness is central to the gospel: God forgives us in Christ, and so we are called to forgive others (Ephesians 4:32).
4. The parable of the blind leading the blind shows the danger of following unfaithful teachers. Disciples eventually become like their teachers, so following Jesus leads us to grow in his likeness.
5. The speck and the log emphasize humility. We must deal with our own sin before attempting to help others.

Theological Insights

1. God alone has the authority to judge the heart.
2. Forgiveness reflects the mercy of God shown to us in Christ.
3. Generosity and kindness are fruits of a life transformed by the gospel.
4. True discipleship means becoming more like Jesus, our perfect teacher.
5. Humility requires us to repent of our own sin before correcting others.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text

1. What does Jesus say will happen if we forgive others?
2. How does God measure kindness and generosity?
3. Why can a blind person not lead another blind person?
4. What lesson does Jesus teach with the speck and the log?

Personal Reflection and Application

1. Why do you think it is easy to judge others but hard to see our own faults?
2. How can remembering God’s forgiveness help us forgive others?
3. What are some ways you can be generous this week?
4. How can you follow Jesus as teacher in your daily life?

Suggested Activities

“Mirror Time” Reflection

1. Give each student a small mirror (or let them imagine holding one).
2. Ask them to quietly think about one way they need God’s forgiveness and help this week.
3. Encourage them to pray silently, asking God to change their hearts.

This activity helps students practice humility by looking at their own lives first.

Generosity Jar

1. Place a jar in the classroom. Invite students to suggest ways to show kindness and generosity (sharing, encouraging, helping).
2. Write these on slips of paper and add them to the jar.
3. Challenge each student to pick one during the week and do it.

This activity encourages students to live out Jesus’ teaching on generosity and kindness.

“Speck and Log” Skit

1. Pair students to act out a short skit: one person pretends to notice a “speck” in another’s eye while ignoring a “log” in their own.
2. Discuss afterward why Jesus says this is hypocritical.

This activity helps students remember the importance of humility before correcting others.

Memory Verse

Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Luke 6:37 (ESV)

Closing Prayer

Father,
Thank you for showing us mercy and forgiveness through Jesus. Help us to forgive others, to be generous and kind, and to see our own need for grace before pointing out the faults of others. Make us more like Jesus, our teacher.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The ESL Version

I also create materials for adult English Language Learners (ELLs) and ESL students. You can find my ELL Bible Study based on Luke 6:37-42 here:

ELL Lesson 28: Luke 6:37-42 — Do Not Judge Others

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Related Resources

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.