They said he had been sinful from the start of his life

They said he had already spent years teaching them

They said he no longer belonged among them

They accused him of being sinful from the moment he was born

They questioned whether he had any right to teach them

They invited him to explain himself further

Listen first and treat the person with dignity

Repeat the crowd’s verdict so you fit in

Assume a person’s past means they have nothing worth saying

Avoid the issue by staying silent and uninvolved

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner and that I cannot make myself right with God. I turn from my sin and from trusting my own goodness. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. Please forgive me, take my life, and be my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Come to Jesus with Your Need

Lord, where your people have become proud, quick to judge, and slow to listen, revive us. Make your Church humble enough to hear the wounded, brave enough to welcome the rejected, and gentle enough to refuse contempt. Let us reflect your mercy instead of the world's harshness, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Renew the Church's Humility

Father, for anyone who feels pushed out, labeled, or treated as less than worthy, draw near with your steady comfort. Guard their heart from shame, surround them with safe people, and remind them that your love does not abandon the cast-aside, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

For the One Cast Aside

Pray by naming one person you are tempted to dismiss, confessing that pride to God, and asking for the humility to listen before you judge. Then ask for one practical way to show that person dignity today.

Pray for Humble Listening

Bring these to God: any harsh judgment toward people whose background you question; any pride that makes you resist correction; any fear of being associated with the unpopular; any habit of speaking before listening.

From Pride to Humility

Pray for: someone who has been excluded or embarrassed; a community where truth is spoken without contempt; courage to stand with the person the crowd pushes away; healing for the shame that words can leave behind.

For Those Pushed Out

ἀπεκρίθησαν{a-pe-KRI-thee-san###ah-peh-KREE-thee-sahn###they answered} καὶ{KE###keh###and} εἶπαν{EE-pan###EE-pahn###they said} αὐτῷ{af-TO###ahf-TOH###to him} Ἐν{en###ehn###in} ἁμαρτίαις{ha-mar-TEE-es###hah-mar-TEE-ehs###sins} σὺ{SEE###SEE###you} ἐγεννήθης{e-ye-NNEE-this###eh-yeh-NNEE-thees###were born} ὅλος{HO-los###HOH-lohs###entirely} καὶ{KE###keh###and} σὺ{SEE###SEE###you} διδάσκεις{di-DAS-kees###dee-DAHS-kees###teach} ἡμᾶς{hee-MAS###hee-MAHS###us} καὶ{KE###keh###and} ἐξέβαλον{ek-SE-va-lon###ehk-SEH-vah-lohn###they cast} αὐτὸν{af-TON###ahf-TOHN###him} ἔξω{EK-so###EK-soh###out}

John 9:34 — Audio GuideTAB

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