11. Do Not Judge

John 8:6–11 “They asked this to trap him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. When they persisted in questioning him, he stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then he stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men. Only he was left, with the woman in the center. When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.”

1. Hook: "Is it fair?" poll (2 min)

Read these one at a time. After each, students raise a hand if it would make them angry:

Someone cuts in line at the canteen.

Someone takes the last piece dessert.

Someone kicks your ball away on purpose.

Someone cheats at a game or plays unfair

Wait for the hands, then say: "Lots of angry people! Being angry is normal. But what do we want to do when we are angry?

Get them in trouble?

Yell at them?

Talk bad about them to friends?

Throw something?

Hold up a paper stone. "Today's story is about people holding real stones."

2. The story, acted out (3 min)

John 8:6–11

Bring the volunteers up front and give each a stone. Tell it in short, simple sentences:

A person did something very wrong. The religious leaders dragged them in front of everyone and said the punishment was to be stoned based on the laws of Moses.

But, they didn't care about her. They wanted to trap Jesus to see if he would do or say anything against the laws of Moses and they could arrest or kill him.

Jesus said nothing at first. He bent down and wrote on the ground. Have the volunteers wait while you crouch and write in the air.

Then he said one sentence. Say it slowly and have students repeat it:

"The one without sin should throw the first stone."

3. The Stone Test (4 min)

This is the center of the sermon. Ask the whole room, hands up for yes:

"Raise your hand if you have ever told a lie." Everyone's hand goes up. The volunteers put down their stones.

"Ever disobeyed your parents or teacher?" Same.

"Ever said something mean about someone?" Same.

Then say: "In the story, the oldest men left first."

Send the two teachers back to their seats. This gets a laugh, and it sets up the lesson.

Send the students one by one, until only you are left holding a stone. Then say honestly:

I can't throw it either. I have done those things as well

Breaking even one rule makes us all lawbreakers, so nobody is standing on higher ground than anyone else.

Bridge

This is where your bridge illustration comes back in: nobody can cross by being good enough. Jesus is the bridge. When you do something bad, there is a weight inside. You can feel it deep down.

4. The good news (2 min)

Read John 8:10–11 slowly: "Where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one." "Neither do I."

Point out two things:

Jesus was the only person there who had never done wrong. He had no weight or guilt. He could have thrown the first stone and by law, he could have. But he didn’t he chose mercy and kindness.

And it didn’t cost the lady anything. He simply said go and change. He forgave first and that lead to a new life. Just like the bridge. Forgiveness first and then into the new life.

You don’t earn this mercy through good acts. You don’t earn it like a good grade. It is freely given to all that wish to accept it.

5. Application: the finger and the breath (3 min)

The finger: Have everyone point one finger at someone across the room. "Look at your hand. One finger points out. How many point back at you?" Three. Say, "When I blame or judge or throw stones at someone, three fingers point at me."

Breathing: "So when I feel angry, before I throw a stone, I stop and breathe." Do one round of box breathing together (in 4, hold 4, out 4, hold 4). Then finish with this line:

Take a breath. Remember you need mercy too. Then be kind and put your stone down.