#37 Luke 6:43-45 No Good Tree Bears Bad Fruit
On September 25, 2021 by Amy BurginJoy:
Episode#37 Luke 6:43-45
Welcome
Amy:
Welcome to The Christgazing Podcast. We are glad you’re here. I’m Amy Burgin.
Joy:
I’m Joy Burgin
Amy:
In his book, “Tortured for Christ,” Richard Wurmbrand says, “God is the Truth. The Bible is the truth about the Truth. Theology is the truth about the truth about the Truth.”
I love this podcast because it makes space to get straight to Truth, straight to Jesus. Each week we focus on one passage from the Bible as Joy reads it several times and creates space after each reading so we might encounter Truth, with a capital T, Jesus Christ, the living God.
We are in a series that takes us through the book of Luke, focusing on the things Jesus said and did when he walked the earth. If Jesus walked the earth today, would you join the crowds and listen to his sermons? Since Episode 33, we have been listening to what Jesus said to a large crowd of his disciples and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.
Pour Out Your Heart to God
Amy:
Before Joy begins, take the next minute to pour out to God the things stored up in your heart. Maybe it is thanksgiving, grief, peace, love, fear, or frustration. Whatever is on your mind, name it and bring it to the Lord in these next few moments.
What Does This Passage Say About God?
Joy: I’m going to read today’s passage, words Jesus spoke to a large crowd, two times. As I read, consider the question, What does this passage say about God?
Luke 6:43-45 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
Again?
Luke 6:43-45 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
Take the next few moments to answer the question, “What does this say about God?
[Pause and Know]
What Does This Passage Say About People?
Joy:
As I read the words of Jesus again, consider the question, ‘What does this say about people?”
Luke 6:43-45 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
Take the next minute to answer the question: What does this tell you about people?
[Pause and Know]
Lord, What Would You Have Me Know or Do Today?
Joy:
As I read for the last time, ask God the question, “Lord, what would you have me know or do today in response to this passage?”
Luke 6:43-45 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
Take time to ask God, “Lord, what would have me know or do today?”
[Pause and Listen]
Blessing
Joy: Christgazer, the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may you also turn your face toward him, see his deep love and compassion, store it in your heart, and bear good fruit.
One Response
Amy:
Do you desire to bear good fruit? The fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control amid a world of hatred, depression, anxiety, discord, impatience, rudeness, evil, disloyalty, cruelty, and self-indulgence?
Christ also desires this for you. In John chapter 15, Jesus spoke to his best friends the night of his arrest. He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Want to bear good fruit, transforming parts of the world from evil to good? Abide in Christ, the only Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Closing
Amy: Joy and I will be back again next week to go Christgazing together. Until then, don’t forget, when you put your trust in Christ, you are one in whom he dwells and delights, a dearly loved child of God. You are royalty in his strong and unshakeable kingdom. Though trouble abounds, Christ prevails and so do you
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