This morning, we looked at Luke 6:43–45, where Jesus reminds us that our lives produce fruit based on what’s in our hearts—just like a tree produces fruit according to its kind. If we’re full of grace, love, and mercy, that’s what will flow out of us. But if bitterness or selfishness is filling our hearts, that’ll show too. I shared a bit about flying with my son today (and yes, I’m excited about the free hot dog in Meridian!), but more importantly, we talked about what it means to truly live out our faith—because people should be able to tell we follow Jesus by how we live, not just by what we say. So, what kind of fruit are you producing?

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It’s good to be with you on this Thursday morning as we continue together in our examination of Luke’s Sermon on the Plain. Today, we’re reading from Luke 6:43–45.

Now, depending on when and where you’re watching this—it comes out at 7:00 a.m.—but if you’re watching it anytime after 8:00, I may be up, up, and away in the air! I’m excited because my son, who now has his private pilot’s license, is taking me flying today. We’re planning to fly over to Meridian.

Now you may be wondering: “Why Meridian?” Well, it’s been a running joke between me and Thomas that the Meridian airport apparently gives pilots free hot dogs and hamburgers. So today, I’m getting a free hot dog and hamburger—thanks to my son being a pilot. That’s the plan! I’ll post a picture on Facebook of me enjoying that well-earned, delicious free meal.

Let’s read Luke 6:43–45:

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit;
for each tree is known by its own fruit.
Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.
The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good,
and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil;
for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.”

What’s the old saying? “When you squeeze lemons, you get lemonade”? Or maybe, “When you’re squeezed, what’s inside comes out”?

I’ve often said this about marriage: it doesn’t so much change who you are as much as it reveals what’s underneath. And Jesus is saying here—whatever’s in your heart is going to come out. You squeeze an orange, and orange juice comes out. You squeeze a tube of toothpaste, and toothpaste comes out. The same principle applies to us.

So, what’s coming out of you?

There’s that old saying: “Garbage in, garbage out.”
If your heart is full of grace, mercy, kindness, and God’s love, then those are the things that will flow from your life.
If your heart is filled with bitterness, judgment, or selfishness, well—that’s going to come out too.

Jesus says no good tree bears bad fruit, and no bad tree bears good fruit. You’re not going to see an apple tree grow pears. You’re not going to find butter beans growing on corn stalks. A tree produces what it’s made to produce.

So, just like we talked about yesterday—yes, we shouldn’t judge—but someone once said, “There’s a difference between judging and being a fruit inspector.”

We’re not here to condemn others, but we can observe the kind of fruit being produced. And not just in others—but in ourselves. What kind of fruit are you producing?

I’m reminded of a quote often attributed to John Wesley. I don’t know the original source, but I’ve always heard it as Wesley saying:

“Don’t tell me you’re a Christian. Let me follow you. Let me observe your life, and I’ll tell you if you are.”

Our Christian witness should be seen in how we live—not just heard in what we say. People shouldn’t need us to declare our faith for them to know we follow Jesus. It should be obvious in the way we live.

So we ask:
Who are you?
What kind of fruit are you bearing?
What’s coming out of your heart?

We’ve talked this week about grace, judgment, and the path we choose to walk. What path are you walking? You can tell a lot about that by the fruit your life is producing.

“The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good.
The evil person out of evil produces evil.
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

This August at St. Matthew’s, we’re studying Bishop Rueben Job’s classic book Three Simple Rules, which explores Wesleyan principles for Christian living. (Funny enough, the copy I’m using is actually Rayford Woodrick’s book—given to him by one of my favorite bishops, Bishop Hope Morgan Ward, who also ordained me.)

This Sunday’s sermon is about the first rule: Do No Harm.

We don’t do harm because we recognize the value of every person. People have worth. They matter. And if someone matters to God, they should matter to us.

So, how do we speak to others? What do our words and tone communicate? Are we helping people become who God created them to be—or are we tearing them down?

Here’s a little preview (or spoiler!) for Sunday’s sermon:

We may not always know what to say…
But we almost always know what not to say.

We might not always have the perfect word to make things better, but we usually know which phrase or tone could make things worse. And if you ever find yourself saying, “I probably shouldn’t say this, but…”—just stop there. If you have to preface it like that, then maybe don’t say it at all.

So again—what’s inside of you?
Are you a healthy tree bearing good fruit, or an unhealthy tree bearing bad fruit?

Jesus says, “By their fruit, you will know them.”

In context, this passage follows Jesus’ teachings on judgment and loving your enemies. Those are both “fruits” too. Hating others is fruit. Judgment is fruit. But they’re not good fruit. They’re not the fruit we want to produce.

Tomorrow we’ll wrap up the Sermon on the Plain by looking at the parable of the two foundations—building on sand versus building on rock.

But today, remember: whatever’s inside will eventually come out.

So if what’s coming out isn’t glorifying God, isn’t increasing your faith, and isn’t pointing others to Jesus, then maybe it’s time to take a look at what’s going on inside.

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
What’s on the inside is already showing in your life.

Thanks for being with us today. We’ll see you in the morning!