The Good Tree
April 28 | DNA Guide
Be Real Together:
Take a few minutes to catch up, tell stories, and laugh together. Trust and friendship take time to build. If you’re launching a new DNA, one person should tell their story — what do we need to know about you? Next week, have another person in your DNA share their story.
Read Together: Matthew 12:33-37 CSB
Jesus tells us in this passage that a good (healthy) tree bears good fruit, but a bad (unhealthy) tree bears
bad fruit. As the quality of the fruit reflects the character of the tree, the quality of the fruit of a person
reflects the character of the person. What someone keeps in the storeroom of their soul will spill out of
their life. If they fixate on the Lord, on his principles and values, on serving him and living their life to his
glory, then their spiritual storeroom will overflow with good things. Apart from God doing a radical,
transformative, ongoing work in our lives, we will by default bear bad fruit. Ultimately, you and I will be
held accountable for the words we speak, for the actions we take, and for our attitudes towards Jesus.
bad fruit. As the quality of the fruit reflects the character of the tree, the quality of the fruit of a person
reflects the character of the person. What someone keeps in the storeroom of their soul will spill out of
their life. If they fixate on the Lord, on his principles and values, on serving him and living their life to his
glory, then their spiritual storeroom will overflow with good things. Apart from God doing a radical,
transformative, ongoing work in our lives, we will by default bear bad fruit. Ultimately, you and I will be
held accountable for the words we speak, for the actions we take, and for our attitudes towards Jesus.
The One Question:
Ask this question at your family meal or DNA.
How can we discern whether the "fruit" we're producing in our lives aligns with God's will and
reflects His character?
reflects His character?
Use these questions to go deeper with your DNA or for personal study.
1. What are some examples of "good fruit" that Jesus might be referring to in this passage?
2. What are some practical ways we can guard our hearts to ensure that our words reflect goodness
and truth?
3. Discuss the role of prayer and spiritual discipline in nurturing the growth of good fruit in our lives
4. Discuss the role of repentance and transformation in purifying our speech and aligning it with
God's will.
5. How does the promise of accountability on the day of judgment (verse 36) motivate us to strive
for producing good fruit?
2. What are some practical ways we can guard our hearts to ensure that our words reflect goodness
and truth?
3. Discuss the role of prayer and spiritual discipline in nurturing the growth of good fruit in our lives
4. Discuss the role of repentance and transformation in purifying our speech and aligning it with
God's will.
5. How does the promise of accountability on the day of judgment (verse 36) motivate us to strive
for producing good fruit?
Pray Together:
Take time to pray with and for each other.
Deeper Study:
Enduring Word Commentary: Matthew 12