Children’s Sermon

Luke 6:39-49

Good Fruit

By Dr. Carol J Miller

OBJECTS: Bring a bag of apples. Be sure to wash them first.

Jesus talks a lot about fruit. He says that he wants us—his followers—to bear fruit. Now I don’t see a banana sprouting from anyone’s ear. There isn’t anyone with an orange tree growing out of her head. What do you think Jesus means when he says we need to bear fruit for him? [Accept all answers].

Listen carefully while I read what Jesus said to us about fruit. [Read Luke 6:43a, 45a]. “A good tree does not bear bad fruit…. A good person brings good out of the treasure of good things in his heart.”

When Jesus says that good people produce good fruit, he doesn’t mean fruit like apples and cherries. Jesus means that if we are following him and trying to do the things that make God happy, we will do good things. We will help people, share what we have, and treat every person with respect.

What are some other good things that Jesus would like for us to do? To do those things we need help. We learn how to do good things by listening to Jesus.

We also learn how to do good things by being part of the church. Did you know that the church isn’t this building? The church is the people––all these people who are sitting here today. These people are really a whole orchard of trees bearing fruit for Jesus.

Reach in the bag and grab an apple to eat after church. But when you go back to your seat hand it to your mom or dad for safekeeping!