Principles for studying a passage of Scripture:

Comprehension: Asks - What does the passage say?
Interpretation: Asks - What does the passage mean?
Application: Asks - How should this passage change me?

Questions:

Comprehension: Read Luke 6:43-49. According to Jesus, how can you differentiate between one tree and another? How can you know if a house has a good foundation or a bad one? Why is this important? Explain.

Comprehension: Now Read Matthew 15:18-20. What does this passage teach us about our hearts? How does this passage relate to and support our passage in Luke 6? Explain your answer.

Interpretation: Jesus ends his tree/fruit parable with “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” What do our hearts, words, and actions have to do with fruit on a tree? Explain.

Interpretation: How do our words and actions reveal what we worship in our hearts? According to Jesus, if you want to change behavior where should you start?

Interpretation: Jesus talks about floods and streams in verse 48. How do our life circumstances and life pressures act as a “flood” that breaks against our “house” (i.e. our hearts)? How do tough situations reveal our worship? Explain your answer.

Application: What is the principle that Jesus is trying to get across to us in verse 46? How do we do what Jesus is telling us to do? How do we change our hearts? How do we build on a better foundation? Explain.

Application: Read Galatians 5:22-25. Who is it that changes your heart and creates “good fruit” in your life? How will you allow Him to work in your heart this week? Give us a plan and be specific (prayer, time in the word, community, etc.).

Application: Where is your heart producing “bad fruit”? Where do you need to surrender to God? Pray together as a group for changed hearts.