Joyful Moments in Christ

Good Fruit and a Strong Foundation

This Sunday School lesson is intended for upper elementary students. All lessons on this website are protected by copyright, but you can use them for free in small groups or Sunday School classes. You may share a link to this page, but please do not copy these pages and put them on other websites.

The Big Idea

A heart rooted in Christ produces good fruit and a life built on him will stand firm.

Lesson Objectives

1. Students will understand that words and actions flow from the heart.
2. Students will see that Jesus calls us to not only hear his words but to obey them.
3. Students will learn that building life on Christ is the only sure foundation.
4. Students will be encouraged to reflect on what kind of fruit their lives are bearing.

Class Setting Notes

1. Recommended for upper elementary Sunday School.
2. Lesson length: 45-60 minutes. Can be shortened or extended based on activities selected.

Opening Activity

“Fruit Sort” Game

1. Bring a basket of mixed fruit (real or plastic). Include both healthy fruit and something that looks spoiled or unappealing.
2. Have students sort the fruit into “good” and “bad” piles.
3. Ask: “How do you know which fruit is good and which is bad? What happens if you eat spoiled fruit?”
4. Explain: Just as fruit shows the health of a tree, our words and actions show what is in our hearts.

This activity helps introduce the connection between fruit and the condition of the heart.

Bible Reading

Ask the class to read Luke 6:43-49 aloud together or have one person read it.

• Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 6:43-49 (ERV)
• Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 6:43-49 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 6:43-49 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 6:43-49 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 6:43-49 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 6:43-49 (ESV)

Additional Reading: Choosing the Right Bible Translation: A Comparison of 7 Versions

Suggested prompts:

As the class reads aloud, consider asking some of these prompts:

1. What does Jesus say about good trees and bad trees?
2. What do our words reveal about our hearts?
3. What makes the wise builder’s house stand strong?
4. What happens to the house without a foundation?

Teacher Background Notes

1. In the Bible, fruit often symbolizes the visible results of a person’s inner life. Good fruit points to a heart changed by God.
2. Jesus is contrasting two types of people: those who hear and obey him, and those who hear but do not obey.
3. The image of building on rock points to God himself as the only sure foundation (Psalm 18:2, Isaiah 28:16).
4. The flood represents trials and judgment. Only those grounded in Christ can endure.
5. This teaching calls for self-examination: are we bearing fruit that matches a heart transformed by grace?

Theological Insights

1. A person’s words and actions flow out of the condition of the heart.
2. Hearts renewed by Christ will bear fruit that honors God.
3. Hearing Jesus is not enough; true disciples obey his teaching.
4. Christ alone is the sure foundation for life and salvation.
5. Those who reject Christ will ultimately face ruin.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text

1. What happens when a good tree grows fruit?
2. What kind of fruit does a bad tree produce?
3. How can you tell if a tree is healthy or unhealthy?
4. What does Jesus say the wise builder does differently from the foolish builder?
5. What makes the foundation strong?

Personal Reflection and Application

1. Why do our words show the condition of our hearts?
2. What kinds of words or actions show that someone’s heart is filled with Christ?
3. How can you be like the wise builder this week?
4. What helps you obey Jesus’ teaching instead of just hearing it?
5. What kind of foundation are you building your life on right now?

Suggested Activities

“Fruit of the Heart” Craft

1. Provide construction paper and crayons.
2. Have each child cut out the shape of a piece of fruit and write on it one word or action that shows a heart following Jesus (e.g., kindness, truth, encouragement).
3. Display the “fruit” on a classroom tree poster.

This activity helps students connect heart attitudes with visible fruit in their lives.

“Foundation Test” Object Lesson

1. Build two small model houses: one on a pile of sand and one on a large rock or solid board.
2. Pour water over both.
3. Discuss which one stood firm and why.

This activity helps children see the importance of building their lives on Christ.

“Speak Life” Encouragement Circle

1. Have students sit in a circle. Each student says one encouraging truth or kind word to the person next to them.
2. After everyone has shared, reflect on how it felt to both give and receive good words.

This activity helps students practice speaking words that flow from a heart changed by Christ.

Memory Verse

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45 (ESV)

Closing Prayer

Father,
Thank you for showing us that our words and actions come from our hearts. Help us to listen to Jesus and obey his teaching so that our lives are built on him and bear good fruit.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The ESL Version

I also create materials for adult English Language Learners (ELLs) and ESL students. You can find my ELL Bible Study based on Luke 6:43-49 here:

ELL Lesson 29: Luke 6:43-49 — A Good Heart and a Strong Foundation

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.