People often confuse “deep” with gaining a new fact or hearing a novel approach to a passage. We may also confuse “deep” with someone expressing unabashed feelings—even if those feelings are disconnected from the Bible passage being examined.

But true depth in teaching or preaching happens when we help others connect simultaneously with their heads (the facts), their hearts (beliefs and values), and their hands (what we should do and be).Instead of explaining how this happens, let’s follow a Bible study group where “deep” took place.

15 "Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.
16 You'll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit.
18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19 Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 So you'll recognize them by their fruit.
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?'
23 Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!'"

Matthew 7:15-23

The study focused on the ending of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7. The group was led to chart the markers of a false prophet as described by Jesus in verses 15–20. This led to a discussion about how to identify a false prophet today and to a list of other passages that speak to what a person produces in life—their fruit. The group was then directed to list the characteristics of the people Jesus banishes from His presence in verses 21–23.

The group identified similarities between the false prophets and those Jesus banishes. They also proposed ways that knowing Jesus and producing good fruit are related, which led to people sharing their understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. One volunteer shared how they became a follower of Jesus, one who is known by Him.

24 "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn't collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.
26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. It collapsed with a great crash."

Matthew 7:24-27 CSB

Next, the comparison of the two builders in verses 24–27 was highlighted. The leader helped the group connect the builder on sand to those who followed false prophets and who were banished. He also pointed out that both builders faced the same storm, yet one survived while the other faced complete destruction, based solely on the foundation.The group was challenged to consider who they know who needs to be warned about a faulty foundation—those who may be unknown by Jesus or producing bad fruit. Time was taken to pray for the people identified, and commitments were made to share with them the truths found in Matthew 7:15–27.

What you just read is a summary of a Bible study group that connected facts (bad fruit, being unknown by Jesus, and a foundation of sand) in a way that also engaged their hearts (valuing faithfulness to Jesus demonstrated through fruit and concern for those who need warning) and their hands (praying for others and committing to share truth).

The group actively created these connections through charts, lists, visuals, testimony, and prayer, which gave them ownership of the experience. All of this fueled their motivation by connecting why with what, both grounded in truth. It also moved them to continue reflecting on these connections, deepening their sense of what it means for study to be “deep.”When our head, heart, and hands all connect, deep happens.