Joyful Moments in Christ

Rejected but Still Faithful: Jesus Speaks the Truth in Nazareth

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

Jesus proclaimed the good news with courage, even when the people in his hometown rejected him.

Lesson Objectives

1. Recognize that Jesus is the promised one who brings good news to all people.
2. Understand why Jesus was rejected by those who knew him best.
3. See how Jesus remained faithful to his mission despite opposition.
4. Learn that God’s plan of salvation includes people from every nation.

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

“Hometown Reactions” Role Play

1. Ask students to imagine they invented something amazing or performed a big rescue.
2. Then ask how they think people in their hometown would respond.
3. Invite a few students to act out what different reactions might look like: excitement, disbelief, jealousy, etc.

This activity helps introduce the idea that people do not always honor or accept those they are familiar with—even when that person is doing something good.

Bible Reading

Ask the class to read Luke 4:14-30 aloud together or have one person read it.

• Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 4:14-30 (ERV)
• Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 4:14-30 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 4:14-30 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 4:14-30 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 4:14-30 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 4:14-30 (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 do you notice about how the people in Galilee first responded to Jesus?
2. What does Jesus say about his mission after reading from Isaiah?
3. Why do you think the people of Nazareth became angry?
4. How does Jesus respond to their rejection?

Teacher Background Notes

1. Luke 4 marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry after his baptism and temptation.
2. The passage Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 points to the promised Messiah, sent to bring good news to the poor, liberty to the captives, and healing to the broken.
3. By applying this prophecy to himself, Jesus openly declared that he was the fulfillment of God’s promises.
4. Jesus’ mention of Elijah and Elisha reminds the people that God’s blessings have often extended to outsiders—Gentiles whom God showed mercy to.
5. This reminder challenged the pride of the people in Nazareth and exposed their unwillingness to receive the truth about God’s plan for all nations.
6. Despite their anger, Jesus left peacefully, showing that he remained in control and faithful to his mission.

Theological Insights

1. Jesus is the Messiah foretold by the prophets, sent to bring salvation to a fallen world.
2. God’s kingdom is not limited to one group of people but is open to all who believe.
3. The truth of the gospel often offends human pride and self-righteousness.
4. Jesus was rejected not because he was unclear, but because he spoke truth with boldness.
5. God’s sovereign plan cannot be stopped by human anger or unbelief.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text

1. Where did Jesus teach before coming to Nazareth, and how did people respond?
2. What did Jesus read in the synagogue, and why was it important?
3. How did Jesus connect the Isaiah passage to himself?
4. What examples from the Old Testament did Jesus use, and why?
5. Why did the people in Nazareth become angry with Jesus?
6. What did they try to do to him, and what happened instead?

Personal Reflection and Application

1. Have you ever shared something true or important and been ignored or rejected?
2. Why do people sometimes get upset when they hear the truth?
3. What can we learn from Jesus’ response to rejection?
4. How can we stay faithful and kind when others do not agree with us?
5. Who can we trust to help us stand firm when it is hard to speak the truth?

Suggested Activities

“Scroll and Tell” Scripture Craft

• Provide brown paper (or paper bags) and string to create scrolls.
• Have students write part of Isaiah 61:1–2 on the scroll and roll it up.
• Let them decorate it and discuss why Jesus chose this Scripture.

This activity helps students connect Jesus’ words in the synagogue with Old Testament prophecy.

“Accepted or Rejected?” Sorting Game

• Prepare a list of scenarios where truth could be accepted or rejected (e.g., telling a friend about Jesus, admitting a mistake).
• Ask students to place each scenario in the “accepted” or “rejected” category and talk about how they would feel.

This activity helps students think about how people respond differently to truth and how to trust God either way.

“Walking Away” Movement Activity

• Create a simple obstacle course with people pretending to block the path.
• Invite students to pretend to be Jesus and walk calmly through the crowd, just like in verse 30.
• Reflect on how Jesus trusted the Father even when people were angry.

This activity helps students visualize Jesus’ calm strength and faithful obedience to God.

Memory Verse

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.

Luke 4:18 (ESV)

Closing Prayer

Father,

Thank you for sending Jesus to bring good news to all people. Help us to be faithful like him, even when others do not listen. Give us courage to speak the truth in love and to trust your plan.

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 4:14-30 here:

ELL Bible Study: Luke 4:14-30 — Jesus Is Rejected

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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.