ELL Bible Study: Luke 18:1-8 — Keep Praying

This Bible study lesson is for people who are learning English (ELL or ESL students). It is made for advanced beginner and intermediate English learners. Children who speak English or adults who prefer easy English may also enjoy it and learn from it.

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Luke 18:1-8 Printable Discussion Questions

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Can you think of a time when you had to ask someone for help again and again? What happened?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will hear a story Jesus told about a woman who never gave up. We will learn why it is good to keep praying and trust God to help us.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

Corrupt — Doing bad or unfair things, especially for personal gain.
Cry — To call out loudly for help.
Day and night — All the time, without stopping.
Disciples — Followers or students of a teacher, especially Jesus.
Discouraged — Feeling like giving up because something is hard.
Faith — Trust and belief in God.
Fear — To be afraid of something or someone.
Favor — Kindness or help given to someone.
Help — To give support or do something for someone in need.
Judge — A person who makes decisions in a court and decides what is fair.
Opponent — A person who is against you or fights against you.
Parable — A short story Jesus told to teach a lesson.
Plead — To ask for something in a strong, serious way.
Pray — To talk to God.
Quickly — Fast, without waiting a long time.
Refused — Said no to something or would not do it.
Respect — To think someone is important and treat them kindly and fairly.
Rights — Things a person should have or be able to do.
Son of Man — A name Jesus often used for himself.
Trouble — Problems or hard times that make life difficult.
Widow — A woman whose husband has died.
Wear me out — To make someone very tired by not stopping.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells a story Jesus shared with his disciples. The story is called a parable. A parable is a simple story with a special message. In this story, Jesus wanted to teach people to keep praying and never give up.

The story is about a judge and a widow. A judge is a person who decides what is fair. A widow is a woman whose husband has died. In the story, the judge did not care about people or about God. But a widow kept coming to him, asking for help. She had a problem with someone and needed the judge to make things right. At first, the judge refused to help her. But because the widow did not stop asking, he finally helped her.

Jesus said that if even a bad judge can help, then God, who is loving and good, will listen to people who pray to him day and night. God hears the prayers of his people and will answer them. Jesus finished the story by asking if people will still have faith when he comes again.

This passage teaches us that we should keep praying, even when things are hard. God hears us and cares about us. It also reminds us to trust God, because he is kind and fair.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

Text from the ERV Bible Translation

God Will Answer His People
18 Then Jesus taught the followers that they should always pray and never lose hope.
He used this story to teach them:
2 “Once there was a judge in a town.
He did not care about God.
He also did not care what people thought about him.
3 In that same town there was a woman whose husband had died.
She came many times to this judge and said,
‘There is a man who is doing bad things to me.
Give me my rights!’
4 But the judge did not want to help the woman.
After a long time, the judge thought to himself,
‘I don’t care about God.
And I don’t care about what people think.
5 But this woman is bothering me.
If I give her what she wants, then she will leave me alone.
But if I don’t give her what she wants, she will bother me until I am sick.’”
6 The Lord said,
“Listen, there is meaning in what the bad judge said.
7 God’s people shout to him night and day, and he will always give them what is right.
He will not be slow to answer them.
8 I tell you, God will help his people quickly.
But when the Son of Man comes again, will he find people on earth who believe in him?”
Luke 18:1-8 (ERV)

Text from the GNT Bible Translation

The Parable of the Widow and the Judge
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged.
2 “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected people.
3 And there was a widow in that same town who kept coming to him and pleading for her rights, saying, ‘Help me against my opponent!’
4-5 For a long time the judge refused to act, but at last he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or respect people, yet because of all the trouble this widow is giving me, I will see to it that she gets her rights. If I don’t, she will keep on coming and finally wear me out!’”
6 And the Lord continued, “Listen to what that corrupt judge said.
7 Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people who cry to him day and night for help? Will he be slow to help them?
8 I tell you, he will judge in their favor and do it quickly. But will the Son of Man find faith on earth when he comes?”
Luke 18:1-8 (GNT)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 18:1-8 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 18:1-8 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 18:1-8 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 18:1-8 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 18:1-8 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 18:1-8 (ESV)

Luke 18:1-8 Printable ERV Passage

Luke 18:1-8 Printable GNT Passage

Luke 18:1-8 Printable Discussion Questions

Comprehension Questions

Why did Jesus tell this story to his disciples?
What kind of person was the judge in this story?
Who came to the judge asking for help?
What did the widow want the judge to do?
How did the judge feel about God and people?
Why did the judge finally decide to help the widow?
What did Jesus say about how God listens to his people?
What question did Jesus ask at the end of the story?

Application Questions

When is it hard for you to keep praying?
Why do you think it is good to pray every day?
How does it feel to know that God hears your prayers?
What can you pray for today?
How can you show faith when you are waiting for God’s help?

Theological Insights

God is kind and listens to the prayers of his people.
Even when God’s help seems slow, he is working and will do what is right.
Jesus teaches us to pray often and not to give up.
Faith means trusting God, even when we do not see answers right away.
One day Jesus will come again, and he wants to find people who still have faith.