Joyful Moments in Christ

Choosing a Side for the Kingdom

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 shows that he has the power of God to defeat evil and he asks everyone to choose to be on his side.

Lesson Objectives

1. Students will understand that Jesus is stronger than any evil force.
2. Students will learn that we cannot be neutral; we must choose to follow Jesus.
3. Students will see that Jesus uses his power to rescue people and bring them into his kingdom.

Class Setting Notes

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

Opening Activity: The Better Guardian

1. On the board, write the words “Strong” and “Stronger.”
2. Ask students to name things that are strong (like a locked door, a stone wall, or a professional athlete).
3. For each answer, ask the class to think of something even stronger that could overcome it.
4. Explain that in today’s lesson, we will see that while the enemy is strong, Jesus is the stronger man who wins the battle.

This activity helps introduce the concept of Christ’s superior power over the forces of evil.

Bible Reading

Ask the class to read Luke 11:14-23 aloud together or have one person read it.

• Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 11:14-23 (ERV)
• Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 11:14-23 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 11:14-23 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 11:14-23 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 11:14-23 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 11:14-23 (ESV)

Additional Reading: Choosing the Right Bible Translation

Suggested prompts:

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

1. Notice how the man’s life changed once the demon was gone.
2. Pay attention to the logic Jesus uses about a kingdom divided against itself.
3. Think about what it means for the kingdom of God to come near through Jesus.
4. Watch what happens when a man stronger than the guard arrives.
5. Listen for the warning about being with Jesus or against him.

Teacher Background Notes

1. In this passage, Jesus is healing a man, which shows he is reclaiming the world from the power of sin.
2. Some people who saw the miracle did not want to believe in Jesus, so they claimed he was working for the enemy.
3. Jesus explains that if he worked for the enemy, the kingdom of the enemy would fall apart.
4. Jesus describes himself as a stronger man who overcomes a guard to show that he is the only one who can save us from sin.
5. The kingdom of God started when Jesus came to earth, and it grows as people trust him as their king.

Theological Insights

1. Jesus uses the power of God to prove that he is the true king.
2. Because of sin, people are not naturally on the side of God, so they need Jesus to rescue them.
3. Following Jesus is a full commitment; he says we are either with him or we are working against him.
4. We can have peace because the victory of Jesus over evil is already certain.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text

1. What happened to the man once the demon was driven out of him?
2. Why did Jesus say it would be silly for Satan to fight against his own kingdom?
3. According to verse 20, whose power does Jesus use to do miracles?
4. In the story of the two men, why was the second man able to take away the first man’s things?

Personal Reflection and Application

1. How does it help you to know that the power of God is the strongest power there is?
2. Why do you think Jesus says we cannot stay in the middle when it comes to following him?
3. What are some ways you can show that you are on the side of Jesus during the week?
4. When you see bad things happening in the world, how does this story give you hope?

Suggested Activities

Kingdom Unity Illustration

1. Give each student a piece of paper and ask them to draw a map of a pretend country.
2. Tell them to draw a line through the middle and imagine the two sides are fighting each other.
3. Ask: Can this country stay safe if it is split in half and fighting itself?
4. Connect this to what Jesus said about a divided house falling apart.

This activity helps students visualize why unity and choosing the right side are so important.

Gathering or Scattering

1. Place a pile of small items (like pom-poms or blocks) in the center of the room.
2. Give half the class the task of gathering them into a basket, and the other half the task of gently moving them away from the basket.
3. Discuss how much harder it is to get things done when people are working against each other.

This activity illustrates the point Jesus made about gathering with him or scattering.

Memory Verse

Closing Prayer

Dear Father,
Thank you for the victory of your son, Jesus, over all the power of the enemy. Please give us the strength to stand firmly on your side and to live for your kingdom every day.
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 11:23 here:

• ELL Bible Study: Luke 11:14-23 — Jesus and Evil Spirits

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Related Resources

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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.