Joyful Moments in Christ

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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Lesson Icebreaker Question

Who are the people in your family, and what do you like to do together?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn how Jesus teaches that God’s family is made of people who listen to him and follow his words. We will see that obeying God is very important.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

1. Brother — A boy or man who has the same parents as you.
2. Came — Moved closer or arrived at a place.
3. Crowd — A large group of people gathered together.
4. Hear — To listen to sounds or words.
5. Join — To come together with others.
6. Mother — A woman who has a child.
7. Obey — To do what you are told.
8. Outside — Not inside; in the open air or outdoors.
9. Someone — A person, but you do not say who.
10. Standing — Being on your feet, not sitting or lying down.
11. Want — To feel a need or desire for something.
12. Word of God — The message or teaching from God.
13. See — To use your eyes to notice something.

Summary of the Passage

This passage shows Jesus is teaching a large group of people. Many people wanted to hear Jesus because he spoke about God and how to live a good life. One day, while Jesus was speaking, his mother and brothers came to see him. But there were so many people that they could not get close to him.

Someone told Jesus that his family was outside and wanted to see him. At that moment, Jesus used this time to teach an important lesson to everyone listening. He said that his true family are the people who listen to God’s word and obey it.

This might sound surprising because we often think of family as the people we live with. But Jesus was teaching that people who follow God’s words are like family too. They belong together because they love God and want to do what he says.

This passage teaches us that we become part of God’s family when we listen to him and do what he tells us in the Bible. God’s family is not only about parents and brothers and sisters. It is about people who love and follow him.

Read The Passage

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
19 Jesus’ mother and brothers came to him, but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
20 Someone said to Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.”
21 Jesus said to them all, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Luke 8:19-21 (GNT)

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

• Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 8:19-21 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 8:19-21 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 8:19-21 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 8:19-21 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 8:19-21 (ESV)

Comprehension Questions

1. Who came to see Jesus while he was teaching?
2. Why could Jesus’ mother and brothers not get close to him?
3. What did someone tell Jesus about his family?
4. What did Jesus say about who his true family is?
5. What does it mean to listen to God’s word?
6. What does it mean to obey God’s word?

Application Questions

1. Who are some people in your life that you think of as family?
2. How can you be part of God’s family?
3. What is one way you can listen to God this week?
4. Why do you think Jesus says that people who obey God are like family to him?

Theological Insights

1. God’s family is made of people who listen to him and follow his words.
2. Jesus teaches that obeying God is more important than only being family by blood.
3. When we trust in God and follow his word, we become part of his forever family.
4. The church is like a big family of people who love and obey God.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for loving us and letting us be part of your family. Help us listen to your word and follow you every day. Amen.

ELL Resources for the Gospel of Luke

More ELL Resources

You can find more Bible lessons for English learners on the main ELL page.

Scripture quotations marked (GNT) are from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.