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

Have you ever asked someone for help when you felt worried or afraid? What happened?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn about a father who asked Jesus to help his son. We will see how Jesus has great power and cares deeply for hurting people. We will also hear Jesus talk to his disciples about something very hard that would happen to him soon.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

1. Afraid — Feeling scared.
2. Amazed — Very surprised in a good way.
3. Ask — To say something because you want to know an answer.
4. Attack — To try to hurt a person or animal suddenly.
5. Beg — To ask for something in a strong, serious way.
6. Boy — A male child.
7. Bring — To carry or lead something or someone to a place.
8. Command — To tell someone or something what to do.
9. Crowd — A large group of people.
10. Demon — An evil spirit that hurts people.
11. Disciple — A student or follower of a teacher, especially Jesus.
12. Don’t Forget — Remember this and do not lose it from your mind.
13. Drive — To make something leave.
14. Evil Spirit — A bad spirit that causes harm.
15. Father — A man’s parent.
16. Fit — A time when the body shakes and moves in a wild way.
17. Foams — Bubbles come out of the mouth.
18. Forget — To not remember something.
19. Ground — The earth or dirt you walk on.
20. Handed — Given to someone.
21. Hardly — Almost not at all.
22. Heal — To make someone well again.
23. Hill — A small mountain.
24. Hurt — To cause pain.
25. Human Beings — People.
26. Keeps On — Continues or does not stop.
27. Knocked — Hit and made someone fall.
28. Large — Big in size or number.
29. Look — To use your eyes to see something.
30. Marveling — Feeling great surprise and wonder.
31. Matter — A problem or something to talk about.
32. Meant — Was trying to say or show.
33. Mighty — Very strong and powerful.
34. Put Up — To accept something hard or difficult.
35. Shout — To speak very loudly.
36. Son — A male child of a parent.
37. Spirit — A being without a body, sometimes good, sometimes evil.
38. Stay — To remain in one place.
39. Sudden — Quick and without warning.
40. Teacher — A person who helps others learn.
41. Tell — To speak words to someone.
42. The Son of Man — A name Jesus used for himself.
43. Threw — Sent something through the air by force.
44. Understand — To know what something means.
45. Unbelieving — Not having faith or trust.
46. Went Down — Moved from a higher place to a lower place.

Summary of the Passage

This passage begins the day after Jesus went up a hill with three of his disciples. When they came down, a big crowd was waiting for Jesus. A man in the crowd called out to him. The man was very upset because his only son was sick. An evil spirit would attack the boy, making him fall down, shake, and foam at the mouth. The father had asked Jesus’ disciples to help, but they could not.

Jesus was sad that the people did not have strong faith. He told the man to bring his son to him. As the boy was coming, the evil spirit hurt him again. But Jesus told the spirit to leave. He healed the boy and gave him back to his father. All the people were amazed at what God had done through Jesus.

While people were still surprised by Jesus’ power, he spoke to his disciples. He warned them that something very hard was going to happen. Jesus said he would be taken by people who wanted to hurt him. But the disciples did not understand what Jesus meant. They were too afraid to ask him.

This passage teaches us that Jesus cares for hurting people and has power to heal. It also reminds us that Jesus knew he would suffer and die for others, but he still showed love and care to those in need.

Read The Passage

Jesus Heals a Boy with an Evil Spirit
37 The next day Jesus and the three disciples went down from the hill, and a large crowd met Jesus.
38 A man shouted from the crowd, “Teacher! I beg you, look at my son—my only son!
39 A spirit attacks him with a sudden shout and throws him into a fit, so that he foams at the mouth; it keeps on hurting him and will hardly let him go!
40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”
41 Jesus answered, “How unbelieving and wrong you people are! How long must I stay with you? How long do I have to put up with you?” Then he said to the man, “Bring your son here.”
42 As the boy was coming, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a fit. Jesus gave a command to the evil spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
43 All the people were amazed at the mighty power of God.
Jesus Speaks Again about His Death
The people were still marveling at everything Jesus was doing, when he said to his disciples,
44 “Don’t forget what I am about to tell you! The Son of Man is going to be handed over to the power of human beings.”
45 But the disciples did not know what this meant. It had been hidden from them so that they could not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about the matter.

Luke 9:37-45 (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 9:37-45 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 9:37-45 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 9:37-45 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 9:37-45 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 9:37-45 (ESV)

Comprehension Questions

1. Who met Jesus when he came down the hill?
2. What did the man from the crowd ask Jesus to do?
3. What was wrong with the man’s son?
4. Why was the father upset with Jesus’ disciples?
5. What did Jesus say about the people?
6. What happened when the boy came close to Jesus?
7. What did Jesus do to help the boy?
8. How did the people react after Jesus healed the boy?
9. What did Jesus tell his disciples while the people were amazed?
10. Did the disciples understand what Jesus said about his future?

Application Questions

1. Why do you think the father asked Jesus for help?
2. Have you ever felt like the father—worried or afraid for someone you love?
3. What does this story show us about Jesus’ power and love?
4. Why do you think the disciples were afraid to ask Jesus what he meant?
5. How can we trust Jesus even when we do not understand everything?

Theological Insights

1. Jesus has power over evil spirits and sickness.
2. Jesus listens when people ask for help.
3. Jesus knew he would suffer and die for others.
4. Jesus still showed love and care, even when he was facing hard things.
5. Faith in Jesus is important, even when life is difficult or confusing.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for showing us your power and love through Jesus. Help us to trust you when we feel afraid or do not understand. Thank you that Jesus cares for us. 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.