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 had to choose between two sides in a game or a group? How did you decide which side to pick?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn how Jesus showed his power over evil spirits. We will see how people responded to him and what Jesus taught about choosing to follow him.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

1. Against — Not on the same side; fighting or working to stop someone or something.
2. Amazed — Very surprised and full of wonder.
3. Approved — Said yes to something or showed it was good.
4. Attacks — Tries to hurt or fight someone.
5. Beelzebul — Another name for Satan, the leader of bad spirits.
6. Belongings — The things that belong to a person.
7. Carries — Holds and moves something from one place to another.
8. Chief — The leader or the one in charge.
9. Country — A large area of land where people live under one government.
10. Defeats — Wins a fight or game against someone.
11. Demon — An evil spirit that hurts people.
12. Depending — Trusting or needing something or someone for help.
13. Divide — To split or break into parts or groups.
14. Drives — Forces something to go away.
15. Falls Apart — Breaks into pieces or stops working.
16. Fight — To try to hurt or stop someone by hitting or using words.
17. Followers — People who listen to and follow a leader or teacher.
18. For Me — On my side; agreeing with me and wanting to help.
19. Gather — To bring people or things together in one place.
20. Gives — Puts something into another person’s hand.
21. Guards — Watches and keeps something safe.
22. Help — To do something kind or useful for someone else.
23. House — A place where people live.
24. Kingdom — A land or place ruled by a king, or God’s rule over everything.
25. Kingdom Of God — God’s perfect place where he is King and everything is good and right. It is a real place in heaven, and it also lives in the hearts of people who love and follow him.
26. Knew — Already understood something in the mind.
27. Last — To continue for a long time.
28. Means — The way something happens.
29. Miracle — Something wonderful that only God can do.
30. Others — More people, not the first ones talked about.
31. Owner — The person who something belongs to.
32. Performs — Does an action, usually for others to see.
33. Power — Strength or ability to do something.
34. Prove — To show something is true.
35. Rather — Instead of.
36. Really — Truly or actually; not pretending.
37. Safe — Not in danger.
38. Satan — The enemy of God and the leader of evil spirits.
39. Scatter — To go in different directions or spread out so things are not together.
40. Show — To let people see something.
41. Stole — Took something that was not yours.
42. Strong — Having a lot of strength.
43. Thinking — Using the mind to understand or decide something.
44. Trap — A plan to catch or trick someone.
45. Wanted — Wished to have something or make something happen.
46. Weapons — Things used to fight with, like swords or guns.
47. Went Out — Left or came out from a place.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells a story about Jesus, who helped a man with a bad spirit. The spirit made the man unable to talk. When Jesus made the spirit leave, the man could speak again. The people watching were very surprised. But some of them thought Jesus had bad power, and others wanted him to show a sign from God.

Jesus knew what they were thinking. He explained that when a family or country fights inside itself, it cannot stay strong. He told them that if evil spirits were fighting each other, their kingdom would fall apart. Jesus said he did not use evil power but God’s power to make the bad spirit leave. This showed that God’s kingdom had already come near to them.

Then, Jesus gave an example. He said a strong man can keep his house safe with his weapons. But if someone stronger comes, he will take away the weapons and win. Jesus said that people must choose a side. A person is either with Jesus or against him. There is no middle place.

This passage teaches us that Jesus has power over evil. It also reminds us that we need to decide if we are with Jesus or not. God’s power is stronger than any bad thing, and we can trust him to help us.

Read The Passage

Jesus and Beelzebul
14-15 Jesus was driving out a demon that could not talk; and when the demon went out, the man began to talk. The crowds were amazed, but some of the people said, “It is Beelzebul, the chief of the demons, who gives him the power to drive them out.”
16 Others wanted to trap Jesus, so they asked him to perform a miracle to show that God approved of him.
17 But Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to them, “Any country that divides itself into groups which fight each other will not last very long; a family divided against itself falls apart.
18 So if Satan’s kingdom has groups fighting each other, how can it last? You say that I drive out demons because Beelzebul gives me the power to do so.
19 If this is how I drive them out, how do your followers drive them out? Your own followers prove that you are wrong!
20 No, it is rather by means of God’s power that I drive out demons, and this proves that the Kingdom of God has already come to you.
21 “When a strong man, with all his weapons ready, guards his own house, all his belongings are safe.
22 But when a stronger man attacks him and defeats him, he carries away all the weapons the owner was depending on and divides up what he stole.
23 “Anyone who is not for me is really against me; anyone who does not help me gather is really scattering.

Luke 11:14-23 (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 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)

Comprehension Questions

1. What happened to the man when Jesus made the demon leave?
2. How did the people feel when they saw this happen?
3. What did some people say about where Jesus got his power?
4. What did other people ask Jesus to do?
5. How did Jesus answer their thoughts about a divided house or kingdom?
6. Who did Jesus say gives him the power to drive out demons?
7. What did Jesus say about a strong man guarding his house?
8. What happens when a stronger man comes?
9. What did Jesus say about being with him or against him?

Application Questions

1. Do you believe that good is stronger than evil? Why or why not?
2. Why do you think some people did not believe in Jesus’ power?
3. How can we choose to be on God’s side today?
4. What does it mean to trust Jesus when bad things happen in life?

Theological Insights

1. Jesus has real power over evil spirits and bad things.
2. God’s power is stronger than any other power.
3. People cannot stay in the middle; they must choose to be with Jesus or not.
4. The Kingdom of God began when Jesus came to earth.
5. Jesus invites us to be part of God’s family by trusting him.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for showing us that you are stronger than anything bad. Help us to choose to be on your side and to trust you every day. Amen.

ELL Resources for the Gospel of Luke

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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.