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

When you were a child, who made you feel safe and cared for?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn how Jesus showed love to people, even when they did not listen to him. We will hear about his sadness for the city of Jerusalem and his courage to keep doing God’s work.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

1. Abandoned — Left alone and no longer cared for.
2. Answered — Gave a reply to someone’s question or words.
3. Arms — The parts of the body from the shoulder to the hand.
4. Assure — To tell someone something is true to help them feel sure.
5. Bless — To ask for God’s good care or favor.
6. Chicks — Baby birds, especially baby chickens.
7. Comes In The Name Of The Lord — Sent by God or doing something with God’s blessing.
8. Demons — Evil spirits that hurt people in Bible stories.
9. Driving Out — Making someone or something leave a place.
10. Except — Leaving out; not including.
11. Finish — Complete something or come to an end.
12. Fox — A small wild animal known for being tricky.
13. Gather — To bring things or people together in one place.
14. Get Out Of Here — To leave a place.
15. Go Somewhere Else — To leave one place and move to another.
16. Hen — A female chicken.
17. Herod — A ruler in the Bible who had power in Israel during Jesus’ time.
18. Jerusalem — A very important city in the Bible, known as the home of the Jewish Temple.
19. Kill — To cause death to a person, animal, or living thing.
20. Love — To care for someone very much.
21. Many Times — Happening again and again.
22. Messengers — People sent to give messages to others.
23. Must — Something that has to happen; very necessary.
24. Next Day — The day after the last day mentioned.
25. On My Way — Going toward a place.
26. Performing Cures — Healing sick people.
27. Pharisees — A group of Jewish religious leaders in Jesus’ time.
28. Prophet — A person God chooses to speak his message.
29. Right — Correct or good to do.
30. Same — Not different; alike.
31. See — To use your eyes to look at something.
32. Somewhere Else — A different place.
33. Stone — To throw rocks at someone to kill them.
34. Temple — The holy building in Jerusalem where Jewish people worshiped God.
35. Tell — To say something to a person.
36. Third Day — The day after two days.
37. Times — How often something happens.
38. Tomorrow — The day after today.
39. Under — Below something else.
40. Wanted — Wished to have or do something.
41. Wings — The parts of a bird’s body used to fly.
42. Until — Up to a time or point.
43. Work — Jobs or tasks someone does.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells us about a time when Jesus was in danger. Some Pharisees, who were Jewish leaders, came to Jesus. They told him that a man named Herod wanted to kill him. Herod was a ruler in that land. He did not like people who taught about God’s kingdom.

Jesus was not afraid. He called Herod a fox, which means a tricky person. Jesus said he would keep healing sick people and helping others. He knew that one day he would die, but he would not stop doing God’s work until the right time.

Then, Jesus spoke about the city of Jerusalem. This was a very important place for Jewish people. Many prophets had come there before Jesus, but the people did not listen. They even killed the prophets. Jesus said he felt like a mother hen who wanted to gather her chicks under her wings to keep them safe. He wanted to protect the people, but they did not want his help.

This passage shows us Jesus’ deep love for people, even when they turned away from him. It teaches us that Jesus is brave, loving, and always finishes the work God gives him to do.

Read The Passage

Jesus’ Love for Jerusalem
31 At that same time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “You must get out of here and go somewhere else, because Herod wants to kill you.”
32 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell that fox: ‘I am driving out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I shall finish my work.’
33 Yet I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day; it is not right for a prophet to be killed anywhere except in Jerusalem.
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets, you stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me!
35 And so your Temple will be abandoned. I assure you that you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Luke 13:31-35 (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 13:31-35 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 13:31-35 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 13:31-35 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 13:31-35 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 13:31-35 (ESV)

Comprehension Questions

1. Who came to warn Jesus about Herod?
2. What did the Pharisees tell Jesus?
3. What did Jesus call Herod?
4. What did Jesus say he would keep doing?
5. Where did Jesus say prophets are killed?
6. Why was Jesus sad for Jerusalem?
7. What did Jesus say he wanted to do for the people of Jerusalem?
8. What picture did Jesus use to show his love?
9. What would happen to the Temple?
10. When did Jesus say the people would see him again?

Application Questions

1. Have you ever tried to help someone who did not want your help? How did that feel?
2. Why do you think Jesus kept helping people, even when he was in danger?
3. What does it mean for you that Jesus loves people, even when they turn away?
4. How can we show love to people, even when it is hard?
5. What does this passage teach you about God’s heart for people?

Theological Insights

1. Jesus is brave and keeps doing God’s work, even when people want to stop him.
2. God sends messengers and prophets to help people, but many people do not listen.
3. Jesus loves people deeply, even when they turn away from him.
4. Jesus wanted to protect and care for the people of Jerusalem, like a mother hen with her chicks.
5. God’s plan will happen at the right time, and Jesus will finish his work.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for loving us, even when we do not always listen. Help us to follow you and show love to others. 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.