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 is a time someone helped you when you really needed it?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will see how Jesus cared for a sick man and showed kindness, even when others were watching him. We will learn about the Sabbath and how Jesus taught people to show love every day.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

1. Arms — The parts of the body from the shoulder to the hand.
2. Asked — Said something to get an answer.
3. At Once — Right away; without waiting.
4. Came — Moved closer to a place or person.
5. Child — A young boy or girl.
6. Eat — To take food into the mouth and swallow it.
7. Fall — To drop down to the ground.
8. Heal — To make someone well again.
9. Home — The place where a person lives.
10. Leading — Important or in charge.
11. Legs — The parts of the body used to stand and walk.
12. Meal — Food eaten at a set time, like breakfast or dinner.
13. Not Say A Thing — To stay quiet and not speak.
14. Ox — A large animal like a cow, often used for work.
15. Pharisees — A group of Jewish religious leaders in Jesus’ time.
16. Pull It Out — To take something out from where it is stuck.
17. Sabbath — A special day of rest and worship each week for Jewish people.
18. Sick — Not healthy; having an illness.
19. Sent Away — Told someone to leave.
20. Spoke Up — Said something clearly so others could hear.
21. Swollen — Bigger than normal, sometimes because of sickness or injury.
22. Teachers Of The Law — Jewish leaders who taught God’s laws in the Bible.
23. Took — Picked up or held something.
24. Watching Closely — Looking at someone carefully to see what they will do.
25. Went — Moved from one place to another.
26. Well — A deep hole in the ground to get water.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells us about a day when Jesus went to eat at a Pharisee’s house. Pharisees were Jewish leaders who followed many religious rules. It was the Sabbath, a special day when Jewish people rested and worshiped God. On this day, people were watching Jesus closely to see what he would do.

A man came to Jesus who was very sick. His arms and legs were swollen, which means they were too big because of sickness. Jesus asked the Pharisees and teachers of the Law if it was right to heal someone on the Sabbath. The Pharisees did not answer him. They stayed quiet.

Jesus loved the sick man. He healed him and sent him home. Then Jesus asked the Pharisees a question. He said if one of their children or an ox fell into a well on the Sabbath, would they not help them right away? But the Pharisees still would not answer.

This passage shows us that Jesus cares about people more than following rules the wrong way. He teaches that it is always good to show kindness and help people, no matter what day it is.

Read The Passage

Jesus Heals a Sick Man
1 One Sabbath Jesus went to eat a meal at the home of one of the leading Pharisees; and people were watching Jesus closely.
2-3 A man whose legs and arms were swollen came to Jesus, and Jesus spoke up and asked the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, “Does our Law allow healing on the Sabbath or not?”
4 But they would not say a thing. Jesus took the man, healed him, and sent him away.
5 Then he said to them, “If any one of you had a child or an ox that happened to fall in a well on a Sabbath, would you not pull it out at once on the Sabbath itself?”
6 But they were not able to answer him about this.

Luke 14:1-6 (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 14:1-6 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 14:1-6 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 14:1-6 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 14:1-6 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 14:1-6 (ESV)

Comprehension Questions

1. Where did Jesus go to eat a meal?
2. Who was watching Jesus closely?
3. What was wrong with the man who came to Jesus?
4. What question did Jesus ask the Pharisees?
5. Did the Pharisees answer Jesus’ question?
6. What did Jesus do for the sick man?
7. What example did Jesus give about a child or an ox?
8. Why did Jesus tell them that story about the well?
9. Could the Pharisees answer Jesus after that?
10. What does this story show about Jesus’ heart for people?

Application Questions

1. Have you ever helped someone when it was hard or not easy?
2. Why do you think Jesus healed the man even though people were watching?
3. What does this story teach us about showing kindness to others?
4. How can you show love to someone today, like Jesus did?
5. What can we learn from the way Jesus spoke to the Pharisees?

Theological Insights

1. Jesus loves to help people, even when others are against it.
2. God cares about people more than rules.
3. The Sabbath is a good day to rest and worship God, but it is also a good day to help others.
4. Jesus teaches that love and kindness are always important.
5. Even when people are quiet or against him, Jesus does what is right.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for showing us how to love and help others. Help us to be kind like Jesus, no matter what day it is. 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.