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 seen someone pretend to be good when they were not? How did you feel about it?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will hear how Jesus spoke to people who loved money too much. We will learn that God sees our hearts, not just what people see on the outside.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

1. Adultery — When a married person has a romantic or sexual relationship with someone who is not their husband or wife.
2. Another — One more person or thing.
3. Commits — Does something wrong or against a rule or law.
4. Considered — Thought about or believed something in a certain way.
5. Detail — A small part of something.
6. Disappear — To go away or stop existing.
7. Divorces — Legally ends a marriage.
8. Done Away — Removed or stopped.
9. Forces — Pushes or makes a way into something.
10. Good News — The message about Jesus bringing salvation and the Kingdom of God.
11. Great — Very big or very important.
12. Heard — Listened to a sound or words.
13. Heart — The part of a person that feels emotions and makes choices.
14. Heaven — The perfect, forever home of God.
15. In Effect — Still working or being followed.
16. John The Baptist — A man in the Bible who told people to turn from their sins and get ready for Jesus.
17. 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.
18. Knows — Understands or is aware of something.
19. Law Of Moses — God’s rules given to Moses in the Old Testament.
20. Look Right — To try to seem like a good person in front of others.
21. Love — To care for something or someone very much.
22. Made Fun — Laughed at or mocked someone to be unkind.
23. Make — To cause something to happen.
24. Marries — Becomes a husband or wife.
25. Money — Coins or paper people use to buy things or pay for work.
26. Nothing — Not anything at all.
27. Pharisees — Religious leaders in the Bible who cared more about rules than about loving God and people.
28. Prophet — A person chosen by God to speak his message.
29. Right — Good and correct in God’s eyes.
30. Saying — A short, wise thing someone says.
31. Sight — The way someone sees or judges something.
32. Smallest — The least or tiniest part of something.
33. Some — A few people or things, but not all.
34. Told — Said something to someone.
35. Value — How important or special something is.
36. Way — A path or method to get somewhere or do something.
37. Wife — A woman who is married to a husband.
38. Writings — Words written down, especially the messages from God’s prophets in the Bible.
39. Worth — How important or valuable something is.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells about a time when Jesus was teaching people, and some religious leaders called Pharisees were listening. The Pharisees loved money very much. When they heard Jesus’ words about being wise and trusting God more than money, they made fun of him.

Jesus spoke to them and told them that God sees what is in people’s hearts. People may try to look good on the outside, but God knows what they truly think and feel. Some things that people think are very important are not important to God at all.

Then, Jesus talked about God’s laws. He reminded the people that the laws given by Moses and the prophets were still important. Even though the Good News about God’s kingdom was now being shared, God’s word would never go away. It is strong and lasting, even stronger than heaven and earth.

Jesus also spoke about marriage. He said that if a man divorces his wife and marries someone else, he sins. This shows how important marriage promises are to God.

This passage teaches us that God cares about our hearts more than what people see on the outside. God’s word is always true, and his rules help people live good and faithful lives.

Read The Passage

Some Sayings of Jesus
14 When the Pharisees heard all this, they made fun of Jesus, because they loved money.
15 Jesus said to them, “You are the ones who make yourselves look right in other people’s sight, but God knows your hearts. For the things that are considered of great value by people are worth nothing in God’s sight.
16 “The Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets were in effect up to the time of John the Baptist; since then the Good News about the Kingdom of God is being told, and everyone forces their way in.
17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the smallest detail of the Law to be done away with.
18 “Any man who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery; and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Luke 16:14-18 (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 16:14-18 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 16:14-18 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 16:14-18 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 16:14-18 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 16:14-18 (ESV)

Comprehension Questions

1. Who were the Pharisees?
2. Why did the Pharisees make fun of Jesus?
3. What does Jesus say God knows about people?
4. What do people think is important, but God does not?
5. What did Jesus say about the Law of Moses and the prophets?
6. Will God’s word ever disappear?
7. What does Jesus say about divorce and marriage?

Application Questions

1. Why do you think people sometimes pretend to be good in front of others?
2. What is one way we can keep our hearts honest before God?
3. Why is it important to remember that God’s word never changes?
4. How can we show respect for marriage promises?

Theological Insights

1. God looks at the heart, not just our actions.
2. People often care about things that do not matter to God.
3. God’s word is lasting, true, and can never be removed.
4. The Good News of the kingdom of God is for everyone who believes.
5. Marriage is a special promise before God and should be honored.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for seeing our hearts and loving us. Help us to care about what you care about and to be honest in how we live. 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.