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 climbed a tree? Why did you do it, and what did you see?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn about a man named Zacchaeus who wanted to see Jesus. Jesus was kind to Zacchaeus, even when other people were not. We will talk about how Jesus loves to help people change.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

1. Abraham — A man in the Bible whom God chose to be the father of the Jewish people.
2. Belongings — The things a person owns.
3. Cheated — To take something in a dishonest way.
4. Chief — The leader or most important person in a group.
5. Climbed — Went up something, like a tree or a hill.
6. Crowd — A large group of people close together.
7. Descendant — A person from the same family a long time later.
8. Guest — A person who visits someone’s home.
9. Grumbling — Complaining in a quiet or unhappy way.
10. Hurry — To do something quickly.
11. Jericho — A town in the Bible where this story happens.
12. Joy — A very happy feeling.
13. Lost — A word Jesus used for people who do not know God.
14. Passing Through — Moving through a place, not stopping for long.
15. Pay Back — To give back money you took or borrowed.
16. Poor — People who do not have much money or things.
17. Rich — Having a lot of money or things.
18. Salvation — Being saved by God.
19. Save — To rescue or keep someone safe from harm.
20. Seek — To look for something.
21. Sinner — A person who does wrong things against God.
22. Son of Man — A name Jesus called himself.
23. Sycamore Tree — A kind of tree with big branches and leaves.
24. Tax Collector — A person who takes money from people for the government. In Bible times, many tax collectors were unfair.
25. Welcomed — To be happy to see someone and invite them in.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells a story about a man named Zacchaeus. He lived in a town called Jericho and worked as a tax collector. Many people did not like tax collectors because they often took too much money. Zacchaeus was a rich man, but he was also a short man. One day, Jesus came to Jericho, and a big crowd followed him. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but he was too short to see over the people.

So Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to get a better look. When Jesus came to the tree, he stopped and called Zacchaeus by name. Jesus told him to come down because he wanted to visit his house. Zacchaeus was very happy and welcomed Jesus into his home.

Some people in the crowd complained because they thought Zacchaeus was a bad man. But Zacchaeus stood up and promised to give half of his things to the poor and pay back anyone he had cheated. Jesus said Zacchaeus was now saved and part of God’s family.

This passage teaches us that Jesus loves and cares for people, even when others do not. He came to help people who are lost and to bring them close to God.

Read The Passage

Jesus and Zacchaeus
1 Jesus went on into Jericho and was passing through.
2 There was a chief tax collector there named Zacchaeus, who was rich.
3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was a little man and could not see Jesus because of the crowd.
4 So he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way.
5 When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to Zacchaeus, “Hurry down, Zacchaeus, because I must stay in your house today.”
6 Zacchaeus hurried down and welcomed him with great joy.
7 All the people who saw it started grumbling, “This man has gone as a guest to the home of a sinner!”
8 Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Salvation has come to this house today, for this man, also, is a descendant of Abraham.
10 The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 19:1-10 (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 19:1-10 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 19:1-10 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 19:1-10 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 19:1-10 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 19:1-10 (ESV)

Comprehension Questions

1. Where was Jesus walking in this story?
2. Who was Zacchaeus?
3. Why did people not like Zacchaeus?
4. Why did Zacchaeus climb a tree?
5. What did Jesus say to Zacchaeus when he saw him in the tree?
6. How did Zacchaeus feel when Jesus wanted to visit his house?
7. Why were some people unhappy when Jesus went to Zacchaeus’ house?
8. What did Zacchaeus promise to do with his money?
9. What did Jesus say about Zacchaeus after he promised to help others?
10. Who did Jesus say he came to help?

Application Questions

1. Has anyone ever been kind to you when others were not? How did it feel?
2. Why do you think Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus so badly?
3. How can we welcome people like Jesus did?
4. What is one good thing you could do for someone this week?

Theological Insights

1. Jesus loves all people, even those other people do not like.
2. God can change people’s hearts, and they can start doing good things.
3. Salvation is a gift from God for those who trust in Jesus.
4. Jesus knows each person by name and cares about them.
5. When we follow Jesus, we should care for others too.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for loving everyone, even when they make mistakes. Help us to welcome others and show kindness like Jesus did. 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.