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

What is something someone trusted you to take care of before? What did you do with it?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will hear a story Jesus told about a king and his servants. We will learn about working hard, using what God gives us, and trusting him.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

1. Appear — To become visible or seen.
2. Bank — A place where people keep their money safe.
3. Charge — To be in control of something or someone.
4. Coin — A small, round piece of money.
5. Condemn — To say someone did something wrong and give a punishment.
6. Earn — To get something, like money or a prize, by working for it.
7. Enemy — A person who hates or fights against you.
8. Faithful — To be good, honest, and do what you are asked.
9. Gold — A shiny yellow metal that is very valuable.
10. Handkerchief — A small cloth used to wipe your face or hands.
11. Hard Man — A person who is strict and difficult.
12. Hated — Strongly did not like someone or something.
13. Hidden — Put in a place where no one can see it.
14. Interest — Extra money you earn from saving or lending money.
15. 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.
16. Parable — A simple story that teaches a lesson about God.
17. Plant — To put a seed in the ground so it can grow.
18. Presence — Being in the same place with someone.
19. Rank — A level or position someone has, like being a leader or boss.
20. Reap — To collect food or crops that have grown.
21. Servant — A person who works for another person.
22. Well Done — Words to praise someone for good work.

Summary of the Passage

This passage is a story Jesus told to the people. Many people thought God’s kingdom would come very soon. Jesus wanted to teach them an important lesson about waiting, working, and being faithful while they waited.

In the story, a rich man goes to another country to become king. Before he leaves, he gives his ten servants one gold coin each. He tells them to use the money well while he is gone. Some people in his land did not want him to be king.

When the man comes back as king, he asks his servants what they did with the money. One servant made ten more coins, and the king was very happy. Another made five coins, and the king was happy too. But one servant hid the coin in a cloth because he was afraid of the king. The king was upset because the servant did nothing with the money.

The king took the coin from the lazy servant and gave it to the servant with ten coins. He said that people who work well will be given more, but those who do nothing will lose even what they have.

This passage teaches us that God wants us to use the gifts and time he gives us. God is pleased when we work hard and trust him. It also reminds us that God will one day ask us what we did with what he gave us.

Read The Passage

The Parable of the Gold Coins
11 While the people were listening to this, Jesus continued and told them a parable. He was now almost at Jerusalem, and they supposed that the Kingdom of God was just about to appear.
12 So he said, “There was once a man of high rank who was going to a country far away to be made king, after which he planned to come back home.
13 Before he left, he called his ten servants and gave them each a gold coin and told them, ‘See what you can earn with this while I am gone.’
14 Now, his own people hated him, and so they sent messengers after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’
15 “The man was made king and came back. At once he ordered his servants to appear before him, in order to find out how much they had earned.
16 The first one came and said, ‘Sir, I have earned ten gold coins with the one you gave me.’
17 ‘Well done,’ he said; ‘you are a good servant! Since you were faithful in small matters, I will put you in charge of ten cities.’
18 The second servant came and said, ‘Sir, I have earned five gold coins with the one you gave me.’
19 To this one he said, ‘You will be in charge of five cities.’
20 Another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your gold coin; I kept it hidden in a handkerchief.
21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take what is not yours and reap what you did not plant.’
22 He said to him, ‘You bad servant! I will use your own words to condemn you! You know that I am a hard man, taking what is not mine and reaping what I have not planted.
23 Well, then, why didn’t you put my money in the bank? Then I would have received it back with interest when I returned.’
24 Then he said to those who were standing there, ‘Take the gold coin away from him and give it to the servant who has ten coins.’
25 But they said to him, ‘Sir, he already has ten coins!’
26 ‘I tell you,’ he replied, ‘that to those who have something, even more will be given; but those who have nothing, even the little that they have will be taken away from them.
27 Now, as for those enemies of mine who did not want me to be their king, bring them here and kill them in my presence!’”

Luke 19:11-27 (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 19:11-27 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 19:11-27 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 19:11-27 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 19:11-27 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 19:11-27 (ESV)

Comprehension Questions

1. Where was Jesus going when he told this story?
2. What did the rich man give to his servants before he left?
3. How many gold coins did each servant get?
4. What did the rich man want the servants to do with the coins?
5. How many coins did the first servant earn?
6. How did the king feel about the first servant’s work?
7. What happened to the servant who hid his coin?
8. What did the king do with the coin from the lazy servant?
9. What lesson did Jesus want people to learn from this story?

Application Questions

1. What are some gifts or talents God has given you?
2. How can you use your time and gifts to help others this week?
3. Why is it important to be faithful, even when no one is watching?
4. What do you think it means to be ready for God’s kingdom?
5. How do you feel knowing God cares about what you do with your life?

Theological Insights

1. God gives each person time, gifts, and chances to do good.
2. God is pleased when people are faithful with what he gives them.
3. God’s kingdom is not just about a place but about trusting and following him.
4. One day, God will ask everyone how they used what he gave them.
5. Those who trust and obey God will be blessed in his kingdom.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for giving us good gifts and time to use them. Help us to be faithful and kind in everything we do. Teach us to trust you and follow your ways. 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.