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 been in a parade or a big celebration? What was it like?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn about a special day when Jesus came into a city called Jerusalem. People were happy to see him, but not everyone liked him. We will hear what Jesus did and how he felt about the people.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

1. Barricade — Something built to block people or stop them from coming in.
2. Bless — To ask God to give someone good things, like peace or help.
3. Blockade — To stop people or things from coming in or going out by blocking a place.
4. Cloak — A long piece of clothing like a coat, worn over other clothes.
5. Colt — A young donkey or horse.
6. Command — To tell someone what to do with authority.
7. Completely — All the way, with nothing left out.
8. Disciples — People who follow and learn from a teacher.
9. Enemy — A person who wants to hurt you or fight against you.
10. Glory — Great honor and praise.
11. Hideout — A secret place where bad people go to stay safe.
12. Master — A person who is in charge or has control over something.
13. Merchants — People who sell things to others.
14. Miss a word — To not hear or understand what someone says.
15. Mount of Olives — A hill near Jerusalem with many olive trees.
16. Peace — A time without fighting, when people feel calm and safe.
17. Pharisees — Religious leaders in Jesus’ time who taught God’s laws but often did not follow them with their hearts.
18. Praise — To say good things about someone.
19. Prayer — Talking to God, often asking for help or giving thanks.
20. Recognize — To know or understand something clearly.
21. Shouting — Speaking or calling out in a very loud voice.
22. Single — One.
23. Spread — To open or lay something out over a surface.
24. Stones — Small hard pieces of rock.
25. Temple — A special house where people worship God.
26. Thieves — People who steal things.
27. Untying — Loosening a rope or string so something can be free.
28. Village — A small group of houses where people live, smaller than a city.
29. Wept — Cried because of sadness.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells a story about Jesus coming into a city called Jerusalem. Many people believed Jesus was sent by God. As Jesus got close to the city, he told two of his friends to find a young donkey for him to ride. They found it, just like Jesus said they would. The people were so happy to see Jesus. They put their cloaks on the road to show honor and shouted words of joy to thank God.

Some religious leaders did not like this. They told Jesus to make the people be quiet. But Jesus said that if the people stopped shouting, the stones on the ground would start praising God!

When Jesus saw the city of Jerusalem, he started to cry. He was sad because the people there did not understand what would bring them peace. Jesus knew hard times were coming for the city because they did not listen to God.

Later, Jesus went into the Temple. He was upset because people were selling things there instead of praying. He made them leave the Temple. Every day, Jesus kept teaching the people, even though some leaders wanted to hurt him. But many people still listened to him with joy.

This passage shows us that Jesus cares deeply about people. He wants us to listen to God and know what brings peace.

Read The Passage

The Triumphant Approach to Jerusalem
28 After Jesus said this, he went on in front of them toward Jerusalem.
29-30 As he came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead with these instructions: “Go to the village there ahead of you; as you go in, you will find a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
31 If someone asks you why you are untying it, tell him that the Master[a] needs it.”
32 They went on their way and found everything just as Jesus had told them.
33 As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying it?”
34 “The Master needs it,” they answered,
35 and they took the colt to Jesus. Then they threw their cloaks over the animal and helped Jesus get on.
36 As he rode on, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37 When he came near Jerusalem, at the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives, the large crowd of his disciples began to thank God and praise him in loud voices for all the great things that they had seen:
38 “God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God!”
39 Then some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “command your disciples to be quiet!”
40 Jesus answered, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting.”
Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem
41-42 He came closer to the city, and when he saw it, he wept over it, saying, “If you only knew today what is needed for peace! But now you cannot see it!
43 The time will come when your enemies will surround you with barricades, blockade you, and close in on you from every side.
44 They will completely destroy you and the people within your walls; not a single stone will they leave in its place, because you did not recognize the time when God came to save you!”
Jesus Goes to the Temple
45-46 Then Jesus went into the Temple and began to drive out the merchants, saying to them, “It is written in the Scriptures that God said, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer.’ But you have turned it into a hideout for thieves!”
47-48 Every day Jesus taught in the Temple. The chief priests, the teachers of the Law, and the leaders of the people wanted to kill him, but they could not find a way to do it, because all the people kept listening to him, not wanting to miss a single word.

Luke 19:28-48 (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 19:28-48 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 19:28-48 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 19:28-48 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 19:28-48 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 19:28-48 (ESV)

Comprehension Questions

1. Where was Jesus going in this story?
2. What did Jesus tell his two disciples to do?
3. What did the people do when Jesus rode into Jerusalem?
4. Why did the Pharisees tell Jesus to stop the people?
5. What did Jesus say would happen if the people kept quiet?
6. Why did Jesus cry when he saw Jerusalem?
7. What did Jesus do in the Temple?
8. Why were the religious leaders angry with Jesus?
9. Did the people want to listen to Jesus?

Application Questions

1. Have you ever felt very happy about something and wanted to tell everyone? What was it?
2. Jesus cried because people did not listen to God. Why is it important to listen to God?
3. What can we do when we see something wrong happening, like Jesus saw in the Temple?
4. Why do you think people still wanted to hear Jesus, even when others were against him?
5. How can you show honor to Jesus in your life today?

Theological Insights

1. Jesus is the true King sent by God.
2. Jesus loves people and feels sad when they do not listen to God.
3. God wants his house to be a place of prayer, not a place for selfish things.
4. Some people will follow Jesus, and some will reject him, but Jesus keeps teaching the truth.
5. Even when people are against Jesus, God’s plan will still happen.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for sending Jesus to love and teach us. Help us listen to your words and follow you with joy. Give us peace in our hearts. 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.