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 your favorite season of the year? How can you tell when it is coming?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn how Jesus used a tree to teach an important lesson. He told his friends to watch carefully and stay ready. We will see how this can help us live with hope and trust.

Vocabulary List (GNT)

1. Appear — To show up where people can see you.
2. Be Careful — To pay attention so you do not make a mistake or get into trouble.
3. Catch — To come upon someone quickly when they are not ready.
4. Died — When a person or animal stops living.
5. Drinking — Taking a liquid like alcohol into your mouth.
6. Early — Before the usual or expected time.
7. Earth — The planet where we live.
8. Evening — The time when the sun goes down and it starts to get dark.
9. Feasting — Eating a lot of food in a happy or special way.
10. Fig Tree — A kind of tree that grows sweet fruit.
11. Happen — When something takes place or comes true.
12. Heaven — The special place where God lives.
13. 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.
14. Leaves — The flat green parts that grow on a tree or plant.
15. Morning — The time when the sun comes up and the day begins.
16. Mount of Olives — A hill near Jerusalem where Jesus often went to pray.
17. Occupied — Too busy with something.
18. Parable — A short story used to teach a lesson.
19. Pass Away — To disappear or come to an end.
20. Pray — To talk to God.
21. Safely — In a way that keeps you from getting hurt or in trouble.
22. Son of Man — A special name Jesus used for himself.
23. Spend the Night — To stay in a place and sleep there until morning.
24. Stand Before — To be in front of someone, often in an important moment.
25. Strength — Power to keep going, even when it is hard.
26. Suddenly — When something happens very fast and without warning.
27. Temple — A special place where people worship God.
28. Trap — Something that catches a person or animal suddenly.
29. Watch — To look carefully and pay attention.
30. Worries — Things that make people feel afraid or stressed.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells us about a time when Jesus was teaching people in a city called Jerusalem. He used a story, or parable, to help them understand what it means to be ready for God’s kingdom. He talked about a fig tree. When its leaves come out, we know summer is near. In the same way, Jesus said people can look for signs that God’s kingdom is coming soon.

Jesus also told the people to be careful. He warned them not to get too busy with food, drink, or the problems of life. If they do, they might not be ready when a big day comes. That day will come to everyone, everywhere. So Jesus told them to stay awake, to pray, and to stay strong. If they do, they will be ready to stand before him.

At the end of the passage, we learn that Jesus spent every day teaching in the Temple. At night, he went to the Mount of Olives to rest. Every morning, many people came to the Temple early to hear him speak.

This passage teaches us to pay attention and not let life distract us. Jesus wants us to be ready for his return. He invites us to stay close to him through prayer and to trust his words, which will never go away.

Read The Passage

The Lesson of the Fig Tree
29 Then Jesus told them this parable: “Think of the fig tree and all the other trees.
30 When you see their leaves beginning to appear, you know that summer is near.
31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you will know that the Kingdom of God is about to come.
32 “Remember that all these things will take place before the people now living have all died.
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
The Need to Watch
34-35 “Be careful not to let yourselves become occupied with too much feasting and drinking and with the worries of this life, or that Day may suddenly catch you like a trap. For it will come upon all people everywhere on earth.
36 Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 Jesus spent those days teaching in the Temple, and when evening came, he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives.
38 Early each morning all the people went to the Temple to listen to him.

Luke 21:29-38 (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 21:29-38 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 21:29-38 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 21:29-38 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 21:29-38 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 21:29-38 (ESV)

Comprehension Questions

1. What kind of tree did Jesus talk about in his story?
2. What happens when the tree’s leaves start to grow?
3. What does the growing tree help us understand about God’s kingdom?
4. What did Jesus say will never pass away?
5. What warning did Jesus give about feasting and worrying?
6. What does Jesus tell people to do so they are ready?
7. Where did Jesus go at night after teaching?
8. What did people do early in the morning?

Application Questions

1. What are some things in life that can make us too busy or distracted?
2. Why do you think Jesus wants us to watch and pray?
3. How can you make time to pray or listen to Jesus this week?
4. What helps you trust that Jesus’ words are true and will last?

Theological Insights

1. Jesus teaches us that his words are stronger than anything on earth.
2. God wants us to be ready for the return of Jesus.
3. We need to stay awake in our hearts and keep praying.
4. Jesus is the Son of Man, and he will come again with power.
5. God’s kingdom is coming, and it is good news for those who trust him.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, thank you for Jesus’ words that never pass away. Help us to stay ready and to trust you every day. 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.