The Shepherds and the Angels: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 2:8-20

This Bible study series is for people who are learning English. It is designed for advanced beginner and intermediate learners, but children or adults who prefer simple English may also enjoy it. I also have A Sunday School Lesson: Luke 2:8-20 that may work better for native English speakers.

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Luke 2:8-20 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 2:8-20 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Have you ever received good news that made you very happy? What was it?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will hear how angels told shepherds the good news that Jesus was born. We will learn how the shepherds listened, believed, and shared the message with others.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

angel: (noun) A messenger from heaven who serves God.
army of angels: (phrase) A very large group of angels that work for God.
event: (noun) Something important that happens.
feeding box: (phrase) A wooden box used to hold food for farm animals like cows or sheep.
glory: (noun) The great beauty, power, and honor that belongs to God.
Messiah: (noun) The “Chosen One” that God promised to send to save his people.
pieces of cloth: (phrase) Small parts of fabric used to wrap a person or a thing.
praise: (verb) To say very good things about God or a person.
Savior: (noun) A name for Jesus because he saves us from sin!
shepherd: (noun) A person who takes care of sheep.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

angel: (noun) A messenger from heaven who serves God.
appear: (verb) To show up so that people can see you.
army of angels: (phrase) A very large group of angels that work for God.
born: (adjective) To have come out of a mother’s body and started to live.
David’s town: (phrase) A name for the town of Bethlehem because King David was born there.
event: (noun) Something important that happens.
feeding box: (phrase) A wooden box used to hold food for farm animals like cows or sheep.
field: (noun) An open area of land.
glory: (noun) The great beauty, power, and honor that belongs to God.
good news: (phrase) A message that tells about something nice or happy.
heaven: (noun) The place where God lives.
lying: (verb) Resting in a flat position.
Messiah: (noun) The “Chosen One” that God promised to send to save his people.
peace: (noun) A time of quiet and no fighting.
pieces of cloth: (phrase) Small parts of fabric used to wrap a person or a thing.
please: (verb) To make someone happy.
praise: (verb) To say very good things about God or a person.
Savior: (noun) A name for Jesus because he saves us from sin!
sheep: (noun) An animal with thick wool that often lives in a flock.
shepherd: (noun) A person who takes care of sheep.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

afraid: (adjective) Feeling fear or being scared.
angel: (noun) A messenger from heaven who serves God.
appear: (verb) To show up so that people can see you.
army: (noun) A large group of soldiers who fight for a country.
army of angels: (phrase) A very large group of angels that work for God.
around: (preposition) In a circle or on all sides of something.
baby: (noun) A very young child.
back: (adverb) In the place where someone was before.
Bethlehem: (noun) The town where Jesus was born.
born: (adjective) To have come out of a mother’s body and started to live.
child: (noun) A young person.
continue: (verb) To keep doing something.
David: (noun) A great king of Israel who lived long before Jesus.
David’s town: (phrase) A name for the town of Bethlehem because King David was born there.
earth: (noun) The world where we live.
event: (noun) Something important that happens.
everything: (pronoun) All things that exist.
feeding box: (phrase) A wooden box used to hold food for farm animals like cows or sheep.
field: (noun) An open area of land.
find: (verb) To see or get something you were looking for.
found: (verb) To have seen something you were looking for.
glory: (noun) The great beauty, power, and honor that belongs to God.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
good news: (phrase) A message that tells about something nice or happy.
great: (adjective) Very large or very good.
heard: (verb) To have received sound with your ears.
heaven: (noun) The place where God lives.
huge: (adjective) Very, very large.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
join: (verb) To become a part of a group.
Joseph: (noun) The man who raised Jesus on earth.
just as: (conjunction) In the same way that.
left: (verb) To have gone away from a place.
let: (verb) To allow something to happen.
Lord: (noun) A name that shows someone has power or authority.
lying: (verb) Resting in a flat position.
make: (verb) To cause a feeling or a change.
Mary: (noun) The mother of Jesus.
Messiah: (noun) The “Chosen One” that God promised to send to save his people.
near: (adjective) Close to a place.
night: (noun) The time when it is dark outside.
other: (adjective) Different from the one already mentioned.
peace: (noun) A time of quiet and no fighting.
pieces of cloth: (phrase) Small parts of fabric used to wrap a person or a thing.
please: (verb) To make someone happy.
praise: (verb) To say very good things about God or a person.
run: (verb) To move very fast on your feet.
Savior: (noun) A name for Jesus because he saves us from sin!
sheep: (noun) An animal with thick wool that often lives in a flock.
shepherd: (noun) A person who takes care of sheep.
shine: (verb) To give off light.
surprise: (noun) A feeling caused by something that was not expected.
told: (verb) To have given information to someone.
town: (noun) A place where many people live that is smaller than a city.
try: (verb) To make an effort to do something.
watch: (verb) To look at something carefully for a time.
went: (verb) To have moved to another place.
wrap: (verb) To cover something by putting cloth or paper around it.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells what happened the night Jesus was born. There were shepherds in a field near Bethlehem. A shepherd is a person who takes care of sheep. While they were watching their animals, an angel from God appeared in a bright light. This light was the glory of the Lord. The glory of God is his great beauty and power. This sight made the shepherds very afraid.

The angel told them not to be afraid. He brought good news that would make everyone happy. The angel said a Savior was born in David’s town. David’s town is another name for Bethlehem. This baby is the Messiah, the “Chosen One” God promised to send. The angel told them they would find the baby lying in a feeding box. He would be wrapped in pieces of cloth. Suddenly, a huge army of angels from heaven appeared. They began to praise God. To praise means to say very good things about God. They spoke about peace on earth for people who please him.

After the angels left, the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem. They found Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. Everything was just as the angel had said. The shepherds told everyone the message they heard. Everyone was surprised by this event. Mary quietly remembered these things in her heart. The shepherds went back to their sheep. They continued praising God for everything they had seen and heard.

This passage shows us that God gave this good news to simple people first. God cares about everyone. It teaches us to listen to God’s message, to believe it, and to tell others.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

Some Shepherds Hear About Jesus
8 That night, some shepherds were out in the fields near Bethlehem watching their sheep.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining around them.
The shepherds were very afraid.
10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid.
I have some very good news for you—news that will make everyone happy.
11 Today your Savior was born in David’s town.
He is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.”
13 Then a huge army of angels from heaven joined the first angel, and they were all praising God, saying,
14 “Praise God in heaven, and on earth let there be peace to the people who please him.”
15 The angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven.
The shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this great event the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they went running and found Mary and Joseph.
And there was the baby, lying in the feeding box.
17 When they saw the baby, they told what the angels said about this child.
18 Everyone was surprised when they heard what the shepherds told them.
19 Mary continued to think about these things, trying to understand them.
20 The shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard.
It was just as the angel had told them.
Luke 2:8-20 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-To-Read Version: Luke 2:8-20 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 2:8-20 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 2:8-20 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 2:8-20 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 2:8-20 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 2:8-20 (ESV)

Luke 2:8-20 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

Who was watching their sheep in the field at night?
What shone around the shepherds when the angel appeared?
What was the first thing the angel said to the shepherds?
What three titles did the angel use for the baby?
Where did the angel say the baby would be lying?
What did the army of angels do when they joined the first angel?
What did the angels say would be on earth?
Where did the shepherds go after the angels left?
Who did the shepherds find in the town of Bethlehem?
What did the shepherds do after they saw the baby?

Application Questions

How do you feel when you receive very good news?
Does it help your faith to know that God tells his secrets to simple shepherds?
What are some things that make you feel afraid today?
How can you share the good news of God with a friend this week?
What is one thing you want to praise God for right now?

Theological Insights

God cares for simple, everyday people like shepherds.
Jesus is the Savior and the Messiah sent by God.
Angels are God’s messengers who bring his truth to earth.
God wants people to hear his message and tell it to others.
Peace on earth is a gift from God for those who please him.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father,
You are the King of heaven who shows us your great glory.
Please forgive us for the times we are afraid and forget your peace.
Thank you for sending Jesus to be our Savior and for the good news we heard today.
Help us to praise you with our voices and tell others about your love.
Amen.