Jesus Preaches the Good News: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 4:42-44

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 on Luke 4:31-44 that may work better for native English speakers.

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Luke 4:42-44 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 4:42-44 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Have you ever traveled to visit friends or family in a different town or city? What did you like about it?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn how Jesus taught people about God’s Kingdom. We will see that Jesus came to bring good news to everyone, not just one place.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

alone: (adjective) Being without any other people.
found: (verb) To have seen something you were looking for.
God’s kingdom: (phrase) The place or way where God rules as king.
Good News: (phrase) The message about Jesus and how he saves people.
Judea: (noun) The region in the south part of Israel.
leave: (verb) To go away from a place.
look for: (phrase) To try to find someone or something.
sent: (verb) To have caused someone to go to a place.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.
town: (noun) A place where many people live that is smaller than a city.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

alone: (adjective) Being without any other people.
found: (verb) To have seen something you were looking for.
God’s kingdom: (phrase) The place or way where God rules as king.
Good News: (phrase) The message about Jesus and how he saves people.
Judea: (noun) The region in the south part of Israel.
leave: (verb) To go away from a place.
look for: (phrase) To try to find someone or something.
must: (verb) To need to do something.
next day: (phrase) The day that comes after today or after a certain day.
other: (adjective) Different from the one already mentioned.
place: (noun) A specific area, room, or location.
said: (verb) To have spoken words.
sent: (verb) To have caused someone to go to a place.
stop: (verb) To not move or to finish doing something.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.
tell: (verb) To give information to someone.
told: (verb) To have given information to someone.
too: (adverb) Also.
town: (noun) A place where many people live that is smaller than a city.
try: (verb) To make an effort to do something.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

about: (preposition) Telling what a thing or person is like.
alone: (adjective) Being without any other people.
found: (verb) To have seen something you were looking for.
God’s kingdom: (phrase) The place or way where God rules as king.
Good News: (phrase) The message about Jesus and how he saves people.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
Judea: (noun) The region in the south part of Israel.
leave: (verb) To go away from a place.
look for: (phrase) To try to find someone or something.
must: (verb) To need to do something.
next day: (phrase) The day that comes after today or after a certain day.
other: (adjective) Different from the one already mentioned.
people: (noun) More than one person.
place: (noun) A specific area, room, or location.
said: (verb) To have spoken words.
sent: (verb) To have caused someone to go to a place.
stop: (verb) To not move or to finish doing something.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.
tell: (verb) To give information to someone.
told: (verb) To have given information to someone.
too: (adverb) Also.
town: (noun) A place where many people live that is smaller than a city.
try: (verb) To make an effort to do something.
went: (verb) To have moved to another place.

Summary of the Passage

This story happens after Jesus healed many people in a town. The next day, while it was still early, Jesus left the town. He went to a quiet, lonely place to be alone. He wanted to pray and rest. The people missed him and started to look for him. When they found him, they tried to stop him from leaving. They asked him to stay in their town.

Jesus loved the people, but he told them he could not stay. He explained that he needed to go to other towns to teach people about God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom is when people follow God and let him be their King. God had sent Jesus to tell everyone about his love and his plan to save people. This was the Good News he came to share.

So Jesus traveled to different places and told the Good News in many synagogues. A synagogue is a building where Jewish people meet to pray and study about God. He went all through the region of Judea because he wanted everyone to hear his message.

This passage teaches us that Jesus cares for all people and wants everyone to know about God’s love. It also shows us that sometimes we must leave a place or people we love to do what God calls us to do.

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.

Jesus Goes to Other Towns
42 The next day Jesus went to a place to be alone.
The people looked for him.
When they found him, they tried to stop him from leaving.
43 But he said to them,
“I must tell the Good News about God’s kingdom to other towns too.
This is why I was sent.”
44 Then Jesus told the Good News in the synagogues in Judea.
Luke 4:42-44 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-To-Read Version: Luke 4:42-44 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 4:42-44 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 4:42-44 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 4:42-44 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 4:42-44 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 4:42-44 (ESV)

Luke 4:42-44 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

When did Jesus leave the town to be alone?
Where did Jesus go?
What did the people do when they noticed Jesus was gone?
What did the people ask Jesus to do when they found him?
Why did Jesus say he needed to leave?
What message did Jesus want to preach?
Where did Jesus go to preach?
Who sent Jesus to share the Good News?
Why did Jesus want to go to more than one town?
What does this story show about what God wants for all people?

Application Questions

Why do you think Jesus wanted to go to a quiet place alone?
Have you ever needed quiet time to rest or pray?
Why is it good to share Good News with other people?
What is one way you can show God’s love to others this week?
How does it make you feel to know Jesus came to share Good News with everyone?

Theological Insights

Jesus needed time alone to pray and be with God.
Jesus loves all people and wants everyone to hear the Good News about God’s kingdom.
God sent Jesus with a special job: to teach about his love and salvation.
Sometimes doing what God asks means leaving a place or people we love.
God’s kingdom is for everyone, in every town and country.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father,
We praise you because your love is for every person in every town.
Please forgive us when we do not want to go where you tell us to go.
Thank you for sending Jesus to tell us about God’s kingdom.
Please help us to share your Good News with our friends this week.
Amen.