Joyful Moments ESL

This Bible study series uses simple English so everyone can understand. It is perfect for ESL students, homeschool children, and anyone who wants to grow in faith. I also have a Sunday School lesson on Luke 8:22-39 that may work better for native English speakers.

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Lesson Icebreaker Question

Have you ever been in a bad storm? What did you do?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn how Jesus saved his friends during a big storm. We will see that Jesus has great power and cares for his people.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

1. calm: (adjective) Quiet and still.
2. command: 1. (noun) An order that someone must obey. 2. (verb) To give an order to someone.
3. danger: (noun) Something that can hurt you.
4. drown: (verb) To die under water.
5. faith: (noun) Believing and trusting in God.
6. master: (noun) A person who has power over others or a great teacher.
7. obey: (verb) To do what a rule or a person tells you to do.
8. sail: (verb) To travel on water in a boat.
9. storm: (noun) Very bad weather with strong wind and rain.
10. wave: (noun) A moving line of water on the sea.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

1. afraid: (adjective) Feeling fear or being scared.
2. amazed: (adjective) To be very surprised by something.
3. boat: (noun) A small vessel used for traveling on water.
4. calm: (adjective) Quiet and still.
5. command: 1. (noun) An order that someone must obey. 2. (verb) To give an order to someone.
6. danger: (noun) Something that can hurt you.
7. drown: (verb) To die under water.
8. faith: (noun) Believing and trusting in God.
9. follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
10. got into: (phrase) To have entered something like a car or a boat.
11. got up: (phrase) To move the body from a sitting or lying position to a standing position.
12. kind: (noun) A type of thing.
13. lake: (noun) A large area of water with land all around it.
14. master: (noun) A person who has power over others or a great teacher.
15. obey: (verb) To do what a rule or a person tells you to do.
16. power: (noun) Strength or the ability to do something.
17. sail: (verb) To travel on water in a boat.
18. storm: (noun) Very bad weather with strong wind and rain.
19. wave: (noun) A moving line of water on the sea.
20. wind: (noun) Moving air.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

1. across: (preposition) From one side to the other side of something.
2. afraid: (adjective) Feeling fear or being scared.
3. amazed: (adjective) To be very surprised by something.
4. became: (verb) To have started to be something.
5. began: (verb) To have started something.
6. big: (adjective) Large in size.
7. blew: (verb) To have moved air.
8. boat: (noun) A small vessel used for traveling on water.
9. calm: (adjective) Quiet and still.
10. come: (verb) To move toward a person or a place.
11. command: 1. (noun) An order that someone must obey. 2. (verb) To give an order to someone.
12. danger: (noun) Something that can hurt you.
13. day: (noun) The time when it is light outside.
14. drown: (verb) To die under water.
15. each other: (phrase) Two or more people doing the same thing to one another.
16. faith: (noun) Believing and trusting in God.
17. fill: (verb) To put as much as possible into something.
18. follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
19. gave: (verb) To have handed something over to another person.
20. got into: (phrase) To have entered something like a car or a boat.
21. got up: (phrase) To move the body from a sitting or lying position to a standing position.
22. Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
23. kind: (noun) A type of thing.
24. lake: (noun) A large area of water with land all around it.
25. man: (noun) An adult male person.
26. master: (noun) A person who has power over others or a great teacher.
27. obey: (verb) To do what a rule or a person tells you to do.
28. power: (noun) Strength or the ability to do something.
29. said: (verb) To have spoken words.
30. sail: (verb) To travel on water in a boat.
31. see: (verb) To look at something with your eyes.
32. slept: (verb) To have rested with eyes closed.
33. start: (verb) To begin doing something.
34. stop: (verb) To not move or to finish doing something.
35. storm: (noun) Very bad weather with strong wind and rain.
36. water: (noun) The clear liquid that we drink to stay alive.
37. wave: (noun) A moving line of water on the sea.
38. went: (verb) To have moved to another place.
39. while: (conjunction) During the time that something is happening.
40. will: (verb) A word used to talk about the future.
41. wind: (noun) Moving air.
42. woke: (verb) To have stopped sleeping and become awake.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells a story about Jesus and his followers, who were his close friends and students. One day, Jesus and his followers got into a boat to cross a big lake, the Sea of Galilee. As they sailed across the water, Jesus fell asleep. Suddenly, a strong wind began to blow. Big waves splashed into the boat, and the followers became very afraid because the boat was filling with water.

The followers quickly woke Jesus up. They called him “Master” and told him they were about to die. Even though Jesus had been sleeping, he got up and spoke to the wind and the waves. Right away, the wind stopped, the water became calm, and the danger was gone.

After the storm stopped, Jesus asked his followers why they did not trust him. The followers were amazed and a little afraid. They wondered who Jesus was, because even the wind and waves obeyed him.

This passage shows us that Jesus has great power over nature. He can stop storms with his words. It also teaches us that we should trust Jesus, even when we feel afraid. Jesus cares for his people and can help them in times of trouble.

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’ Followers See His Power
22 One day Jesus and his followers got into a boat.
He said to them, “Come with me across the lake.”
And so they started across.
23 While they were sailing, Jesus slept.
A big storm blew across the lake, and the boat began to fill with water.
They were in danger.
24 The followers went to Jesus and woke him.
They said, “Master! Master! We will drown!”
Jesus got up.
He gave a command to the wind and the waves.
The wind stopped, and the lake became calm.
25 He said to his followers, “Where is your faith?”
They were afraid and amazed.
They said to each other,
“What kind of man is this?
He commands the wind and the water, and they obey him.”

Luke 8:22-25 (ERV)

• Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 8:22-25 (ERV)
• Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 8:22-25 (NIRV)
• Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 8:22-25 (GNT)
• Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 8:22-25 (NLT)
• Hard: New International Version: Luke 8:22-25 (NIV)
• Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 8:22-25 (ESV)

Comprehension Questions

1. Where did Jesus and his followers go in the boat?
2. What happened while they were sailing?
3. What did the followers do when the storm came?
4. What did Jesus do when the followers woke him up?
5. How did the storm stop?
6. What question did Jesus ask the followers after the storm?
7. How did the followers feel after seeing what Jesus did?
8. What did the followers say about Jesus at the end of the story?

Application Questions

1. Have you ever felt afraid like the followers? What happened?
2. Why is it hard to trust someone when we feel afraid?
3. What is one way you can trust God when you feel worried this week?
4. How does it make you feel to know Jesus has power over storms and problems?

Theological Insights

1. Jesus has power over nature because he is God’s Son.
2. Even in hard times, Jesus cares for his people and hears their prayers.
3. God wants his people to trust him, even when life feels scary.
4. Faith means believing that God is with us and can help us, even when we cannot see him working.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, Thank you for taking care of us when we feel afraid. Help us to trust you in every storm and believe that you are with us. Amen.

A Sunday School Lesson

If you prefer a lesson that is better for English speaking children, see my Sunday School lesson for Luke 8:22-39. This lesson includes:

• Advice for Sunday School Teachers
• Activity Suggestions
• Discussion Questions

Luke Bible Study Series

You can explore my complete collection of 104 free Bible study lessons for ESL learners, homeschool families, and anyone who enjoys easy English. The studies are organized into 6 simple sections to help you grow in faith at your own pace:

• Part 1: The Birth and Early Life of Jesus (Lessons 1–11)
• Part 2: Jesus Begins His Ministry (Lessons 12–23)
• Part 3: Teaching and Miracles (Lessons 24–40)
• Part 4: The Journey to Jerusalem (Lessons 41–60)
• Part 5: Parables and Teachings (Lessons 61–83)
• Part 6: The Final Week and Resurrection (Lessons 84–104)

More Easy English Resources

More Related Resources

Visit the Joyful Moments ESL homepage for all posts, or scroll through more blog posts about power:

Scripture quotations marked (ERV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE: EASY-TO-READ VERSION ©2006 by Bible League International. Used by permission.