Jesus Heals a Troubled Boy: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 9:37-45

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 9:37-45 that may work better for native English speakers.

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Luke 9:37-45 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 9:37-45 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Have you ever asked someone for help when you felt worried or afraid? What happened?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn about a father who asked Jesus to help his son. We will see how Jesus has great power and cares deeply for hurting people. We will also hear Jesus talk to his disciples, or followers, about something very hard that would happen to him soon.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

amazed: (adjective) To be very surprised by something.
beg: (verb) To ask for something very strongly or with deep feeling.
command: (noun) An order that someone must obey.
demon: (noun) An evil spirit that follows the devil.
evil spirit: (phrase) A bad and powerful being from the devil that can hurt people.
faith: (noun) Believing and trusting in God.
handed over: (phrase) To have given someone to the power or control of another person.
heal: (verb) To make a sick or hurt person well again.
lose control: (phrase) To not be able to stop your body or mind from doing things.
Son of Man: (phrase) A special name Jesus used for himself to show he is the savior sent by God.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

amazed: (adjective) To be very surprised by something.
beg: (verb) To ask for something very strongly or with deep feeling.
command: (noun) An order that someone must obey.
control: (noun) The power to make decisions or give orders.
demon: (noun) An evil spirit that follows the devil.
evil spirit: (phrase) A bad and powerful being from the devil that can hurt people.
faith: (noun) Believing and trusting in God.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
handed over: (phrase) To have given someone to the power or control of another person.
heal: (verb) To make a sick or hurt person well again.
hidden: (adjective) Something that is not easy to see or find.
lose control: (phrase) To not be able to stop your body or mind from doing things.
meaning: (noun) The idea that a word or sign represents.
patient: (adjective) Being able to wait without getting angry.
power: (noun) Strength or the ability to do something.
shout: (verb) To speak or yell very loudly.
Son of Man: (phrase) A special name Jesus used for himself to show he is the savior sent by God.
still: (adverb) Continuing until now.
understand: (verb) To know what something means.
wrong: (adjective) Not right or not true.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

afraid: (adjective) Feeling fear or being scared.
almost: (adverb) Only a little bit less than all.
amazed: (adjective) To be very surprised by something.
beg: (verb) To ask for something very strongly or with deep feeling.
bring: (verb) To take someone or something to a place.
came down: (phrase) To move from a higher place to a lower place.
child: (noun) A young person.
command: (noun) An order that someone must obey.
continue: (verb) To keep doing something.
control: (noun) The power to make decisions or give orders.
could: (verb) To have been able to do something.
death: (noun) The end of a life.
demon: (noun) An evil spirit that follows the devil.
evil spirit: (phrase) A bad and powerful being from the devil that can hurt people.
faith: (noun) Believing and trusting in God.
foams at the mouth: (phrase) To have white bubbles come out of the mouth because of a sickness.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
forget: (verb) To not remember something.
free: (verb) To take away the power or control that something has over a person.
gave back: (phrase) To return someone or something to the place or person they belong to.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
great: (adjective) Very large or very good.
ground: (noun) The solid surface of the earth.
group: (noun) A number of people or things that are together.
handed over: (phrase) To have given someone to the power or control of another person.
heal: (verb) To make a sick or hurt person well again.
hidden: (adjective) Something that is not easy to see or find.
hurt: (verb) To cause pain to a person or animal.
James: (noun) One of the first men who followed Jesus.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
John: (noun) One of the twelve followers of Jesus.
leave: (verb) To go away from a place.
long: (adverb) For a great amount of time.
look at: (verb) To turn your eyes toward something so you can see it.
lose control: (phrase) To not be able to stop your body or mind from doing things.
lost: (verb) To have had something taken away or to no longer have it.
make: (verb) To cause a feeling or a change.
meaning: (noun) The idea that a word or sign represents.
meant: (verb) To have had a specific idea or sense.
met: (verb) To have come together with someone.
mountain: (noun) A very high area of land.
must: (verb) To need to do something.
never: (adverb) Not at any time.
next: (adjective) Coming right after.
now: (adverb) At this time.
only: (adjective) Just one and no more.
patient: (adjective) Being able to wait without getting angry.
Peter: (noun) One of the main followers of Jesus.
power: (noun) Strength or the ability to do something.
shout: (verb) To speak or yell very loudly.
Son of Man: (phrase) A special name Jesus used for himself to show he is the savior sent by God.
soon: (adverb) In a short time from now.
still: (adverb) Continuing until now.
strong: (adjective) Having a lot of power or physical strength.
tell: (verb) To give information to someone by speaking.
threw: (verb) To have used your arm to send something through the air.
understand: (verb) To know what something means.
wrong: (adjective) Not right or not true.

Summary of the Passage

This passage begins the day after Jesus went up a hill with three of his disciples, or followers. When they came down, a big crowd was waiting for Jesus. A man in the crowd called out to Jesus. The man was very afraid because his only son was sick. An evil spirit would attack the boy. This made the boy lose control of his body and foam at the mouth. The father had begged Jesus’ followers to help, but they could not.

Jesus was sad that the people did not have strong faith. He told the man to bring his son to him. As the boy was coming, the evil spirit hurt him again. But Jesus told the spirit to leave. He healed the boy and gave him back to his father. All the people were amazed at what God had done through Jesus.

While people were still surprised by Jesus’ power, he spoke to his followers. He warned them that something very hard was going to happen. Jesus said he would be taken by people who wanted to hurt him. But the followers did not understand what Jesus meant. They were too afraid to ask him.

This passage teaches us that Jesus cares for hurting people and has power to heal. It also reminds us that Jesus knew he would suffer and die for others, but he still showed love and care to those in need.

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 Frees a Boy From an Evil Spirit
37 The next day, Jesus, Peter, John, and James came down from the mountain.
A large group of people met Jesus.
38 A man in the group shouted to him,
“Teacher, please come and look at my son.
He is the only child I have.
39 An evil spirit comes into him, and then he shouts.
He loses control of himself and foams at the mouth.
The evil spirit continues to hurt him and almost never leaves him.
40 I begged your followers to make the evil spirit leave my son, but they could not do it.”
41 Jesus answered,
“You people today have no faith.
Your lives are all wrong.
How long must I be with you and be patient with you?”
Then Jesus said to the man,
“Bring your son here.”
42 While the boy was coming, the demon threw the boy to the ground.
The boy lost control of himself.
But Jesus gave a strong command to the evil spirit.
Then the boy was healed, and Jesus gave him back to his father.
43 All the people were amazed at the great power of God.
Jesus Talks About His Death
The people were still amazed about all the things Jesus did.
He said to his followers,
44 “Don’t forget what I will tell you now:
The Son of Man will soon be handed over to the control of other men.”
45 But the followers did not understand what he meant.
The meaning was hidden from them so that they could not understand it.
But they were afraid to ask Jesus about what he said.
Luke 9:37-45 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 9:37-45 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 9:37-45 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 9:37-45 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 9:37-45 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 9:37-45 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 9:37-45 (ESV)

Luke 9:37-45 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

Who met Jesus when he came down the hill?
What did the man from the crowd ask Jesus to do?
What was wrong with the man’s son?
Why was the father afraid for his son when the followers could not help?
What did Jesus say about the people?
What happened when the boy came close to Jesus?
What did Jesus do to help the boy?
How did the people react after Jesus healed the boy?
What did Jesus tell his followers while the people were amazed?
Did the followers understand what Jesus said about his future?

Application Questions

Why do you think the father asked Jesus for help?
Have you ever felt like the father—worried or afraid for someone you love?
What does this story show us about Jesus’ power and love?
Why do you think the followers were afraid to ask Jesus what he meant?
How can we trust Jesus even when we do not understand everything?

Theological Insights

Jesus has power over evil spirits and sickness.
Jesus listens when people ask for help.
Jesus knew he would suffer and die for others.
Jesus still showed love and care, even when he was facing hard things.
Faith in Jesus is important, even when life is difficult or confusing.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, Thank you for showing us your power and love through Jesus. Help us to trust you when we feel afraid or do not understand. Thank you that Jesus cares for us. Amen.