Jesus and Evil Spirits: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 11:14-23

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.

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Luke 11:14-23 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 11:14-23 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Have you ever had to choose between two sides in a game or a group? How did you decide which side to pick?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn how Jesus showed his power over evil spirits. We will see how people responded to him and what Jesus taught about choosing to follow him.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

against: (preposition) In opposition to or in conflict with.
amazed: (adjective) To be very surprised by something.
defeat: (verb) To win a fight against someone.
demon: (noun) An evil spirit that follows the devil.
destroy: (verb) To break something completely.
force out: (phrase) To make someone or something leave a place when they do not want to go.
kingdom: (noun) A country or an area that is ruled by a king.
miracle: (noun) An amazing act that only God can do.
Satan: (noun) The enemy of God and leader of evil spirits.
weapon: (noun) A thing used for fighting.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

able: (adjective) Having the power or skill to do something.
against: (preposition) In opposition to or in conflict with.
amazed: (adjective) To be very surprised by something.
break apart: (phrase) To stop being together as a family or a group.
crowd: (noun) A very large group of people.
defeat: (verb) To win a fight against someone.
demon: (noun) An evil spirit that follows the devil.
destroy: (verb) To break something completely.
fight: (verb) To use force against someone.
force out: (phrase) To make someone or something leave a place when they do not want to go.
God’s kingdom: (phrase) The place or way where God rules as king.
guard: (verb) To watch and protect someone or something.
kingdom: (noun) A country or an area that is ruled by a king.
miracle: (noun) An amazing act that only God can do.
power: (noun) Strength or the ability to do something.
prove: (verb) To show that something is true.
ruler: (noun) A person who governs or leads others.
Satan: (noun) The enemy of God and leader of evil spirits.
survive: (verb) To stay alive after a dangerous event.
weapon: (noun) A thing used for fighting.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

able: (adjective) Having the power or skill to do something.
against: (preposition) In opposition to or in conflict with.
amazed: (adjective) To be very surprised by something.
break apart: (phrase) To stop being together as a family or a group.
came out: (phrase) To have left a person’s body, like a spirit or a demon.
crowd: (noun) A very large group of people.
defeat: (verb) To win a fight against someone.
demon: (noun) An evil spirit that follows the devil.
destroy: (verb) To break something completely.
family: (noun) A group of people who are related to each other.
fight: (verb) To use force against someone.
first: (adjective) Coming before all others in time or order.
force out: (phrase) To make someone or something leave a place when they do not want to go.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
God’s kingdom: (phrase) The place or way where God rules as king.
guard: (verb) To watch and protect someone or something.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
keep: (verb) To hold onto something or to continue to have it.
kingdom: (noun) A country or an area that is ruled by a king.
knew: (verb) To have had information about something in your mind.
many: (adjective) A large number of people or things.
miracle: (noun) An amazing act that only God can do.
own: (adjective) Belonging to a specific person.
power: (noun) Strength or the ability to do something.
prove: (verb) To show that something is true.
ruler: (noun) A person who governs or leads others.
safe: (adjective) Not in danger.
Satan: (noun) The enemy of God and leader of evil spirits.
send: (verb) To cause someone or something to go to a place.
show: (verb) To let someone see something.
sign: (noun) An amazing event that proves God is at work.
some: (adjective) An amount that is not specific.
speak: (verb) To say words.
strong: (adjective) Having a lot of power or physical strength.
stronger: (adjective) Having more power than something else.
suppose: (verb) To think that something is true.
survive: (verb) To stay alive after a dangerous event.
take away: (phrase) To grab something that belongs to someone else by force.
test: (verb) To check if something is true or strong.
think: (verb) To have a specific opinion or a thought in the mind.
trust: (verb) To believe that someone is good and honest.
use: (verb) To do something with a tool or an object.
weapon: (noun) A thing used for fighting.
whoever: (pronoun) Any person who does something.
work: (verb) To do a job or use effort to finish a task.
wrong: (adjective) Not right or not true.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells a story about Jesus, who helped a man with a bad spirit. The spirit made the man so he could not talk. When Jesus made the spirit leave, the man could speak again. The people watching were very amazed. But some people said Jesus used bad power. They said he worked for Satan, who is the enemy of God and the leader of all evil spirits. Others wanted Jesus to show a sign from God.

Jesus knew what they were thinking. He explained that a country or a family that fights itself will break apart and not be strong. He used this to show that if he worked for Satan, then Satan would be fighting against his own side. That would not make sense. Jesus said he used God’s power to make the bad spirit leave. This proved that God’s kingdom had already come near to them.

Then, Jesus gave an example. He said a strong man can guard his house with weapons. He stays safe because he is strong. But if a stronger man comes, the stronger man will defeat the first man. The stronger man will take away the weapons. Jesus is like the stronger man who defeats evil. He said that people must choose a side. A person is either with Jesus or against him.

This passage teaches us that Jesus has power over evil. It also reminds us that we need to decide if we are with Jesus or not. God’s power is stronger than any bad thing, and we can trust him to help us.

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’ Power Is From God
14 One time Jesus was sending a demon out of a man who could not talk.
When the demon came out, the man was able to speak.
The crowds were amazed.
15 But some of the people said,
“He uses the power of Satan to force demons out of people.
Satan is the ruler of demons.”
16 Some others there wanted to test Jesus.
They asked him to do a miracle as a sign from God.
17 But he knew what they were thinking.
So he said to them,
“Every kingdom that fights against itself will be destroyed.
And a family that fights against itself will break apart.
18 So if Satan is fighting against himself, how will his kingdom survive?
You say that I use the power of Satan to force out demons.
19 But if I use Satan’s power to force out demons, then what power do your people use when they force out demons?
So your own people will prove that you are wrong.
20 But I use the power of God to force out demons.
This shows that God’s kingdom has now come to you.
21 “When a strong man with many weapons guards his own house, the things in his house are safe.
22 But suppose a stronger man comes and defeats him.
The stronger man will take away the weapons that the first man trusted to keep his house safe.
Then the stronger man will do what he wants with the other man’s things.
23 “Whoever is not with me is against me.
And anyone who does not work with me is working against me.
Luke 11:14-23 (ERV)