Do Not Be Afraid: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 12:1-12

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 12:1-12 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 12:1-12 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

What is something you were afraid of when you were a child?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, Jesus teaches us not to be afraid. He reminds us that God loves us and knows everything about us. We will learn that God sees what is in our hearts and will help us speak when we are scared.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

ashamed: (adjective) Feeling bad because you did something wrong.
faith: (noun) Believing and trusting in God.
forgiven: (adjective) To have your sins taken away by God.
Holy Spirit: (noun) One of the three persons of God who comes to live inside his people.
hypocrite: (noun) A person who pretends to be good but is not.
Pharisee: (noun) A religious leader who was very strict about rules.
presence: (noun) Being in the same place as someone.
Son of Man: (phrase) A special name Jesus used for himself to show he is the savior sent by God.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.
yeast: (noun) Something used to make bread rise and get big.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

angel: (noun) A messenger from heaven who serves God.
ashamed: (adjective) Feeling bad because you did something wrong.
believe in: (phrase) To trust in Jesus or God to save you.
careful: (adjective) Paying close attention to what you are doing.
faith: (noun) Believing and trusting in God.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
forgiven: (adjective) To have your sins taken away by God.
hell: (noun) A place of punishment for those who are against God.
Holy Spirit: (noun) One of the three persons of God who comes to live inside his people.
hypocrite: (noun) A person who pretends to be good but is not.
made known: (phrase) To tell or show something so that everyone can know it.
Pharisee: (noun) A religious leader who was very strict about rules.
power: (noun) Strength or the ability to do something.
presence: (noun) Being in the same place as someone.
secret: (noun) Something that is hidden or not told to others.
shout from the top of the house: (phrase) To tell a secret or a message loudly so that everyone can hear it.
Son of Man: (phrase) A special name Jesus used for himself to show he is the savior sent by God.
stand before: (phrase) To be in a place in front of other people.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.
yeast: (noun) Something used to make bread rise and get big.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

afraid of: (phrase) To feel fear because of someone or something.
after: (preposition) Later than another time or event.
against: (preposition) In opposition to or in conflict with.
angel: (noun) A messenger from heaven who serves God.
ashamed: (adjective) Feeling bad because you did something wrong.
before: 1. (preposition) Earlier than a certain time. 2. (preposition) In front of someone or something.
believe in: (phrase) To trust in Jesus or God to save you.
belong: (verb) To be in the right place or to be connected to something.
bird: (noun) An animal with wings and feathers that can fly.
body: (noun) The whole physical part of a person or animal.
bring: (verb) To take someone or something to a place.
careful: (adjective) Paying close attention to what you are doing.
cost: (noun) The amount of money you must pay for something.
dark: (adjective) When there is no light.
even: (adverb) Used to show that something is surprising.
everything: (pronoun) All things that exist.
faith: (noun) Believing and trusting in God.
fear: (verb) To show deep respect for the power of God.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
forget: (verb) To not remember something.
forgiven: (adjective) To have your sins taken away by God.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
hair: (noun) The thin threads that grow on a person’s head.
head: (noun) The top part of the body with the brain and face.
hell: (noun) A place of punishment for those who are against God.
hidden: (adjective) Something that is not easy to see or find.
Holy Spirit: (noun) One of the three persons of God who comes to live inside his people.
hurt: (verb) To cause pain to a person or animal.
hypocrite: (noun) A person who pretends to be good but is not.
important: (adjective) Something that matters a lot.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
kill: (verb) To end the life of a person or an animal.
leader: (noun) A person who is in charge of a group.
light: (noun) The brightness that lets us see.
made known: (phrase) To tell or show something so that everyone can know it.
mean: (verb) To have a specific idea or sense.
much: (adjective) A large amount of something.
only: (adverb) A word used to show that no other person or thing is included.
penny: (noun) A coin that is worth a small amount of money.
Pharisee: (noun) A religious leader who was very strict about rules.
power: (noun) Strength or the ability to do something.
presence: (noun) Being in the same place as someone.
private: (adjective) Only for one person or a small group.
room: (noun) A space inside a building with walls.
secret: (noun) Something that is hidden or not told to others.
should: (verb) A word used to say what is the right thing to do.
shout from the top of the house: (phrase) To tell a secret or a message loudly so that everyone can hear it.
show: (verb) To let someone see something.
shown: (verb) To have let someone see something.
sold: (verb) To have given something for money.
Son of Man: (noun) A special name Jesus used for himself to show he is the savior sent by God.
spoke: (verb) To have said words out loud.
stand before: (phrase) To be in a place in front of other people.
step on: (phrase) To put your foot down on top of someone or something.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.
than: (conjunction) A word used to compare two things.
throw: (verb) To use your arm to send something through the air.
together: (adverb) With each other.
told: (verb) To have given information to someone.
top: (noun) The highest part of something.
whisper: (verb) To speak in a very quiet voice.
whoever: (pronoun) Any person who does something.
willing: (adjective) Ready and happy to do something.
worry: (verb) To feel unhappy because you are thinking about problems.
worth: (adjective) Having a certain value.
yeast: (noun) Something used to make bread rise and get big.

Summary of the Passage

This passage shows Jesus speaking to a large crowd of people. So many people came to hear him that they were stepping on each other. Jesus first spoke to his closest followers. He warned them not to be like the Pharisees. He called their teaching “yeast.” Yeast is a small thing that makes bread grow big. Jesus meant that the bad hearts of the Pharisees could spread like yeast and change other people too. These leaders were hypocrites. They pretended to be good, but inside their hearts, they did wrong things. Jesus told them that one day, everything people hide will be shown. Every secret will be made known.

Next, Jesus told the people not to be afraid of those who could hurt their bodies. He said the only one they should fear is God, because God has power over both life and death. But then Jesus gave them good news. He said that God cares about small birds, and people are worth much more than birds. God knows everything about each person, even how many hairs are on their head. Jesus told them not to be afraid because God loves them and watches over them.

Finally, Jesus spoke about being brave when people talk badly about them. He promised that if they tell others they believe in him, he will tell the angels about them in heaven. Jesus used a special name for himself here. He called himself the Son of Man. He also promised that the Holy Spirit would help them know what to say if they have to speak in front of leaders. They did not need to worry because God would help them.

This passage teaches us that God sees what is in our hearts. He cares for us deeply and will help us when we are scared. We do not have to pretend to be someone we are not. God loves us, knows us, and is with 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.

Don’t Be Like the Pharisees
1 Many thousands of people came together.
There were so many people that they were stepping on each other.
Before Jesus spoke to the people, he said to his followers,
“Be careful of the yeast of the Pharisees.
I mean that they are hypocrites.
2 Everything that is hidden will be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known.
3 What you say in the dark will be told in the light.
And what you whisper in a private room will be shouted from the top of the house.”
Fear Only God
4 Then Jesus said to the people,
“I tell you, my friends, don’t be afraid of people.
They can kill the body, but after that they can do nothing more to hurt you.
5 I will show you the one to fear.
You should fear God, who has the power to kill you and also to throw you into hell.
Yes, he is the one you should fear.
6 “When birds are sold, five small birds cost only two pennies.
But God does not forget any of them.
7 Yes, God even knows how many hairs you have on your head.
Don’t be afraid.
You are worth much more than many birds.
Don’t Be Ashamed of Your Faith
8 “I tell you, if you stand before others and are willing to say you believe in me, then I will say that you belong to me.
I will say this in the presence of God’s angels.
9 But if you stand before others and say you do not believe in me, then I will say that you do not belong to me.
I will say this in the presence of God’s angels.
10 “Whoever says something against the Son of Man can be forgiven.
But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
11 “When men bring you into the synagogues before the leaders and other important men, don’t worry about what you will say.
12 The Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
Luke 12:1-12 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 12:1-12 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 12:1-12 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 12:1-12 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 12:1-12 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 12:1-12 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 12:1-12 (ESV)

Luke 12:1-12 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

Who was Jesus speaking to when the story began?
What did Jesus warn his followers about?
What did Jesus say would happen to secrets?
Who did Jesus say people should fear?
What example did Jesus give about small birds and God’s care?
How does God show that he cares about people?
What promise did Jesus give to people who speak about him in front of others?
What did Jesus say about those who reject him in public?
What special help did Jesus say the Holy Spirit would give?
When will the Holy Spirit help them know what to say?

Application Questions

When do you feel afraid?
Why do you think Jesus told people not to be afraid?
How does it make you feel to know that God knows everything about you?
Why is it important to be honest and not pretend to be something we are not?
How can you be brave about your faith when other people do not believe the same as you?

Theological Insights

God sees everything we do, even the things we try to hide.
We should respect God more than people because God has power over life and death.
God loves and cares for all people, even the smallest and weakest.
Those who trust in Jesus are safe with God, even when life is hard.
The Holy Spirit lives in God’s people and helps them be brave and speak the truth.
Jesus promises to stand with those who are not afraid to follow him.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, Thank you for loving us and knowing everything about us. Please help us not to be afraid and to trust you in every part of our lives. Amen.