The Kingdom of God: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 13:18-30

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 13:18-30 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 13:18-30 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

What is something small you have seen grow into something big or special?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn about how Jesus describes the kingdom of God using small, everyday things. We will also talk about what it means to follow Jesus and how people from all over the world are invited to be with him.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

compare: (verb) To look at how things are the same or different.
dough: (noun) A mix of flour and water used to make bread.
enter: (verb) To go inside a place.
God’s kingdom: (phrase) The place or way where God rules as king.
grind: (verb) To rub two things together.
mustard: (noun) A plant with tiny seeds.
narrow: (adjective) Not wide.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
rise: (verb) To get up or go up.
yeast: (noun) Something used to make bread rise and get big.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

Abraham: (noun) The first father of the people of Israel who trusted God.
compare: (verb) To look at how things are the same or different.
dough: (noun) A mix of flour and water used to make bread.
enter: (verb) To go inside a place.
flour: (noun) A powder made from grain used to make bread.
God’s kingdom: (phrase) The place or way where God rules as king.
grind: (verb) To rub two things together.
heaven: (noun) The place where God lives.
highest: (adjective) The very top or most important.
Isaac: (noun) The son of Abraham and Sarah.
Jacob: (noun) The son of Isaac.
lowest: (adjective) The most bottom part or the least important.
mustard: (noun) A plant with tiny seeds.
narrow: (adjective) Not wide.
outside: (noun) The area that is not inside a building.
pain: (noun) An unpleasant feeling in the body.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
rise: (verb) To get up or go up.
save: (verb) To keep someone from danger or death.
yeast: (noun) Something used to make bread rise and get big.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

able: (adjective) Having the power or skill to do something.
Abraham: (noun) The first father of the people of Israel who trusted God.
again: (adverb) One more time.
ate: (verb) To have put food in your mouth and swallowed it.
away: (adverb) At a distance from a place.
become: (verb) To start to be something.
bird: (noun) An animal with wings and feathers that can fly.
bowl: (noun) A round dish used for holding food or liquid.
branch: (noun) A part of a tree that grows out from the main trunk.
bread: (noun) A common food made from flour and water.
build: (verb) To make something by putting parts together.
compare: (verb) To look at how things are the same or different.
continue: (verb) To keep doing something.
cry: (verb) To have tears come from your eyes because you are sad.
do wrong: (phrase) To act in a way that is not good or to break God’s laws.
door: (noun) The part of a building that you open to go inside.
dough: (noun) A mix of flour and water used to make bread.
drank: (verb) To have swallowed liquid.
east: (noun) The direction where the sun rises.
enter: (verb) To go inside a place.
few: (adjective) A small number of people or things.
flour: (noun) A powder made from grain used to make bread.
garden: (noun) A piece of ground used for growing flowers or food.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
God’s kingdom: (phrase) The place or way where God rules as king.
grind: (verb) To rub two things together.
grow: (verb) To become bigger or older.
hard: (adjective) Very difficult to do.
have: (verb) To own or hold something.
heaven: (noun) The place where God lives.
highest: (adjective) The very top or most important.
Isaac: (noun) The son of Abraham and Sarah.
Jacob: (noun) The son of Isaac.
Jerusalem: (noun) The most important city in Israel where the Temple was.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
knock: (verb) To hit a door with your hand so someone opens it.
left: (adjective) Still remaining or staying in a place.
lock: (verb) To close something with a key so it cannot be opened.
Lord: (noun) A name that shows someone has power or authority.
lowest: (adjective) The most bottom part or the least important.
make: (verb) To cause a feeling or a change.
mix: (verb) To put different things together.
mustard: (noun) A plant with tiny seeds.
narrow: (adjective) Not wide.
nest: (noun) A home that a bird builds.
north: (noun) The direction that is to the left when you face the sun as it rises.
open: (verb) To move something so that people can go through.
outside: (noun) The area that is not inside a building.
pain: (noun) An unpleasant feeling in the body.
plant: (noun) A living thing that grows in the earth. 2. (verb) To put a seed in the ground so it will grow.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
rise: (verb) To get up or go up.
save: (verb) To keep someone from danger or death.
seed: (noun) The small part of a plant that a new plant grows from.
sir: (noun) A polite way to speak to a man.
sit down: (phrase) To move your body from a standing position to a seat or the floor.
south: (noun) The direction that is to the right when you face the rising sun.
stand: (verb) To be on your feet in an upright way.
street: (noun) A road in a city or town.
table: (noun) A piece of furniture with a flat top used for eating or working.
taught: (verb) To have helped someone learn something.
teeth: (noun) More than one tooth.
toward: (preposition) Moving in the direction of something.
town: (noun) A place where many people live that is smaller than a city.
travel: (verb) To go from one place to another.
tree: (noun) A tall plant with a trunk made of wood.
try: (verb) To make an effort to do something.
village: (noun) A very small town.
west: (noun) The direction where the sun goes down in the evening.
yeast: (noun) Something used to make bread rise and get big.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells about three important things Jesus said. Jesus often taught people by telling stories called parables. These simple stories helped people understand more about God.

First, Jesus told a story about a mustard seed. A mustard seed is a very tiny seed. Even though it is small, it can grow into a big tree. Birds can make their homes in it. Jesus said God’s kingdom is like this. It may start small in a person’s heart or in the world, but it grows big and strong.

Then, Jesus told a story about a woman using yeast to make bread dough rise. Yeast is a special ingredient that makes bread grow big. Yeast is very small, but it makes the whole dough grow. In the same way, God’s kingdom grows in the world, even when people cannot always see it.

Last, Jesus talked about a narrow door. A narrow door is a small opening that only a few people can fit through at one time. He told people to try hard to go through this door. This means following Jesus with all your heart. Jesus warned that one day the owner will lock the door. Then it will be too late for some people to enter.

Jesus said that people will come from all over the world to be in God’s kingdom. They will sit down at a table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These were men from long ago who trusted God. Those who do wrong and do not follow Jesus will be left outside.

This passage shows us that God’s kingdom is growing, and people from everywhere are welcome. It also teaches that we should follow Jesus now and not wait!

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.

What Is God’s Kingdom Like?
18 Then Jesus said,
“What is God’s kingdom like?
What can I compare it to?
19 God’s kingdom is like the seed of the mustard plant.
Someone plants this seed in their garden.
The seed grows and becomes a tree, and the birds build nests on its branches.”
20 Jesus said again,
“What can I compare God’s kingdom with?
21 It is like yeast that a woman mixes into a big bowl of flour to make bread.
The yeast makes all the dough rise.”
The Narrow Door
22 Jesus was teaching in every town and village.
He continued to travel toward Jerusalem.
23 Someone said to him,
“Lord, how many people will be saved?
Only a few?”
Jesus said,
24 “The door to heaven is narrow.
Try hard to enter it.
Many people will want to enter there, but they will not be able to go in.
25 If a man locks the door of his house, you can stand outside and knock on the door, but he won’t open it.
You can say,
‘Sir, open the door for us.’
But he will answer,
‘I don’t know you.
Where did you come from?’
26 Then you will say,
‘We ate and drank with you.
You taught in the streets of our town.’
27 Then he will say to you,
‘I don’t know you.
Where did you come from?
Get away from me!
You are all people who do wrong!’
28 “You will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s kingdom.
But you will be left outside.
There you will cry and grind your teeth with pain.
29 People will come from the east, west, north, and south.
They will sit down at the table in God’s kingdom.
30 People who have the lowest place in life now will have the highest place in God’s kingdom.
And people who have the highest place now will have the lowest place in God’s kingdom.”
Luke 13:18-30 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 13:18-30 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 13:18-30 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 13:18-30 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 13:18-30 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 13:18-30 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 13:18-30 (ESV)

Luke 13:18-30 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

What is the Kingdom of God like in the first story?
What happens to the mustard seed in the story?
What is the Kingdom of God like in the second story?
What does the yeast do to the dough?
Where was Jesus going while he taught the people?
What question did someone ask Jesus about being saved?
What did Jesus say about the narrow door?
What happens when the master of the house closes the door?
Who did Jesus say people will see in God’s Kingdom?
Where will people come from to join the feast in God’s Kingdom?
What did Jesus say about those who are last and first?

Application Questions

Why do you think Jesus used small things like a seed and yeast to talk about God’s Kingdom?
Have you ever seen something small turn into something wonderful? What was it?
What do you think it means to follow Jesus with all your heart?
Why is it important to follow Jesus now and not wait?
Who do you know that you can invite to learn about Jesus?

Theological Insights

God’s Kingdom starts small but grows strong and beautiful.
Jesus invites people from every place and nation into his Kingdom.
Only those who truly trust and follow Jesus will be saved.
There will be a great feast in God’s Kingdom for his people.
The door to God’s Kingdom will not stay open forever, so it is wise to come to Jesus now.