Jesus Warns and Gives Hope: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 21:20-28

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Luke 21:20-28 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 21:20-28 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

What is the scariest storm or weather you have ever seen? What did you do when it happened?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will hear how Jesus warned people about hard times in the future. We will also hear how Jesus gives hope to those who trust him. Even when the world feels scary, Jesus promises to be with his people.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

army: (noun) A large group of soldiers who fight for a country.
control: (noun) The power to make decisions or give orders.
crashing waves: (phrase) Large amounts of water in the sea that hit the land with a loud noise.
destruction: (noun) The act of breaking or ruining something.
foreigner: (noun) A person from a different country.
glory: (noun) The great beauty, power, and honor that belongs to God.
pregnant: (adjective) Having a baby growing inside the body.
prisoner: (noun) A person who is kept in prison.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
punish: (verb) To make someone suffer for doing something wrong.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

army: (noun) A large group of soldiers who fight for a country.
cloud: (noun) A white or gray shape in the sky made of tiny drops of water.
confused: (adjective) To feel mixed up and not able to think clearly.
control: (noun) The power to make decisions or give orders.
country: (noun) An area of land that has its own king or leaders.
crashing waves: (phrase) Large amounts of water in the sea that hit the land with a loud noise.
destruction: (noun) The act of breaking or ruining something.
foreigner: (noun) A person from a different country.
free: (verb) To take away the power or control that something has over a person.
glory: (noun) The great beauty, power, and honor that belongs to God.
holy: (adjective) Being pure and set apart for God.
Jerusalem: (noun) The most important city in Israel where the Temple was.
pregnant: (adjective) Having a baby growing inside the body.
prisoner: (noun) A person who is kept in prison.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
punish: (verb) To make someone suffer for doing something wrong.
run away: (phrase) To go away quickly from a place or person because of fear.
soldier: (noun) A person who is in an army.
Son of Man: (phrase) A special name Jesus used for himself to show he is the savior sent by God.
upset: (adjective) Feeling worried or unhappy.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

afraid: (adjective) Feeling fear or being scared.
all over: (phrase) In every part of a place.
almost: (adverb) Only a little bit less than all.
amazing: (adjective) Something that is very surprising and wonderful.
angry: (adjective) Feeling very mad about something.
army: (noun) A large group of soldiers who fight for a country.
around: (preposition) In a circle or on all sides of something.
baby: (noun) A very young child.
begin: (verb) To start something.
change: (verb) To make something different.
city: (noun) A large town with many people and buildings.
cloud: (noun) A white or gray shape in the sky made of tiny drops of water.
complete: (verb) To finish something.
confused: (adjective) To feel mixed up and not able to think clearly.
control: (noun) The power to make decisions or give orders.
country: (noun) An area of land that has its own king or leaders.
crashing waves: (phrase) Large amounts of water in the sea that hit the land with a loud noise.
destruction: (noun) The act of breaking or ruining something.
different: (adjective) Not the same.
during: (preposition) While something is happening.
earth: (noun) The world where we live.
fear: (noun) The feeling of being afraid.
foreigner: (noun) A person from a different country.
free: (verb) To take away the power or control that something has over a person.
glory: (noun) The great beauty, power, and honor that belongs to God.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
great: (adjective) Very large or very good.
happen: (verb) To take place.
hard: (adjective) Very difficult to do.
holy: (adjective) Being pure and set apart for God.
Jerusalem: (noun) The most important city in Israel where the Temple was.
Judea: (noun) The region in the south part of Israel.
kill: (verb) To end the life of a person or an animal.
land: (noun) The solid part of the earth or a specific country.
leave: (verb) To go away from a place.
made: (verb) To have caused someone to be in a certain state or place.
moon: (noun) The bright object that shines in the sky at night.
mountain: (noun) A very high area of land.
must: (verb) To need to do something.
noise: (noun) A sound that is often loud.
power: (noun) Strength or the ability to do something.
pregnant: (adjective) Having a baby growing inside the body.
prisoner: (noun) A person who is kept in prison.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
punish: (verb) To make someone suffer for doing something wrong.
quickly: (adverb) In a fast way.
run away: (phrase) To go away quickly from a place or person because of fear.
sea: (noun) A very large area of salt water.
should: (verb) A word used to say what is the right thing to do.
sky: (noun) The space above the earth where the sun and stars are.
soldier: (noun) A person who is in an army.
Son of Man: (phrase) A special name Jesus used for himself to show he is the savior sent by God.
stand up: (phrase) To move your body from sitting or lying down to being on your feet.
star: (noun) A bright point of light in the sky at night.
sun: (noun) The bright star that gives light and heat to the earth.
taken: (verb) To have been carried away.
tall: (adjective) Measuring a great distance from bottom to top.
times: (noun) A specific period in history or the things that are happening now.
under: (preposition) Controlled by a power or a law.
until: (preposition) Up to a certain time.
upset: (adjective) Feeling worried or unhappy.
world: (noun) The earth and all the people on it.
worried: (adjective) Feeling unhappy because of problems.
wrote: (verb) To have made letters or words on paper.

Summary of the Passage

In this passage, Jesus was teaching his followers about things that would happen in the future. He wanted them to be ready. He did not want them to be afraid.

First, Jesus talked about the city of Jerusalem. He said one day an army of soldiers would come and stay all around the city. This would lead to the destruction of the city. To destroy something means to break it completely. Jesus said that the prophets wrote about this a long time ago. A prophet is a person who speaks messages from God.

The people in the city would have to run away to the mountains to stay safe. It would be very hard for a woman who is pregnant or has a small baby. Many people would be killed. Others would be made prisoners and taken to different countries. Foreigners would have control over the city for a long time.

Next, Jesus spoke about the sky and the earth. The sun, moon, and stars would act in strange ways. People all over the world would be upset and confused. They would hear the loud noise of the sea and its crashing waves. Crashing waves are large amounts of water that hit the land with a loud sound. People would be so worried that they might faint from fear. These would be signs that the world was about to change.

Jesus gave his followers hope. He said one day the Son of Man would come back. This is a special name Jesus used for himself. He will come in a cloud with great power and glory. Glory is the great beauty and honor that belongs to God. When people who trust him see this, they should stand up and be happy. They should not be afraid because God is coming to free them.

This passage teaches us that even when life is hard and scary, Jesus is in control. He will one day come again to save his people and make everything right.

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.

The Destruction of Jerusalem
20 “You will see armies all around Jerusalem.
Then you will know that the time for its destruction has come.
21 The people in Judea at that time should run away to the mountains.
The people in Jerusalem must leave quickly.
If you are near the city, don’t go in!
22 The prophets wrote many things about the time when God will punish his people.
The time I am talking about is when all these things must happen.
23 During that time it will be hard for women who are pregnant or have small babies, because very bad times will come to this land.
God will be angry with these people.
24 Some of the people will be killed by soldiers.
Others will be made prisoners and taken to all the different countries.
The holy city of Jerusalem will be under the control of foreigners until their time is completed.
Don’t Fear
25 “Amazing things will happen to the sun, moon, and stars.
And people all over the earth will be upset and confused by the noise of the sea and its crashing waves.
26 They will be afraid and worried about what will happen to the world.
Everything in the sky will be changed.
27 Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 When these things begin to happen, stand up tall and don’t be afraid.
Know that it is almost time for God to free you!”
Luke 21:20-28 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 21:20-28 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 21:20-28 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 21:20-28 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 21:20-28 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 21:20-28 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 21:20-28 (ESV)

Luke 21:20-28 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

What did Jesus say would happen to the city of Jerusalem?
What did Jesus tell the people in the city to do when danger came?
Why did Jesus say it would be hard for mothers with babies?
What did Jesus say would happen in the sky?
How did Jesus say people on earth would feel when these things happen?
Who did Jesus say would come in a cloud with great power and glory?
What did Jesus tell his followers to do when they see these things happening?

Application Questions

What is something in the world today that makes you feel afraid?
How does it help to remember that Jesus is in control?
Why do you think Jesus wants his followers to stand up and be brave when things are scary?
When you are afraid, who do you talk to or pray to for help?
How can we encourage each other when life feels hard?

Theological Insights

Jesus knows what will happen in the future.
God will punish sin, but he also saves people who trust him.
Jesus promises to come again with great power and glory.
Believers can have hope even when the world feels scary.
Jesus is the Son of Man, and he has the power to save his people.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, Thank you for sending Jesus to save us. Help us to be brave when we feel afraid. Please remind us that you are always with us and that Jesus will come again. Amen.