Who Is Greatest? An ESL Bible Study on Luke 22:24-38

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 22:24-38 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 22:24-38 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

What is something kind someone has done for you? How did it make you feel?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn about a time when Jesus taught his friends about being a good servant. We will see how Jesus loves his people, even when they make mistakes. We will also learn how we can be kind and help others.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

authority: (noun) The power or right to give orders and make decisions.
consider: (verb) To think about something carefully.
criminal: (noun) A person who breaks the law.
faith: (noun) Believing and trusting in God.
least: (adjective) The smallest in size, amount, or importance.
provider: (noun) Someone who gives people the things they need.
Satan: (noun) The enemy of God and leader of evil spirits.
Scripture: (noun) The holy words of God found in the Bible.
servant: (noun) A person who works for another person.
throne: (noun) A special chair where a king sits.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

apostle: (noun) One of the special followers Jesus chose to send out with a message.
argue: (verb) To disagree in an angry way.
authority: (noun) The power or right to give orders and make decisions.
consider: (verb) To think about something carefully.
criminal: (noun) A person who breaks the law.
fail: (verb) To not succeed in doing something.
faith: (noun) Believing and trusting in God.
jail: (noun) A place where people are kept as punishment.
judge: (verb) To decide if something is good or bad.
kingdom: (noun) A country or an area that is ruled by a king.
least: (adjective) The smallest in size, amount, or importance.
provider: (noun) Someone who gives people the things they need.
rooster: (noun) An adult male chicken that crows in the morning.
rule over: (phrase) To be the leader or king of a group of people.
Satan: (noun) The enemy of God and leader of evil spirits.
Scripture: (noun) The holy words of God found in the Bible.
servant: (noun) A person who works for another person.
struggle: (verb) To try very hard to do something difficult.
sword: (noun) A weapon with a long metal blade.
throne: (noun) A special chair where a king sits.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

act: (verb) To do something.
among: (preposition) In the middle of a group of people or things.
anything: (pronoun) Any thing or any part of something.
apostle: (noun) One of the special followers Jesus chose to send out with a message.
argue: (verb) To disagree in an angry way.
authority: (noun) The power or right to give orders and make decisions.
bag: (noun) A container made of cloth or skin used to carry things.
began: (verb) To have started something.
buy: (verb) To get something by paying money for it.
carry: (verb) To hold something and move it from one place to another.
coat: (noun) A piece of clothing worn over other clothes to keep warm.
come back: (phrase) To return to a place after being away.
consider: (verb) To think about something carefully.
criminal: (noun) A person who breaks the law.
crow: (verb) The loud sound that a rooster makes.
die: (verb) To stop living.
enough: (adjective) As much as you need.
even: (adverb) Used to show that something is surprising.
fail: (verb) To not succeed in doing something.
faith: (noun) Believing and trusting in God.
farmer: (noun) A person who works on a farm.
Father: (noun) A name for God.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
great: (adjective) Very large or very good.
happen: (verb) To take place.
help: (verb) To do something useful for someone.
important: (adjective) Something that matters a lot.
Israel: (noun) The land and the people that God chose for himself.
jail: (noun) A place where people are kept as punishment.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
judge: (verb) To decide if something is good or bad.
king: (noun) A man who rules a country.
kingdom: (noun) A country or an area that is ruled by a king.
later: (adverb) At a time in the future.
lead: (verb) To be the person in charge of a group.
least: (adjective) The smallest in size, amount, or importance.
Lord: (noun) A name that shows someone has power or authority.
lose: (verb) To have something taken away or to no longer have it.
more: (adjective) A larger amount of something.
morning: (noun) The early part of the day.
most: (adverb) A word used to show the highest amount of a quality.
must: (verb) To need to do something.
need: (verb) To require something because it is important.
over: (preposition) To have power or authority across something.
Peter: (noun) One of the main followers of Jesus.
pray: (verb) To talk to God.
provider: (noun) Someone who gives people the things they need.
ready: (adjective) Prepared to do something.
remember: (verb) To keep something in your mind.
right: (adjective) Something that is correct or good.
rooster: (noun) An adult male chicken that crows in the morning.
rule over: (phrase) To be the leader or king of a group of people.
sandal: (noun) An open shoe with straps.
Satan: (noun) The enemy of God and leader of evil spirits.
Scripture: (noun) The holy words of God found in the Bible.
sell: (verb) To give something to someone for money.
sent out: (phrase) To give an order or a message to many people.
servant: (noun) A person who works for another person.
serve: (verb) To help or work for someone.
should: (verb) A word used to say what is the right thing to do.
Simon Peter: (noun) A fisherman who became one of the most important followers of Jesus; he is known by both Simon and Peter
sit: (verb) To rest your body on a chair or the ground.
stay: (verb) To continue in a place or a state for a period of time.
stronger: (adjective) Having more power than something else.
struggle: (verb) To try very hard to do something difficult.
sword: (noun) A weapon with a long metal blade.
table: (noun) A piece of furniture with a flat top used for eating or working.
test: (verb) To check if something is true or strong.
throne: (noun) A special chair where a king sits.
through: (preposition) Moving from one side to the other.
times: (noun) The number of times something happens or is repeated.
tribe: (noun) A group of families who come from the same father.
trouble: (noun) A problem or a difficult situation.
wheat: (noun) A plant used to make flour for bread.
world: (noun) The earth and all the people on it.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells a story about Jesus and his closest friends, called the apostles. They were having an important meal together. While they were sitting together, the apostles started to argue. They wanted to know which one of them was the most important person.

Jesus told them that being great does not mean always being the boss. He said the one who is great is the one who helps others, like a servant. Jesus said he has been with them as the one who serves. He told his friends they would one day sit on thrones in God’s kingdom. A throne is a special chair for a king. Even though they will have authority later, Jesus wanted his friends to care for people now. He did not want them to fight about who was the best.

Then, Jesus talked to his friend Simon Peter. He told Peter that Satan wanted to test him. Jesus said he prayed for Peter so that he would not lose his faith. Faith is believing and trusting in God. Peter said he was ready to go to jail or even die with Jesus. However, Jesus knew the truth. He told Peter that before the rooster crowed in the morning, Peter would say he did not know Jesus three times.

At the end, Jesus told his apostles to get ready for trouble. He reminded them that God was their provider. A provider is someone who gives you what you need. Things would be much harder for them now. Jesus told them that the Scripture said he would be treated like a criminal. Scripture is the holy words of God in the Bible. A criminal is someone who breaks the law. Jesus had to be treated this way so that God’s plan would happen.

This passage teaches us that Jesus wants his people to be kind and help others. It shows us that Jesus loves us, even when we make mistakes or struggle. He wants us to have faith and trust him when life is hard.

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.

Be Like a Servant
24 Later, the apostles began to argue about which one of them was the most important.
25 But Jesus said to them,
“The kings of the world rule over their people, and those who have authority over others want to be called ‘the great providers for the people.’
26 But you must not be like that.
The one with the most authority among you should act as if he is the least important.
The one who leads should be like one who serves.
27 Who is more important: the one serving or the one sitting at the table being served?
Everyone thinks it’s the one being served, right?
But I have been with you as the one who serves.
28 “You men have stayed with me through many struggles.
29 So I give you authority to rule with me in the kingdom the Father has given me.
30 You will eat and drink at my table in that kingdom.
You will sit on thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel.
Peter Will Be Tested and Fail
31-32 “Satan has asked to test you men like a farmer tests his wheat.
O Simon, Simon, I have prayed that you will not lose your faith!
Help your brothers be stronger when you come back to me.”
33 But Peter said to Jesus,
“Lord, I am ready to go to jail with you.
I will even die with you!”
34 But Jesus said,
“Peter, before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say you don’t know me.
You will say this three times.”
Be Ready for Trouble
35 Then Jesus said to the apostles,
“Remember when I sent you out without money, a bag, or sandals?
Did you need anything?”
The apostles said,
“No.”
36 Jesus said to them,
“But now if you have money or a bag, carry that with you.
If you don’t have a sword, sell your coat and buy one.
37 The Scriptures say,
‘He was considered a criminal.’
This Scripture must happen.
It was written about me, and it is happening now.”
38 The followers said,
“Look, Lord, here are two swords.”
Jesus said to them,
“That’s enough.”
Luke 22:24-38 (ERV)