Many churches are reaching out to their culturally diverse neighbours with friendship, English lessons and the good news about Jesus. To support churches in this valuable ministry, Anglicare’s Cross Cultural Services has partnered with Bible Society Australia to produce English teaching resources.
Here you can find resources at High Beginner, Intermediate and High Intermediate levels for face-to-face and/or online delivery.
Within any student group, there is always a range of competency. Therefore, all three levels cater for a wide range of ability. Within the resources, broad categories allow scope for teachers to adapt lessons according to their context.
The High Beginner level does not cater for absolute beginning speakers/readers of English. It is simplified as much as possible while maintaining the integrity of the biblical text. Whenever possible, teachers are encouraged to provide students with the Bible text in their heart language.
Bible Overview
Ten Bible-based English lessons
Written by Sarah Brown
Illustrations by Ivan Smith
A Bible text informs the language and thematic content for these lessons, and each lesson contains two parts:
- Part 1 is a general English component on a topic relevant to students’ everyday lives and closely connected in theme and language to the Bible text in Part 2. Part 1 activates knowledge, generates interest, and builds language and concepts relevant to students’ lives and the Bible text.
- Part 2 guides students to read, comprehend and discuss a paraphrased Bible text.
Lessons include a suite of simple, print-friendly sketches. These black-and-white sketches sequence the Bible narrative in the Beginner and High Beginner books and provide a pictorial summary for the Intermediate book.
| Full Lesson Pack | All Lessons | Powerpoints |
| Intro | Intro | |
| Lesson 1 - A good world / God creates the world - Genesis 1:1, 26–31; 2:15–17 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 2 - When something breaks / People reject God - Genesis 3:1–6, 13–19, 23 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 3 - Leaving for a new country / God makes promises to Abram - Genesis 12:1–5 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 4 - People who rescue / God rescues and restores his people - Exodus 3:4, 7–8a, Exodus 19:4–8 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 5 - Royalty / A king for God’s people - 2 Samuel 7:8–13 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 6 - Who or what do you follow? / Solomon disobeys and there are consequences - 1 Kings 11:6–11 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 7 - Names / The coming of God’s king - Luke 1:28–33 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 8 - Sending something / Death of the king - Romans 5:6–9 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 9 - Change / The king is raised - Acts 2:32–33a, 36–39a | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 10 - Opposites / Creation restored - Revelation 21:1, 3–5a | Lesson | Powerpoints |
God's Kindness in Ruth
Three Bible-based English lessons
Written by Sarah Brown
Illustrations by Jemima Nichols
A Bible text informs the language and thematic content for these lessons, and each lesson contains two parts:
- Part 1 is a general English component on a topic relevant to students’ everyday lives and closely connected in theme and language to the Bible text in Part 2. Part 1 activates knowledge, generates interest, and builds language and concepts relevant to students’ lives and the Bible text.
- Part 2 guides students to read, comprehend and discuss a paraphrased Bible text.
Lessons include a suite of simple, print-friendly sketches. These black-and-white sketches sequence the Bible narrative in the Beginner and High Beginner books and provide a pictorial summary for the Intermediate book.
| Full Lesson Pack | All Lessons | Powerpoints |
| Intro | Intro | |
| Lesson 1 - Family / An important family in the Bible — Ruth 1:1–18 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 2 - Protection / Boaz protects Ruth — Ruth 1:16–2:23 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 3 - Ancestors / Ancestors of Jesus —Ruth 4:1–22 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
Luke 1-5
Ten Bible-based English lessons
Written by Sarah Brown
Illustrations by Jemima Nichols
A Bible text informs the language and thematic content for these lessons, and each lesson contains two parts:
- Part 1 is a general English component on a topic relevant to students’ everyday lives and closely connected in theme and language to the Bible text in Part 2. Part 1 activates knowledge, generates interest, and builds language and concepts relevant to students’ lives and the Bible text.
- Part 2 guides students to read, comprehend and discuss a paraphrased Bible text.
Lessons include a suite of simple, print-friendly sketches. These black-and-white sketches sequence the Bible narrative in the Beginner and High Beginner books and provide a pictorial summary for the Intermediate book.
| Full Lesson Pack | All Lessons | Powerpoints |
| Intro | Intro | |
| Lesson 1 - Leaving and receiving messages / A message for Mary – Luke 1:26–38 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 2 - Jumping for joy / Mary’s news – Luke 1:39–56 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 3 - Birthplace and a census / The birth of Jesus — Luke 2:1–7 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 4 - Birth announcements / Shepherds hear good news — Luke 2:8–20 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 5 - Watching the clock / Simeon and Anna meet God’s king — Luke 2:22–40 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 6 - Childhood / Twelve-year-old Jesus — Luke 2:41–52 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 7 - Authority in Australia / Jesus has authority over an evil spirit — Luke 4:31–37 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 8 - I’ve got a fever / Jesus heals many — Luke 4:38–43 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 9 - I’ve got a rash / Jesus heals a man with leprosy — Luke 5:12–16 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 10 - I’m sorry / Jesus heals and forgives a paralysed man — Luke 5:17–26 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
Meet Jesus
Ten Bible-based English lessons
Written by Sarah Brown
Illustrations by Ivan Smith
This package of resources is designed to support leaders as they use a storytelling approach in helping people to understand the Bible. First, students are offered a slide deck of text and pictures to support reading with visual literacy. Then, students learn to retell the story using just the pictures. Activities follow to assist students in retelling the story for themselves. Lessons are based on Mike Raiter's Meet Jesus and are offered at three levels - beginner, post-beginner and intermediate.
| Full Lesson Pack | All Lessons | |
| Intro | Intro | |
| Lesson 1 - The Birth of Jesus – Luke 2:1-12 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 2 - The Visit of the Wise Men – Matthew 2:1-12 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 3 - The Baptism of Jesus – Luke 3:16, 21-22 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 4 - Jesus Begins His Work – Matthew 4: 12-17 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 5 - The Healthy and the Sick – Mark 2:13-17 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 6 - The Selfish Son – Luke 15:11-24 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 7 -The Pharisee and the Tax Collector – Luke 18:9-14 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 8 - The Love Command – John 15:9-14 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 9 -The Two Builders – Matthew 7:24-27 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 10 -Jesus Tells a Bad Spirit to Leave a Man – Mark 1:21-28 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
Get the Meet Jesus book
These lessons are designed to complement Meet Jesus, an 80-page booklet in easy-to-read English, using Wycliffe's EasyEnglish translation. You are welcome to access a digital copy of the booklet. Additionally, we would love to send you up to 20 free copies to use in your ESL classes. Please fill in the form to place an order.
Exploring Life Questions in Ruth
Six Bible-based English lessons
Written by Cailey Raffel
Illustrations by Jemima Nichols
A Bible text informs the language and thematic content for these lessons, and each lesson contains two parts:
- Part 1 is a general English component on a topic relevant to students’ everyday lives and closely connected in theme and language to the Bible text in Part 2. Part 1 activates knowledge, generates interest, and builds language and concepts relevant to students’ lives and the Bible text.
- Part 2 guides students to read, comprehend and discuss a paraphrased Bible text.
Lessons include a suite of simple, print-friendly sketches. These black-and-white sketches sequence the Bible narrative in the Beginner and High Beginner books and provide a pictorial summary for the Intermediate book.
LESSON PREVIEW (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
| Full Lesson Pack | All Lessons | Powerpoints |
| Intro | Intro | |
| Lesson 1 - Why did you come to Australia? / A decision to leave home — Ruth 1:1–15 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 2 - Belonging. Where do we belong? / Ruth chooses Naomi and her God — Ruth 1:15–2:22 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 3 - Farm to plate. Where does our food come from? / God provides for Naomi and Ruth — Ruth 2:1–13 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 4 - Collections. What do you have a lot of? / Lots of grain and kindness — Ruth 2:14–23 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 5 - Protection. What protection do we need? / Boaz protects Ruth and Naomi — Ruth 3:1–18 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 6 - Changes. How do we change over time? / Naomi praises God for her changed life — Ruth 4:1–22 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
Bible Overview
Ten Bible-based English lessons
Written by Danielle McGregor
Illustrations by Ivan Smith
A Bible text informs the language and thematic content for these lessons, and each lesson contains two parts:
- Part 1 is a general English component on a topic relevant to your students’ everyday lives, and it is closely connected in theme and language to the Bible text in Part 2.
- Part 2 aims to help students read, discuss and comprehend a paraphrased Bible text describing a specific event in redemptive history. The big idea for
each lesson is provided for the teacher and illustrated by one simple sketch. The teacher will also add icons to a timeline each lesson to build the Bible overview narrative. This timeline and
accompanying icons are then used to prompt students to summarise the main points of the narrative each week.
Lessons include a suite of simple, print-friendly sketches. These black-and-white sketches sequence the Bible narrative in the Beginner and High Beginner books and provide a pictorial summary for the Intermediate book.
| Full Lesson Pack | All Lessons | Powerpoints |
| Intro | Intro | |
| Lesson 1 - A good world / God creates the world - Genesis 1:1, 26–31; 2:15–17 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 2 - Rules and consequences / People reject God - Genesis 3:1–6, 13–19, 23 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 3 - Journey to a new land / God makes promises to Abram - Genesis 12:1–5 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 4 - A beach rescue / God rescues and restores his people - Exodus 3:4, 7–8a, Exodus 19:4–8 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 5 - Royalty / A king for God’s people - 2 Samuel 7:8–13 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 6 - What makes a good leader? / Solomon disobeys and there are consequences 1 Kings 11:6–11 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 7 - Great names in history Part / The coming of God’s king - Luke 1:28–33 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 8 - A story of sacrifice / Death of the king - Romans 5:6–9 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 9 - Change / The king is raised - Acts 2:32–33a, 36–39a | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 10 - Future hopes and dreams / Creation restored - Revelation 21:1, 3–5a | Lesson | Powerpoints |
Luke 1-5
Ten Bible-based English lessons
Written by Danielle McGregor
Illustrations by Jemima Nichols
A Bible text informs the language and thematic content for these lessons, and each lesson contains two parts:
- Part 1 is a general English component on a topic relevant to students’ everyday lives and closely connected in theme and language to the Bible text in Part 2. Part 1 activates knowledge, generates interest, and builds language and concepts relevant to students’ lives and the Bible text.
- Part 2 guides students to read, comprehend and discuss a paraphrased Bible text.
Lessons include a suite of simple, print-friendly sketches. These black-and-white sketches sequence the Bible narrative in the Beginner and High Beginner books and provide a pictorial summary for the Intermediate book.
LESSON PREVIEW (CLICK TO ENLARGE)
| Full Lesson Pack | All Lessons | Powerpoints |
| Intro | Intro | |
| Lesson 1 - A surprising message / A message for Mary – Luke 1:26–38 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 2 - Thankfulness and joy / Mary’s news – Luke 1:39–56 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 3 - Populations and the census / The birth of Jesus — Luke 2:1–7 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 4 - A modern shepherd / Shepherds hear good news — Luke 2:8–20 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 5 - Promises / Simeon and Anna meet God’s king — Luke 2:22–40 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 6 - Childhood / Twelve-year-old Jesus — Luke 2:41–52 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 7 - Authority / Jesus has authority over an evil spirit — Luke 4:31–37 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 8 - If I could change the worldr / Jesus heals many — Luke 4:38–43 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 9 - Obtaining a medical certificate / Jesus heals a man with leprosy — Luke 5:12–15 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
| Lesson 10 - An underlying problem / Jesus heals and forgives a paralysed man — Luke 5:17–26 | Lesson | Powerpoints |
Meet Jesus
Twenty Bible-based English lessons
Written by Danielle McGregor
Illustrations by Jemima Nichols
This package of resources is designed to support leaders as they use a storytelling approach in helping people to understand the Bible. First, students are offered a slide deck of text and pictures to support reading with visual literacy. Then, students learn to retell the story using just the pictures. Activities follow to assist students in retelling the story for themselves. Lessons are based on Mike Raiter's Meet Jesus and are offered at three levels - beginner, post-beginner and intermediate.
| Full Lesson Pack | All Lessons | |
| Intro | Intro | |
| Lesson 1 - The Birth of Jesus – Luke 2:1-12 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 2 - The Visit of the Wise Men – Matthew 2:1-12 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 3 - The Baptism of Jesus – Luke 3:16, 21-22 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 4 - Jesus Begins His Work – Matthew 4: 12-17 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 5 - The Healthy and the Sick – Mark 2:13-17 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 6 - The Selfish Son – Luke 15:11-24 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 7 -The Pharisee and the Tax Collector – Luke 18:9-14 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 8 - The Love Command – John 15:9-14 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 9 -The Two Builders – Matthew 7:24-27 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 10 -Jesus Tells a Bad Spirit to Leave a Man – Mark 1:21-28 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 11 -Jesus Heals the Soldier’s Servant – Luke 7:1-10 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 12 -Stopping the Storm – Matthew 8:23-27 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 13 -Feeding the Five Thousand – John 6:1-13, 35 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 14 -Jesus Raises the Dead – John 11:17-27 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 15 -Jesus’ Last Meal – Matthew 26:17, 26-29 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 16 -Jesus Dies on a Cross – Mark 15:33-39 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 17 -Jesus Forgives a Dying Criminal – Luke 23: 32-33, 39-43 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 18 -Jesus Rises from the Dead – Matthew 28:1-10 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 19 -The Last Command of Jesus – Matthew 28: 16-20 | Lesson | |
| Lesson 20 - Jesus is Taken to Heaven – Acts 1:8-11 | Lesson |
Get the Meet Jesus book
These lessons are designed to complement Meet Jesus, an 80-page booklet in easy-to-read English, using Wycliffe's EasyEnglish translation. You are welcome to access a digital copy of the booklet. Additionally, we would love to send you up to 20 free copies to use in your ESL classes. Please fill in the form to place an order.
