2. Introduction. The Good Father ─ the second booklet of Level 1 ─ is the reader
. Its text is based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, as recorded in.
The Good Father Level 1
Introduction The Good Father ─ the second booklet of Level 1 ─ is the reader. Its text is based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Bible. It is very simple. It introduces only 327 words. The sentences are short and often repetitive, yet it is interesting enough to hold the interest of the student, both young and old.
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Contents 1 Why A Son Went Away................................................................4 2 A Son Stayed At Home .................................................................7 3 The Fishermen Went Away From The Boat .................................9 4 A Mother Was Healed................................................................. 12 5 Food For Many People................................................................ 15 6 They Walked On The Water ....................................................... 18 7 Words That Are From God ......................................................... 21 8 Things To Come.......................................................................... 24 9 A Man Sells Jesus ....................................................................... 26 10 A Man Nailed To A Cross Of Wood .......................................... 29 11 The Man Who Came Alive Again .............................................. 32
12 When The Holy Spirit Came....................................................... 35 3
1 (one) ─ Why A Son Went Away (a) Vocabulary a
for
his
not
they
all
from
home
of
to
am
gave
I
one
two
animals
give
long
other
want
at
go
love
people
wanted
away
good
loved
said
was
city
had
man
see
way
did
happy
me
some
went
do
have
money
son
why
father
he
my
spent
workc
food
him
no
the
you
(b) Text A man had two sons. The man was a father. He was a good father. He loved his sons. One son was happy at home. One son was not happy at home. He did not want to work at home. He wanted to go away from home. He wanted to see other people. He wanted to see the city. He said to his father, “Give me some money.” His father gave him some money. He went away from home. He went a long, long way. He went to a city.
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He was happy. People wanted him. He had money. He spent money. He gave food to people. He gave money to people. He spent all his money. He had no food. People went away from him. They wanted his money. They did not want him. He said, “Other people have food. I have no food.” The people did not give him food. They gave food to animals. He wanted the food people gave to animals. The people did not give him the food of the animals.
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He was not happy. He wanted food. He wanted to go home. His father had food. He wanted to see his father. Did his father want to see him? People did not love him. Did his father love him? He went home. He said to his father, “I want to work for you.” His father gave him food. His father was happy to see him. His father said, “I love my son. My son went away. He spent all his money. I want my son. I do not want his money. I am happy to see my son I love my son.”
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2 (two) ─ A Son Stayed At Home (a) Vocabulary always
came
found
stay
whoc
and
clothes
has
stayed
with
are
come
is
than
worked
because
earn
lost
thatc
younger
better
elder
sad
were
your
brother
(b) Text A man had two sons. One was the elder son. One was the younger son. The two sons were brothers. One was the elder brother. One was the younger brother. The younger brother went away from home. The elder brother stayed at home. He worked for his father. He said, “I am better than my brother. I work for my father. I stay at home. I earn my food. My brother is not good. I am good.” The younger brother came home. He had no food. He had no clothes. He had no money. His father was happy because he had come home. His elder brother was not happy. He did not love his brother. He said to his father, “My brother has spent all his money. You gave him 7
money. He has spent all your money. He has not worked for you. I work for you. I stay at home. You are happy because he has come home. You give him food. You give him clothes. You love him. You do not love me.” His father was sad. He loved his son who stayed at home. He loved his son who went away. He said to his elder son, “My son, you are always with me. All that I have is for you. My home is for you. My money is for you. Your brother went away. He has come home. Your brother is my son. I lost my son. You lost your brother. I found my son and you have found your brother. Are you not happy? Your brother has come home. He is your brother.”
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3 (three) ─ The Fishermen Went Away From The Boat
(a) Vocabulary aboutc
caught
how
namec
there
be
disciples
in
Peter
they
became
fish
Jesus
sat
three
boat
fisherman
lake
thatd
told
byc
fishermen
lived
them
workd
catch
God
(b) Text A man lived by a lake. His name was Peter. There was fish in that lake. Peter caught fish. His work was to catch fish. He was a fisherman. Peter had a brother. His brother was a fisherman. Peter and his brother caught fish. They were fishermen. Peter and his brother had a boat. They sat in the boat and caught fish. Peter’s brother said, “Come and see a man. Come and see a good man.” Peter said, “I want to see a good man.” Peter’s brother said, “Come and see a good man. His name is Jesus.” Peter said, “I want to see Jesus.” They went to see Jesus. 9
Jesus was good. He was good to people. He loved people. He told people how to be good. Jesus said, “People are not happy. They are not good. They do not love other people. A man had money and food. His brother had no money and no food. The man did not give food to his brother. The man was not good. He did not love his brother. He was not happy. He had money and food. He had no love.” Peter said, “I want to be good. I want to be happy. I want to love my brother.” Jesus said, “Come to me. I love people. Come to me, love people and be happy.”
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Peter went to Jesus. Peter’s brother went to Jesus. They went away from the boat and went to Jesus. They did not want the boat. They did not want money. They wanted to be with Jesus. Peter and his brother were with Jesus. They stayed with Jesus and he told them about God. They became his disciples.
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4 (four) ─ A Mother Was Healed (a) Vocabulary able
hand
mother
she
up
bed
heal
on
sick
wife
but
healed
poor
something
willc
eat
her
power
stood
woman
four
many
put
their
(b) Text Jesus was a poor man. He had no money. He had something better than money. He had power. He had power to heal people who were sick. The power was in him. He healed many people who were sick. He did not want their money. He healed people because he loved them. He did not heal them because he wanted money. Peter said to Jesus, “Come to my home.” Jesus went to Peter’s home. In the home was a woman. She was Peter’s wife. The mother of Peter’s wife was in the home. She was Peter’s wife’s mother. She was sick. She was not able to eat. She was not able to work. She was on the bed. She was on the bed because she was sick. 12
People said to Jesus, “Peter’s wife’s mother is sick. She is not able to eat. She is not able to work.” Jesus said, “I will heal her.” He went to the bed. Peter went to the bed. Peter’s wife went to the bed. The mother of Peter’s wife was on the bed. She was sick. Jesus had power to heal her. He put his hand on her. She sat up. She stood up. She said, “I am healed.” She wanted to eat. She wanted to work. She worked for Jesus and for other people. She wanted to work
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for people because she was happy. She was happy because Jesus had healed her.
Jesus healed many people. Many people went to him because they were sick. They wanted Jesus to heal them. He healed them and they went away from him. They went away from him because they did not want him. They wanted to be healed because they were sick. They wanted to be healed, but they did not want Jesus.
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5 (five) ─ Food For Many People (a) Vocabulary basket
loaves
tell
boy
looked
thank
bread
men
thanked
enough
more
timec
five
only
twelve
it
pieces
we
(b) Text A boy had a basket. In the basket was some food. The food was five loaves of bread and two fish. The boy said, “I want to see Jesus.” He went to see Jesus. Jesus was not in the city. He was by the lake. Many people went to see Jesus by the lake. Jesus told them about God. He healed people who were sick. Peter the fisherman was with Jesus. He was Jesus’ disciple. Other men were with Jesus. They were Jesus’ disciples. Jesus’ disciples said, “Tell the people to go away. It is time to go home.” Jesus said, “They want food. Give them some food.” His disciples said, “We have no food.” Peter’s brother said, “There is a 15
boy with some bread and fish in his basket.” The boy gave the bread and fish to Jesus.
Jesus looked up. He said, “I thank God for the bread and fish.” He thanked God. He gave the bread and fish to his disciples. His disciples gave the bread and fish to the people. The bread became more bread. The fish became more fish. The people had enough to eat. Many people had enough to eat. The boy with the basket had enough to eat. Jesus’ disciples said, “We have many pieces of bread and fish.” Jesus said, “Put the pieces of bread and fish in baskets.” They put the 16
pieces of bread and fish in twelve baskets. Five loaves of bread and two fish became enough food for many people, and for twelve baskets.
People said, “Jesus had power to give food to many people. We want to be with Jesus.” Jesus said, “You want the bread and fish. You eat and go away. You only want the food. You do not want me. You do not want God. You want food.” Peter said, “I want you. I want God.” Jesus’ other disciples said, “We want you. We want God.”
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6 (six) ─ They Walked On The Water (a) Vocabulary afraid
got
saw
began
held
six
blew
into
sun
call
mountain
walk
called
night
walked
dark
out
water
day
pray
wind
down
prayed
would
get (b) Text The sun went down. It was dark. It was dark because the sun went down. It was night. It was not day. Jesus was by the lake. Peter was with Jesus. Jesus’ other disciples were with Peter and Jesus by the lake. Jesus said, “It is night. Get into that boat and go on the lake. I will go up on to a mountain. I want to pray to God.” Jesus’ disciples went into the boat. The water of the lake went up and down. The wind blew. The water went up and up and down and down. The wind blew. Peter was in the boat and he was afraid. 18
All the people in the boat were afraid. They were afraid the water would come into the boat. They were afraid the boat would go down into the lake. “We will go down with the boat into the lake,” they said. Jesus was on the mountain. He prayed to God. He was happy with God. God gave him power. The power of God was in him. The night was dark. The wind blew. Jesus walked down the mountain. He walked to the lake. He walked on the water. He did not go down into the water. He walked on the water of the lake. Jesus’ disciples were in the boat. They saw him. They were afraid. They said, “A man is not able to walk on water. It is not a man.” Jesus called to them, “Do not be afraid. It is I.”
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Peter said, “Is it Jesus? Call me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat. He walked on the water. The wind blew. The water went up and down. Peter looked at the water. He was afraid. He began to go down into the water. He called to Jesus, “Jesus! I go down! I go down into the water!” Jesus put out his hand and held Peter. Peter did not go down into the water. Jesus and Peter walked on the water. They went into the boat. The people in the boat said to Jesus, “The power of God is in you. You are the Son of God.”
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7 (seven) ─ Words That Are From God (a) Vocabulary enemies
kind
make
seven
us
everyone
know
nothing
talk
what
gentle
likec&d
peace
talked
whod
hurt
liked
rightc
this
words
if
listen
(b) Text Peter liked to talk to people but he did not always like to listen to them. Peter liked to talk to people because he liked to talk. He did not always like to listen to people but he liked to listen to Jesus. Many people liked to listen to Jesus. Poor people liked to listen to Jesus. They said, “No other man talks like this man. His words are good words. He is like his words. He is a good man.” One day Jesus went up a mountain. His disciples went with him. He sat down and talked to them. He said, “People who know they are nothing are happy.” “People who are gentle are happy.” “People who love what is right are happy.” “People who are kind are happy.” “People who make peace are happy.” “People who are hurt because they do right are happy.” 21
“Be good to people. Be good to people who hurt you. Be good to people if you want people to be good to you. God is good. He gives the sun. It is for people who are good and for people who are not good. God gives food. Everyone eats the food that God gives. God is good to everyone. Be good to everyone. Be good like God.” Some people did not like Jesus’ words. They said, “Who gave him power to talk like that? People want to listen to him. People do not want to listen to us. Who is Jesus?” They did not like Jesus. They did not want people to listen to Jesus. They became his enemies. 22
Jesus said, “My words come from God. God gives me words to give to you. God gives you words. Listen to God’s words. God’s words are for you. Power is in God’s words. Will you go away from me because I give you God’s words?” Peter said, “We will not go away from you. You are from God and you give us God’s words.” The enemies of Jesus said, ‘‘We do not want this man. We want him to go away from us.”
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8 (eight) ─ Things To Come
(a) Vocabulary after
eight
life
say
things
again
every
moon
sell
timesd
crossc
fall
must
shake
war
die
forgive
nail
stars
when
does
king
nation
these
wood
earth
knew
place
(b) Text Jesus told people many things. He told them about things to come. He said, “People will talk of war. There will be war. Many people will not have enough food to eat. Many people will be sick. In many places the earth will shake. The sun will be dark. The moon will be dark. The stars will fall. These things will come because people are not good.” Jesus’ disciples were afraid. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid. God forgives people who are sad because they are not good. You must go to every nation and tell every man and woman. Tell them to come to God. God will forgive them and make them good. He does not want to hurt people. He wants people to be happy. People are happy when God forgives them and makes them good.” 24
Jesus went to many places and talked to many people. He healed many people who were sick. Because he had this power, people in one place said, “We want Jesus to be king.” Jesus’ enemies were not happy. They did not want Jesus to be king. They wanted him to die. Jesus told his disciples, “One of you will sell me to my enemies. My enemies will nail me to a cross of wood and I will die. After three days I will come to life again.” All the disciples of Jesus said, “We will not sell you. We will die with you.” Jesus said, “You will be afraid. You will all go away from me.” Peter said, “They will all go away from you. I will not go away from you. I will die with you.” Peter wanted to do right but he did not have the power. Jesus knew Peter did not have the power to do right. Jesus told Peter, “You will be afraid. In one night you will say, ‘I do not know Jesus’ three times. You will not say ‘I know Jesus’. You will say, ‘I do not know Jesus.’ ” 25
9 (nine) ─ A Man Sells Jesus (a) Vocabulary done
I’ll
live
ruler
thief
don’t
isn’t
nine
sleepc
thought
garden
Judas
praying
sleeping
took
head
let
ran
take
you’ll
hit
listened
(b) Text The name of one of Jesus’ disciples was Judas. Judas loved money. He took other people’s money. He was a thief. Judas wanted money. He wanted more money. He went to Jesus’ enemies and said, “Give me some money and I’ll take you to Jesus. Jesus likes to walk in a garden. I’ll take you to him when it’s dark. You’ll be able to take him away and do what you like to him.” Jesus’ enemies were happy. They gave some money to Judas, and he said to them, “Come with me.” It was night. Jesus was in a garden. It was dark in the garden. Jesus was praying. His disciples were with him. They listened to him praying. He prayed, “Don’t do what I want — do what you want.” Jesus prayed and his disciples went to sleep. Jesus was praying and his disciples were sleeping when Judas came. Judas and Jesus’ enemies 26
came into the garden. They went to Jesus and held him. They hurt him. He did not hurt them. They took him to his enemies’ home. His disciples ran away. Peter went after Jesus. He came to the home of Jesus’ enemies. He was afraid. He looked to see what Jesus’ enemies would do. They hit Jesus. Jesus did not hit them. He said nothing. A woman said to Peter, “You are Jesus’ disciple.” Peter said, “I don’t know him.’’ Three times he said, “I don’t know Jesus.” Jesus looked at Peter. Peter looked at Jesus. Peter thought of the words Jesus had 27
said, “In one night you’ll say you don’t know me three times.” Peter’s head went down, he was sad and he went away. It was day. Jesus’ enemies came and took Jesus to the ruler of the city. “It isn’t good for this man to live,” they said. The ruler did not want Jesus to die. “Why isn’t it good for this man to live?” he said. Jesus’ enemies went to the people. “It isn’t good for Jesus to live,” they said. The people were afraid of Jesus’ enemies. “Nail Jesus to a cross of wood,” they said to the ruler. The ruler was afraid of the people. Because he was afraid of the people he said, “Let them nail Jesus to a cross of wood.”
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10 (ten) ─ A Man Nailed To A Cross Of Wood
(a) Vocabulary believe
died
heavy
nailed
stabbed
body
doing
he’s
oh
ten
carried
feet
hung
save
thorns
carry
felt
laughed
side
tomb
crown
ground
light
soldiers
we’ll
dead
hear
made
spat
you’re
(b) Text The ruler of the city gave Jesus to the soldiers. The soldiers laughed at him. “Let Jesus be King!” they said. “Put a crown on his head!” They made a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They laughed at him and hit him with their hands. “Oh king, oh king!” they said, and spat on him. They hit him many times. “Carry your cross of wood,’’ the soldiers said to Jesus. The cross of wood was heavy. They gave it to Jesus to carry. Jesus carried the cross of wood. They went out of the city. They nailed the hands and feet of Jesus to the cross. Jesus prayed. They were able to hear what he said when he prayed. He said to God, “Father. forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.” 29
The soldiers stood the cross up in the ground. Jesus hung on the cross. People walked by and looked at him and laughed at him. “If God is his Father, God will save him. If Jesus comes down from the cross, we’ll believe in him,” they said. Jesus’ enemies laughed and said to Jesus, “If you’re the Son of God, come down from the cross.” It was day, but it became dark. There was no light from the sun. Jesus hung on the cross. He died on the cross. A soldier stabbed him in the side. Jesus was dead. 30
The ruler of the soldiers stood by the cross. He felt the earth shake. He saw the sun was dark. He was afraid. He said, “This man was the Son of God.” Jesus’ disciples took Jesus’ body from the cross. They put his body in a tomb. They were sad and they were afraid. They went away. Jesus’ enemies said, “Soldiers must stay by the tomb. Jesus said he would come to life again. Soldiers must stay by the tomb. Don’t let Jesus’ body come out of the tomb.” The body of Jesus was in the tomb, and the soldiers stood by. They wanted Jesus to stay in the tomb. They were afraid of his words, “After three days I’ll come to life again.”
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11 (eleven) ─ The Man Who Came Alive Again (a) Vocabulary alive
forgiven
look
send
third
bright
forty
morning
shut
too
could
given
necessary
sorry
touch
door
happened
now
spirit
touched
early
heaven
open
suddenly
very
eleven
Holy Spirit
seen
thinking
women
empty
house
(b) Text It was very early in the morning of the third day. The soldiers were by Jesus’ tomb. Suddenly they felt the earth shake. They saw a bright light. They were afraid and ran away.
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Some women came to the tomb and saw it was open. They ran to Peter and said, “Jesus’ body is not in the tomb.” Peter ran to the tomb and looked in. The tomb was empty. Peter went away. He thought, “Jesus’ body is not in the tomb. What has happened?” One of the women ran into the house. She said, “I have seen Jesus. He’s alive. He told me to come and tell you.” Jesus’ disciples did not believe her. They went into the house and shut the door because they were afraid of Jesus’ enemies. What would Jesus’ enemies do when they knew his body was not in the tomb?
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Suddenly they saw Jesus was with them in the house. They were afraid when they saw him. They thought, “A man who has died is not able to come to life again after three days. It isn’t Jesus. It’s a spirit.” Jesus knew what they were thinking. He wanted them to look at his hands. “Look at my hands,” he said. “Touch my hands. Look at my feet. Touch my feet. You are not able to touch a spirit, but you are able to touch me.” He saw they were too happy to believe. He said, “Give me some food.” They gave him food and saw him eat. They touched him and felt him and knew he was alive. Jesus said to them, “It was necessary for me to be hurt and die and come to life again. Now you must go and tell everyone about me. Tell them to believe in me. Tell the people who are sorry because they are not good that they are forgiven. All power in heaven and on earth is given to me. Go and tell everyone to believe in me, and I’ll always be with you.” For forty days people saw Jesus. One day he went with his disciples up a mountain. He said, “God will send the Holy Spirit to be in you. The Holy Spirit will give you power to tell people about me.” After he had talked to them he went up from the earth. They saw him go up. He went up from the earth, up to heaven. They did not see him again, but they were happy because they knew he could see them. 34
12 (twelve) ─ When The Holy Spirit Came (a) Vocabulary angry
forever
heard
might
stop
believed
full
joy
promised
talking
brought
happen
killed
sent
together
can
happened
made
sound
wrong
(b) Text Peter and Jesus’ other disciples were together in a house in the city. They prayed to God. They prayed for many days.
One day, suddenly, they heard a sound. The sound came from heaven. Suddenly they were full of joy. They were very happy and 35
talked and talked about God. People looked at them and said, “What has happened?” Peter stood up. Jesus’ enemies were with the people but Peter was not afraid. He knew that what Jesus had promised had happened. He knew God had sent the Holy Spirit into him and into Jesus’ other disciples.
Peter said, “This is what God said would happen. He said he would send the Holy Spirit to give us power to tell people about Jesus. You nailed Jesus to a cross of wood. You killed him. God has brought him up from the dead. God has made him alive. Jesus is in heaven 36
with God, and has sent the Holy Spirit to be in us. Jesus said that it would happen and it has happened.” The people were afraid. They thought, “We have killed Jesus. God has made him alive again, and God is angry with us.” They said to Peter, “What can we do? How can God forgive us?” Peter said, “Be sad that you are not good. Believe in Jesus, tell people you believe in him, and God will send the Holy Spirit into you.” The people saw that Peter and Jesus’ other disciples were full of joy and were not afraid. Many of the people believed. They prayed to God. They were sad because they were not good. They believed in Jesus. When they knew they had done wrong they were sad. When they knew God had forgiven them, they were happy. They went away from Jesus’ enemies and went to Jesus’ disciples. Jesus’ enemies were very angry. They killed some of the people who believed in Jesus, but they were not able to stop people from talking about Jesus. People who believed went to other places and said, “God loves people. Because God loves people he sent Jesus. Jesus is from God. Believe in Jesus. He died that we might be forgiven, he died to make us good. He came to life again, to make us good and happy, and that we might go to be with God forever.” 37
