Level 2 — Elementary (CEFR: A2)
Unit 7 — Verb Group 3: -IR Verbs
Lesson 2 — Core -IR Verbs for Ministry Interpretation
Lesson Overview
Level: 2 — Elementary Unit: 7 — Verb Group 3: -IR Verbs Lesson: 2 of 14 Estimated Time: 60 minutes
What this lesson covers:
- The 20 core -IR verbs for ministry interpretation
- Grouping verbs by semantic function: proclamation, service, spiritual life, mission
- Ministry sentences for each verb in the present tense
- traducir — the interpreter’s own verb, its irregular yo form, and why it belongs in Unit 7
- Recognition drills: hearing these verbs in connected speech
The 20 Core -IR Verbs
| Verb | Meaning | Ministry use |
|---|---|---|
| vivir | live | Christian living, eternal life |
| escribir | write | Scripture, letters, vision |
| recibir | receive | grace, Holy Spirit, Word |
| decidir | decide | conversion, commitment |
| compartir | share | gospel, testimony, resources |
| sufrir | suffer | persecution, intercession |
| seguir | follow | discipleship (stem-changing) |
| servir | serve | ministry, calling (stem-changing) |
| pedir | ask for, request | prayer, intercession (stem-changing) |
| sentir | feel, sense | spiritual sensitivity (stem-changing) |
| venir | come | invitation, return (irregular) |
| decir | say, tell | proclamation (irregular) |
| ir | go | mission, sending (irregular) |
| salir | leave | departure, commissioning (irregular) |
| oír | hear | hearing the Word (irregular) |
| construir | build | church planting, construction |
| dirigir | lead, direct | pastoral leadership |
| cumplir | fulfill | promises, calling, obedience |
| elegir | choose | election, calling, decision |
| traducir | interpret, translate | the interpreter’s own calling |
Semantic Groupings
Proclamation and Communication
decir (say/tell), escribir (write), oír (hear), dirigir (lead/direct), traducir (interpret)
These verbs form the core of the preaching and proclamation vocabulary. The interpreter hears oír, says decir, writes escribir, leads dirigir, and translates traducir. They cluster naturally in discussions of the ministry of the Word.
Service and Calling
servir (serve), cumplir (fulfill), seguir (follow), elegir (choose), decidir (decide)
These verbs describe the disciple’s response to God’s call. Seguir is particularly high frequency — “follow” is the fundamental posture of discipleship.
Receiving and Sharing
recibir (receive), compartir (share), vivir (live), sentir (feel/sense)
These describe the inward and outward life of the believer: receiving grace, sharing the gospel, living for God, sensing the Holy Spirit.
Mission and Movement
ir (go), venir (come), salir (leave), construir (build), pedir (ask/request), sufrir (suffer)
These verbs describe the movement and cost of missionary work: going out, coming in, leaving, building, praying, and enduring.
Ministry Sentences: All 20 Verbs
vivir
Vivimos para Cristo, y morir es ganancia. — We live for Christ, and to die is gain.
escribir
La Biblia escribe la historia de la redención. — The Bible writes the story of redemption. Escribo mis oraciones cada mañana para recordar las respuestas de Dios. — I write my prayers each morning to remember God’s answers.
recibir
Recibimos el Espíritu Santo en el momento de la conversión. — We receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of conversion. ¿Recibes la disciplina de Dios con humildad? — Do you receive God’s discipline with humility?
decidir
Hoy decides tu eternidad. — Today you decide your eternity. Decidimos plantar una iglesia en ese pueblo. — We decide to plant a church in that village.
compartir
Compartimos el pan y la copa en memoria de Él. — We share the bread and the cup in memory of Him. ¿Con quién compartes el evangelio esta semana? — With whom are you sharing the gospel this week?
sufrir
Sufrimos con paciencia por amor a Cristo. — We suffer with patience for love of Christ. El apóstol sufre mucho por el nombre de Jesús. — The apostle suffers much for the name of Jesus.
seguir
Seguimos a Cristo sin mirar atrás. — We follow Christ without looking back. ¿Sigues al Señor en los momentos difíciles? — Do you follow the Lord in difficult moments?
servir
Servimos al Señor con alegría. — We serve the Lord with joy. ¿A quién sirves primero — a Dios o a los hombres? — Whom do you serve first — God or men?
pedir
Pedimos en el nombre de Jesús. — We ask in the name of Jesus. ¿Qué pides al Señor en esta temporada? — What do you ask of the Lord in this season?
sentir
Sentimos la presencia de Dios en la adoración. — We sense the presence of God in worship. ¿Sientes el llamado de Dios en tu vida? — Do you feel God’s calling in your life?
venir
Vengo a ti, Señor, tal como soy. — I come to you, Lord, just as I am. ¿Viene el equipo de misiones este año? — Is the mission team coming this year? Venimos a proclamar las buenas nuevas. — We come to proclaim the good news.
decir
Digo la verdad en amor. — I speak the truth in love. La Palabra dice que somos más que vencedores. — The Word says that we are more than conquerors. ¿Qué dices cuando alguien te pregunta por tu fe? — What do you say when someone asks you about your faith?
ir
Voy adonde me envías, Señor. — I go where you send me, Lord. Vamos a los confines de la tierra. — We go to the ends of the earth. ¿Vas a esa comunidad este verano? — Are you going to that community this summer?
salir
Salgo a predicar el evangelio. — I go out to preach the gospel. Salimos en misión para servir a los más necesitados. — We go out on mission to serve the most needy.
oír
Oigo la voz del Señor en la Escritura. — I hear the voice of the Lord in Scripture. ¿Oyen los pastores la voz de Dios en oración? — Do the pastors hear God’s voice in prayer?
construir
Construimos sobre el fundamento de los apóstoles y profetas. — We build on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. La iglesia construye el reino de Dios en esta comunidad. — The church builds God’s kingdom in this community.
dirigir
Dios dirige mis pasos cuando confío en Él. — God directs my steps when I trust in Him. ¿Quién dirige el ministerio de jóvenes? — Who leads the youth ministry?
cumplir
Dios cumple cada promesa que hace. — God fulfills every promise He makes. Cumplo el llamado que Dios puso en mi corazón. — I fulfill the calling God placed in my heart.
elegir
Dios nos elige antes de la fundación del mundo. — God chooses us before the foundation of the world. ¿A quién elegimos como líder de ese ministerio? — Whom do we choose as leader of that ministry?
traducir
Traduzco para que todos puedan escuchar la Palabra de Dios. — I interpret so that everyone can hear the Word of God. ¿Quién traduce el sermón hoy? — Who interprets the sermon today? Traducimos con fidelidad al texto y al Espíritu. — We interpret with faithfulness to the text and the Spirit.
Traducir — The Interpreter’s Own Verb
Traducir deserves special attention. It is your own calling expressed as a verb. Its present yo form is irregular: traduzco (the -c- appears in all -ducir verbs in the yo form: conducir → conduzco, producir → produzco).
Full present conjugation of traducir:
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | traduzco |
| tú | traduces |
| él/ella/usted | traduce |
| nosotros | traducimos |
| ellos/ustedes | traducen |
The same -zco yo pattern applies to all -ducir verbs. Recognize it; don’t be thrown by it.
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1 — Rapid Recall
Someone reads a ministry sentence. You identify the -IR verb and produce its infinitive form without hesitation.
Dios cumple sus promesas. → cumplir Seguimos a Cristo. → seguir Traduzco para la gloria de Dios. → traducir Sentimos la presencia de Dios. → sentir Construyen una nueva iglesia. → construir
Exercise 2 — Semantic Group Sentences
For each semantic group (Proclamation, Service, Receiving/Sharing, Mission), produce two ministry sentences that use verbs from that group together naturally. Example:
Oímos la Palabra y decidimos seguir a Cristo. (Proclamation + Service)
Exercise 3 — The 20 Verbs: Rapid Production
Without referring to the lesson, produce the yo form and one ministry sentence for each of the 20 verbs in order. Time yourself. Under 4 minutes is the target.
Exercise 4 — Traducir Focus
Produce three sentences using traducir in different forms: one yo, one él/ella, one nosotros. Then produce the same sentences as questions.
Key Takeaways for This Lesson
Before moving to Lesson 3:
- Know the 20 core -IR verbs and their ministry meanings by heart
- Know that seguir, servir, pedir, sentir are stem-changing (covered in Lesson 3)
- Know that venir, decir, ir, salir, oír are irregular (covered in Lesson 4)
- Know traducir → traduzco (yo form irregular due to -ducir pattern)
- Know the four semantic groupings to organize vocabulary retrieval
Daily Practice
Choose five of the 20 verbs each day. For each:
- Say the infinitive and meaning.
- Produce all five present forms aloud.
- Say one ministry sentence.
Rotate through all 20 over four days. On day five, do all 20 from memory. Repeat weekly until automatic.