Bible Reading
2 Kings 6:8–23 (ESV) — > 8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.”
> 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.”
> 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice.
> 11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?”
> 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.”
> 13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.”
> 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
> 15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”
> 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
> 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
> 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.
> 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria.
> 20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
> 21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?”
> 22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”
> 23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.
Ephesians 1:17–19 (ESV) — > 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
> 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
> 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
Observation Questions
- In 2 Kings 6, what was Elisha’s servant afraid of, and how did Elisha respond to his fear? ([11:39])
- What did Elisha pray for regarding his servant, and what was the result? ([12:09])
- According to the sermon, what was the difference between Elijah and Elisha’s ministries? ([04:29])
- How did Elisha treat the enemy soldiers after God struck them with blindness? ([18:00])
Interpretation Questions
- The sermon says Elisha didn’t try to be Elijah, but embraced his own calling. Why is it important for believers to walk in their unique calling instead of copying others? ([04:29])
- Elisha prayed for his servant’s eyes to be opened. What does it mean to have “spiritual vision” instead of just physical sight? How might this change the way someone faces problems? ([12:09])
- Elisha showed kindness to his enemies instead of seeking revenge. What does this teach about how God wants us to treat those who oppose us? ([18:00])
- The sermon mentions that the “double portion” is not just about blessing, but also about greater responsibility and serving others. How does this challenge the way people usually think about God’s blessings? ([06:22])
Application Questions
- The sermon said, “You don’t have to be somebody else. You just be who God made you to be.” Is there an area in your life where you feel pressure to copy someone else’s calling or results? What would it look like to trust God’s unique path for you? ([04:29])
- Elisha prayed for his servant’s eyes to be opened to God’s protection. When you feel surrounded by problems, do you tend to focus on what you see or on what God might be doing behind the scenes? How can you pray for “spiritual vision” this week? ([12:09])
- The sermon challenged us to “share the good news boldly” and not keep it to ourselves. Who in your life needs to hear about the hope you have in Jesus? What is one step you can take to share with them this week? ([22:28])
- Elisha showed mercy and kindness to his enemies. Is there someone in your life who has hurt you or is difficult to love? What is one practical way you could show them kindness or pray for them? ([18:00])
- The story of the four lepers reminds us that “lostness is the only eternal problem.” Do you ever feel hesitant to share your faith because you’re worried about the results? How can you trust God with the outcome and focus on being faithful? ([24:55])
- The sermon warned against “half-hearted faith” and stopping short of what God wants to do. Is there an area where you’ve been tempted to give up or settle for less than God’s best? What would it look like to persist in faith, prayer, or generosity? ([33:35])
- Elisha’s legacy outlived him. What kind of legacy do you want to leave for your family, friends, or church? Is there a specific action you can take this month to invest in someone else’s faith journey? ([34:48])
