Bible Reading2 Kings 5:9-27 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord. In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” He said to him, “Go in peace.” But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’” And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants, and they carried them before Gehazi. And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.
[16:40]Luke 17:5-10 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”
[46:51]Romans 6:15-18 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
[01:00:49]Observation questions- In 2 Kings 5, what details show Naaman’s importance on the outside, and what detail shows his deep need on the inside? [28:32]
- What different servants appear in this story, and how does each one influence what happens next?
- What exactly did Gehazi do after Naaman left, and how did he try to hide it? [42:45]
- In Luke 17:5-10, how does Jesus answer the request, “Increase our faith,” and what picture does He use to answer it? [48:18]
Interpretation questions- Naaman was angry because God’s way did not match what he expected. Why do people often resist simple obedience when the method feels too small, too plain, or too humbling? [35:09]
- Elisha refused Naaman’s gifts, but Gehazi ran after them. What does that contrast reveal about the difference between a servant heart and a heart that still wants recognition, reward, or control? [40:24]
- Jesus connects faith with the posture of a servant who does what the master says. How does that challenge the idea that faith is mainly a feeling, a moment, or a dramatic spiritual experience? [48:18]
- Naaman asked for dirt so he could build an altar back home. What does that request show about what he believed was the real treasure after he was cleansed? [01:06:04]
Application questions- Naaman almost missed his cleansing because he had already decided how God was supposed to work. Where has disappointment, offense, or wounded expectation made obedience harder for you lately? [38:08]
- A person can look strong in public and still be hurting in hidden places. Where is there a private struggle, numbness, or compromise that needs to be brought honestly before the Lord? [29:53]
- The captive girl spoke about God even while living in pain and loss. Is there a hard place in life right now where God may still be calling you to speak hope, pray, or point someone toward Him? [31:47]
- Gehazi stood close to holy things but still chased what God had not given him. What are the “treasures” that most easily pull your heart away—money, comfort, recognition, status, control, or something else? [49:49]
- Freedom from sin is not freedom to serve self; it is freedom to become a servant of righteousness. What is one area where obedience needs to become more important than personal feeling? [01:00:49]
- Faith grows feet when a person simply does what the Master said. What is one clear thing God has already put in front of you to do that does not need more delay, more signs, or more negotiation? [49:11]
- Naaman did not ask for more silver after he was healed; he asked for holy ground to take home. What would it look like for an altar to be built in your daily life this week—in your home, your schedule, your habits, or your family? [01:08:46]
