SAME_CAST_DIFFERENT_SCRIPT_BY_PASTOR_EJ.pdf

of the Sermon:**

In this sermon, we explored the story of Naaman, a powerful Syrian commander who suffered from the private pain of leprosy. Despite his public status, Naaman’s journey to healing required him to confront his own expectations and surrender to God’s plan, which looked very different from what he imagined. The message challenged us to recognize that, like Naaman, we often write our own scripts for how God should deliver us, but true transformation comes when we throw away our scripts and trust God’s process—even when it’s uncomfortable, slow, or unfamiliar. We were reminded that God welcomes our honesty, even our disappointment, and that His priorities for our lives often go deeper than our immediate desires. Ultimately, God’s deliverance is about more than fixing our circumstances; it’s about transforming us from the inside out and aligning us with His greater purpose.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Private Pain and Public Power: Every person, no matter how strong or successful they appear, carries private pain. God does not promise a life free from struggle, but He does promise that our pain will not have the final word. The story of Naaman reminds us that God sees both our public persona and our hidden wounds, and He invites us to bring both to Him.
• 2. Letting Go of Our Script: We often approach God with detailed expectations about how He should act in our lives. When deliverance doesn’t come in the way we imagined, disappointment can set in. Spiritual maturity means releasing our need to control the narrative and trusting that God, the true Director, knows the best way to bring about our healing and growth.
• 3. The Gift of Honest Lament: God is not threatened by our disappointment or confusion. Like Naaman, we are invited to be honest with God about our frustrations and unmet expectations. Lament is a sacred practice that allows us to process pain in God’s presence, holding grief and hope together, and making space for God’s comfort and transformation.
• 4. Surrender and Obedience Unlock Outcomes: True surrender is not passive resignation but active trust in God’s wisdom, even when His plan diverges from ours. Obedience to God’s instructions, even when they seem strange or difficult, positions us to receive the deeper work He wants to do in us. As with Naaman, our willingness to follow God’s lead—rather than our own—opens the door to unexpected breakthroughs.
• 5. Patience with the Process and God’s Priorities: God’s work in our lives is often gradual, requiring patience and trust in the “little by little” progress. Sometimes, the delay or difference in God’s method is not about withholding blessing, but about preparing us for something greater. God’s priorities are not always our own; He is more concerned with our transformation and salvation than with quick fixes, and His timing is always purposeful.

1. In 2 Kings 5:8-15, what specific instructions did Elisha give to Naaman, and how did Naaman initially respond?
2. According to the sermon, what was the significance of Naaman’s public power versus his private pain?
3. In Lamentations 3:19-24, what emotions does the writer express, and how does he find hope?
4. What does Proverbs 3:5-6 say about the way we should approach decisions and direction in our lives?

1. Why did Naaman struggle with the way God chose to heal him, and what does this reveal about human expectations of God?
2. The sermon mentions that God is not threatened by our disappointment or frustration. How does the practice of lament (as seen in Lamentations) help believers process pain and maintain hope?
3. What does it mean to “throw away our script” and trust God’s process, even when it’s uncomfortable or unfamiliar?
4. How does the story of Naaman illustrate the difference between seeking a quick fix from God and allowing God to do a deeper work of transformation in us?

1. The sermon talked about “private pain and public power.” Is there an area in your life where you feel you have to appear strong while hiding a struggle? What would it look like to bring that pain honestly before God?
2. Naaman had a script for how he wanted God to work. Can you think of a time when you had specific expectations for how God should answer your prayers? How did you respond when things didn’t go as planned?
3. The practice of lament was described as a “gift.” When was the last time you were honest with God about your disappointment or confusion? What might it look like for you to practice lament this week?
4. Obedience to God’s instructions, even when they seem strange or difficult, was a key theme. Is there something God is asking you to do right now that feels uncomfortable or doesn’t make sense? What’s holding you back from obeying?
5. The sermon emphasized patience with God’s process and priorities. Are you currently in a season where God’s timing feels slow or different from what you want? How can you remind yourself that God’s priorities may be deeper than your immediate desires?
6. The story of Naaman shows that God’s deliverance is about more than just fixing circumstances—it’s about transformation. In what area of your life do you sense God wants to do a deeper work, not just a quick fix?
7. The pastor shared that God welcomes our honesty more than our hypocrisy. What would it look like for you to be more honest with God in your prayers this week? Is there something specific you need to bring to Him?