I'm preparing for the Sunday school lesson this week. Sometimes LifeWay's lessons are good, other times not so much. I was a bit frustrated at this weeks lesson, so I scrapped the whole thing and decided to use the Scripture passage, but not the rest of the lesson.
So, here the test (without looking at the LifeWay curriculum if you have it). What is the point of 2 Kings 5:1-16? How would you teach it?
After some responses I'll give LifeWay's lesson and how I decided to teach it instead.
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4 comments:
Hmm...this is the story of Elisha healing Naaman of leprosy. I'd suggest
1. This passage teaches us about the power of God.
2. This passage teaches us about the importance of obeying God's Word (as Naaman obeyed the Word of God given through Elisha).
3. This passage teaches us about God's unique relationship with O.T. Israel.
Those are just a few suggestions. I'm probably missing something else.
I think the point is verse 15: "I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel." This is another example of God pursuing sinners for His fame in the earth.
Please don't tell me that the LifeWay stuff says that the point of this story is that we should try to pay God back for His grace to us (Like Naaman).
JC has a good point in that last comment - the passage is also about FREE grace.
Sorry it took me so long... it's been busy.
Here's Lifeway's take on this passage.
"Life Question: How can I know God cares for me when I'm sick?"
"Biblical Truth: God is greater than our illnesses and He compassionately helps those who humbly trust Him."
"Life Impact: This lesson is designed to help you find God's help when faced with overwhelming situations by: 1)Affirming that God's grace is available to those who humbly trust Him. 2)Turning to God in humble trust."
Here are the three main points given: 1)Sickness can strike anyone (2 Ki. 5:1-5). 2)God's ways are not always understood (2 Ki. 5:8-12). 3)God's grace is available (2 Ki. 5:13-16)
I do think that the lesson hit on a few of the main points, but on the whole I was disappointed with it.
I thought the main point was, "There's no God in the whole world except in Israel." Naaman is humbled and proclaims that Yahweh is the One True God.
There's also a theme of God's providence. God is at work behind the scenes of this story. Naaman's success and great fame... and his leprosy... his success in capturing the little Israelite girl who told him about Elisha... all these things are being used by God to spread His fame.
Lifeway also hit a little on the "humility" theme and the "grace" theme. I think the lesson had some good points, but failed at capturing the main thrust of the passage... the unmatched greatness of the One True God.
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