category title reference doctrine miracles 2 kings 4:18...

C AT E G O R Y T I T L E R E F E R E N C E

Doctrine Miracles 2 Kings 4:18–21, 32–37

2 KingsLEADERS LESSON OVERVIEW—Lesson 1

F O R T H E L E A D E R

“Royal Rangers,” the Royal Rangers Emblem, and Royal Rangers group names and group logos are registered trademarks of Gospel Publishing House. Permission for use is required.Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.© 2014 by Gospel Publishing House, 1445 N. Boonville Ave., Springfi eld, Missouri 65802. All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this material may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means–electronic, me-chanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise–without prior written permission of the copyright owner, except brief quotations used in connection with reviews in magazines or newspapers.Handout material may be reproduced for use in teaching within your local outpost.We ask that our members set a good example for the young men that they lead by honoring this license agreement.

M AT E R I A L S & P R E P

Prepare a copy of the Student Handout for each boy. • Paper • Pens or pencils, one per boy

Read the lesson in advance, taking note of the main points. Be prepared to present the lesson to your group, but avoid reading it word for word. Include discussion with the group to make it more enjoyable for everyone.

In this lesson, we will learn that God is able to use us to work miracles.

KEY POINTGod can use ordinary people to do supernatural works.

KEY VERSE“I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

Note: Boys are not required to memorize the

Key Point or Key Verse to receive completion credit for this lesson.

For information on how to use Bible merits in a Royal Rangers meeting, refer to the TRaCclub Support section or the Royal Rangers Leader Manual.

REFLECT ANSWERSThese answers match the questions in the Refl ect section of the boys’ sheet. • Answers will vary. Elisha chose to be persistent until he received an answer. That answer was a yes. However, God could have said no.

• Answers will vary. • Answers will vary.

This license grants permission to Rich Schreiber to use and reproduce this sheet from Sep 16, 2015 to Sep 30, 2016 for use in a local outpost/group or self-study. Anyunauthorized use constitutes a violation of the agreement and may result in the revocation of TRaCclub membership.

©2010 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved worldwide.


Doctrine Miracles 2 Kings 4:18–21, 32–37

R E A D

K E Y T H O U G H T S

Jesus did lots of miracles. The prophets in the Old Testament also did lots of miracles. That’s why we think about them when we discuss miracles. However, God works miracles through people like us too.

We can pray for others to be healed. We can pray for people to receive fi nancial miracles. And we can ask God to help people supernaturally. When we pray, we can expect God to take action. He is a good God and He loves people very much.

When the widow’s son died, she came to Elisha. She believed that God would work a miracle, if Elisha asked. Elisha prayed for the boy. Nothing

The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers. He said to his father, “My head! My head!”

His father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out.

When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the LORD. Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm. Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.

Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” And he did. When she came, he said, “Take your son.” She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out. 2 Kings 4:18–21,32–37

KEY POINTGod can use ordinary people to do supernatural works.

KEY VERSE“I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12

2 KingsSTUDENT HANDOUT—Lesson 1



2 K I N G S — Lesson 1

happened! In fact, Elisha prayed for the dead boy lots of times before the miracle happened.

Elisha didn’t give up when the miracle didn’t come the fi rst time he asked. He kept praying, and God put life back into the boy!

God sends miracles in a lot of ways. Elisha stretched out on a dead body to pray. Jesus put mud and spit in a man’s eyes. Sometimes, someone touches a sick person. The one thing most people used by God have in common is that they are willing to take a risk. They are willing to risk looking crazy. And they don’t give up quickly when they don’t see results from their prayers.

God wants to use you in amazing ways. In John 14:12, Jesus said His followers would do greater things than He did. To do those things, you must be willing to risk looking silly. And you must keep praying if results don’t come right away.

R E F L E C T

As a group, discuss the following questions.

• Why do you think Elisha refused to give up when he was praying for the boy?

• What do you think Jesus meant when He said that those who believe in Him will do “greater things than these?”

• Have you ever seen a miracle? What was it? What were the circumstances?

Review the Key Point and the Key Verse.

P R AY E R : Dear God, thank You that You want to use me to work miracles in people’s lives. Please give me the courage to risk praying for people. Amen.

R E S P O N D

Take time to pray for anyone in your group who needs a miracle. Also, if any of their friends or families are in need, take time to pray for them, too. Make a list of people to pray for. Pray for these people throughout the week. Step out in faith and take a risk if you meet someone during the week who needs prayer. Be prepared to come back next week and share any testimonies of miracles that happened.

Remember to read your Bible this week using the Bible reading plan of your choice. A recommended plan can be found in the Bible Reading merit or online at royalrangers.com. Review this lesson with a friend or parent as a way to help you remember it.




Sexuality / Integrity Honoring Women 2 Kings 4:1–7





Prepare a copy of the Student Handout for each boy.


FOR THE LEADERIn this lesson, we will learn that God wants us to take care of people who are in need.

KEY POINTGod wants His people to care others.

KEY VERSEReligion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27

Note: Boys are not required to memorize the Key Point or Key Verse to receive completion credit for this lesson.


REFLECT ANSWERSThese answers match the questions in the Refl ect section of the boys’ sheet. • She asked. Her husband had been a prophet. • Women had few rights and few employment opportunities.

• Women are more free in areas with lots of Christians. Not all parts of the world have large numbers of Christians. Some other religions place little value on women.




Sexuality / Integrity Honoring Women 2 Kings 4:1–7

R E A D


In Bible times, people were sold into slavery if they could not pay their debts. Their children could be sold too. In those days, women usually were unable to get jobs. If a woman’s husband died, she and her children faced being sold as slaves.

In the ancient world, men gave little respect to women. A woman’s husband or children were her sources of support. If they could not help her, then she might have to be a beggar in the street.

Elisha’s response was kind. He did not ignore the woman. He did not tell the woman to solve the problem herself. Instead, Elisha asked,

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”

Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”

“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is fi lled, put it to one side.”

She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”

But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped fl owing.

She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” 2 Kings 4:1–7

KEY POINTGod wants His people to care about others.

KEY VERSEReligion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27





“How can I help you?” He was willing to get involved in someone else’s problems in order to help her.

God cares about women in society. He wants to help them succeed. The miracle that God worked for this woman let her become independent. She made enough money to support herself and her children. That was rare in the ancient world.

In areas with lots of Christians, people treat women with more respect than at any other time. Freedom and respect for women is still rare in nations with few Christians.

Christians should impact the world in a positive way. God is deeply concerned about how women are treated. God’s men should be concerned about that too. With God’s help, we should help women succeed and be independent. That’s what Elisha did.

R E F L E C T


• Why did Elisha help the widow?• Why was it unusual for a woman to be

independent in biblical times?• Why are there places in the world where

women are less free than men?


P R AY E R : Dear God, thank You that You care about everyone’s needs and want men and women both to succeed in life. Please help me to do good and show respect for others, especially women. Amen.

R E S P O N D

As a group, plan to do something nice for the widows or shut-ins in your church or community. Maybe you can mow or rake lawns, wash cars, or bring bags of groceries. Find creative ways to meet the needs for those in your area that could use extra help.

Remember to read your Bible this week using the Bible reading plan of your choice. A recommended plan can be found in the Bible Reading merit or online at RoyalRangers.com. Review this lesson with a friend or parent as a way to help you remember it.




Christlike Manhood Mentoring 2 Kings 2:4–14





Prepare a copy of the Student Handout for each boy. • Paper • Pens or pencils, one for each boy


In this lesson, we will learn why it is important for us to follow in the footsteps of older men.

KEY POINTBeing mentored is an important part of spiritual growth.

KEY VERSEFollow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1



REFLECT ANSWERSThese answers match the questions in the Refl ect section of the boys’ sheet. • He wanted to stay with Elijah as long as he could.

• A double portion of the power that Elijah had • They can give us valuable advice and they can help us grow closer to Jesus.




Christlike Manhood Mentoring 2 Kings 2:4–14

R E A D


KEY POINTBeing mentored is an important part of spiritual growth.

KEY VERSEFollow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1


place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”

“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.

“You have asked a diffi cult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fi re and horses of fi re appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho.”

And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.

The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?”

“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”

Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.”

And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.

Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the




God has put older Christian men into our lives. These men already have faced many problems we will face. They can provide valuable guidance. And they can help us grow closer to Jesus. These men can be good mentors.

Elisha’s mentor was Elijah. The older prophet asked Elisha to work with him. Elisha saw some of Elijah’s great miracles. Elijah knew he was about to go to heaven. He tried to get Elisha to leave. Elisha refused. He wanted to stay with his friend for as long as he could.

Three times, Elijah told Elisha to stay behind. Elisha refused. Elisha followed Elijah closely. He remained loyal to Elijah. God rewarded Elisha by giving him a double portion of the power that He had given to Elijah.

Elijah’s relationship with Elisha is a good model for mentoring. Elijah welcomed Elisha. He taught Elisha all he could. Elisha served Elijah and was loyal to him.

God has placed people like Elijah in our lives, too. God has men that He has put around us to help us, to train us, and to show us how to live godly lives. As they help us, we ought to help them. We should be loyal to them. We need to do our best to learn all we can from them.

When we follow the people that God has placed in our lives, we will grow faster spiritually. We will also receive the blessing of God.

R E F L E C T


• Why did Elisha refuse to leave Elijah? • What did Elisha receive? • Why is it important for Christians to have mentors in life?


P R AY E R : Dear God, thank You for placing people in my life who can mentor me and help me grow strong spiritually. Amen.

out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.

Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. 2 Kings 2:4–14

R E S P O N D

Write a letter to someone who is a mentor in your life. Tell them why the relationship is important to you. Thank them for what they have done to help you.





Biblical Worldview Exile 2 Kings 17:7–20





Prepare a copy of the Student Handout for each boy. • Paper • Pen or pencil for each boy


In this lesson, we will learn the importance of following God’s instructions.

KEY POINTTo receive the blessings of God, we must be obedient to His commands.

KEY VERSESo the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left. 2 Kings 17:18



REFLECT ANSWERSThese answers match the questions in the Refl ect section of the boys’ sheet. • They disobeyed Him. They worshipped false gods.

• Answers will vary. The people did not believe the prophets. They wrongly credited blessings from God to the false gods.

• Answers will vary.




Biblical Worldview Exile 2 Kings 17:7–20

R E A D


All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods and followed the practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortifi ed city they built themselves high places in all their towns. They set up sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the LORD had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the LORD’s anger. They worshiped idols, though the LORD had said, “You shall not do this.” The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire

Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”

But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the LORD their God. They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

They forsook all the commands of the LORD

their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. They sacrifi ced their sons and daughters in the fi re. They practiced divination and sought omens and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, arousing his anger.

KEY POINTTo receive the blessings of God, we must be obedient to His commands.

KEY VERSE“So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left.” 2 Kings 17:18





During its history, Israel rarely obeyed God. Most Israelites worshipped false gods. They did not serve the true God. They did many evil things too. Israel fell to the Assyrians in 721 B.C. At that time, Israel was the only part of David’s kingdom that rebelled against his grandson Rehoboam.

God had mercy on Israel, though. He sent prophets to call them back to the right path.

Elijah, Elisha, Amos, and Hosea were among the prophets God sent to tell the Israelites to follow God. But they were ignored.

Because of their disobedience, God let the Assyrians defeat them. This was very bad for God’s people. They lost their land and other property. Many were separated from their families. Many more died. Most of the rest were forced to move to far away places.

This could have been avoided if the people had obeyed God. They could have listened to the prophets. They could have stopped disobeying God. If they had done these things, they could have kept on being blessed by God.

You cannot do whatever you want and expect God’s blessings. If you want blessings from God, you must do things His way. You must obey Him. If you do, He will take care you.

R E F L E C T


• Why did God send Israel into exile? • Why do you think the people ignored the warnings of the prophets?

• In what ways do you struggle to obey God’s ways in your life?


P R AY E R : Dear God, thank You that You want to bless me and to help me. Please help me follow Your directions. Amen.

R E S P O N D

Read through the passage slowly and make a chart. On one side, list all the good things that God did for Israel. On the other side, list all the bad ways that Israel treated God. For example, in verse 7:

God Peoplebrought them safely worshipped other godsout of slavery in Egypt sinned against the Lord

After you do your chart, talk with your group about why people sometimes treat God so badly, even though He is so good to them. Discuss how you ought to respond to the good things God does.


So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left, and even Judah did not keep the commands of the LORD their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced. Therefore the LORD rejected all the people of Israel; he affl icted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence. 1 Kings 17:7–20




Cultural Issue Leprosy 2 Kings 5:1–14





Prepare a copy of the Student Handout for each boy. • Paper • Pens or pencils, one per boy


In this lesson, we will learn that God is loving and kind even to those who are our enemies.

KEY POINTGod loves and shows kindness to everyone.

KEY VERSENow Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. 2 Kings 5:1



REFLECT ANSWERSThese answers match the questions in the Refl ect section of the boys’ sheet. • The girl knew God loved Naaman and wanted to help him.

• That showed Naaman that God was real. Afterward Naaman chose to serve God.

• Answers may include those who are very poor, the homeless, the disabled, the mentally ill; anyone who does not fi t in or is not welcome in a group




Cultural Issue Leprosy 2 Kings 5:1–14

R E A D


Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”

Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my

servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”

As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”

When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your fl esh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”

KEY POINTGod loves and shows kindness to everyone.

KEY VERSENow Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. 2 Kings 5:1





Naaman was in charge of the Aramean army. He often raided Israel. God let him be successful because Israel was disobeying God. But Naaman had a problem. He had leprosy. Leprosy is a very bad skin disease. People with leprosy often had to live away from others. It could not be cured or controlled. Only God could help those with leprosy.

Naaman had done many evil things to the Israelites. He even took a girl from her family. He gave the girl to his wife as a slave. Even though Naaman had been mean, the girl knew that God loved Naaman and wanted to help him.

She told Namaan’s wife that God’s prophet in Samaria could heal him. That prophet was Elisha. Naaman listened. He journeyed to Israel in search of healing. Naaman thought he would have to pay a high price for the God’s help.

But God loved Naaman. God loved him even though Naaman had leprosy. The prophet refused to take any payment. The prophet

wanted to show Naaman that God loved him and could heal him. Naaman obeyed God’s directions. He was completely cured. Because of this, Naaman started serving God!

God loves all people. He even loves those that other people reject.

We often think God should be nice to us and to those who are nice to us. But we want God to be mean to people who treat us badly. God wants to show love to everyone, though. He is kind to mean people because He hopes that His kindness will cause them to repent (Romans 2:4), just as Naaman did.

R E F L E C T


• Why did the servant girl tell Naaman that God could heal him?

• Why did God show kindness to Naaman?• Who are people in our community that might

be considered “outcasts”?


P R AY E R : Dear God, thank You that You love everyone, even those who aren’t nice to me. Please help me to follow Your example and show love to everyone. Amen.

But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.

Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his fl esh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. 2 Kings 5:1–14




R E S P O N D

Make a list of some groups that might be thought of as outcasts in your community (the homeless, the elderly at nursing homes, etc.). Pick one of the groups and think of a project you can do as a group to show them God’s love.




category title reference doctrine miracles 2 kings 4:18...

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