Masters and Servants
I. A FASCINATING story of TRANSFORMATION. (v. 1-27)
A. A POWERFUL man with LEPROSY. (v. 1-2)
B. A HOPEFUL servant girl, a HOPELESS king. (v. 3-8)
C. The COMMANDER is called to SURRENDER. (v. 9-14)
D. EMBRACING the shift to SERVANT. (v. 15-19)
E. The SERVANT who served HIMSELF. (v. 19-27)
The story of Naaman is one of my most favourite Old Testament stories. There are so many different angles at play in this story. A foreign commander comes into enemy territory to seek healing of a disease that will eventually end his status and career. He comes because a servant girl he has captured from that very country gives him hope that he can be healed. And that is just the beginning.
1. Kid’s Question: Which character in this story stands out to you and why?
2. Naaman’s life completely changed in an instant. Has that ever happened to you (in either a positive or negative way)? What was that like?
II. PICKING up on a recurring THEME. (v. 1-27)
A. So many MASTERS and SERVANTS. (v.1-4, 6, 13, 15-20, 22-25)
B. Servant is about HEART more than TITLE. (v.3, 13, 15-18)
C. Servants OFTEN see more CLEARLY. (v.3, 13, 15, 18)
D. There is GRACE for COMPLICATED service. (v. 18-19)
E. The TEMPTATIONS of SERVANTHOOD. (v. 20-27)
As you read over this text a few times and listen carefully you will begin to pick up on some words that seem to be repeated over and over. Often the text will take us where it wants to lead us if we only learn to slow down and pay attention.
- Who are the “masters” that you have to live with day to day? Who are the “servants” in your circle on a daily basis?
- Is there something about being powerless (as a servant) that makes you more open to what God is doing or might do than when you are in a position of power? If so, why do we often seek to avoid being in those positions?
- Which of the temptations of servanthood (status, stuff, secrecy) do you find yourself facing and wrestling with?
III. Baptism is about SERVING a new MASTER. (v.14-19; Mt. 28:18-20)
A. A CONSCIOUS act of SURRENDER. (v. 14; Mt. 16:24-25)
B. The SHIFT of ALLEGIANCE. (v. 15; Phil. 3:20)
C. LIVING in a COMPLICATED world. (v. 17-18; Heb. 2:8)
D. Allowing SPACE for the GRACE of God. (v. 19; Tit. 2:11-12)
Naaman’s washing in the Jordan River isn’t technically a baptism event, but there is much that we can see from this Old Testament story that helps us to fully grasp the New Testament call for all followers of Jesus to start their journey in baptism.
6. When have you had an experience in your own life that you would describe as a “conscious act of surrender”?
7. What does it mean to be “allegiant” to Jesus? When and in what ways does that conflict with life in our world today?
8. How does grace look it a complicated world with more grey at times than the black and white we would like? What are some examples where you’ve received that grace from someone?