Bible Study Materials for February 12th 2006

6th Sunday of after Epiphany

2 Kings 5:1-14:
I asked for strength … and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom… and God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity … and God gave me brain and brawn to work.
I asked for courage … and God gave me danger to overcome.
I asked for love … and God gave me troubled people to help.
I asked for favour … and God gave opportunities.
I received nothing that I wanted … yet, I received everything I needed.

What do you ask God for ?
What did God give you ?

As disappointing as it might be for some television evangelist or some ministers of mega churches, in this passage God does not seem at all interested in theatricality or impressing the all-powerful. In fact, if you take this story, add the nativity stories and the stories Jesus told, you could say that when it came to wealth, position, and power God is more than unimpressed: God is downright subversive. It doesn’t matter that kings are talking, it doesn’t matter that emissaries arrive with all the trappings of power. God’s healing powerand God’s grace takes no account of them.

How would it feel to be Naaman in this story?
Do you think Naaman was used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it?

How do you think Naaman’s entourage would have reacted to this story?
To the King wading into a stagnant backwater stream for healing?
If you were Naaman, what kind of healing would you want?
What kind of healing (miracle) do you want today?

For those of us without wealth, prestige, and power, this is a story full of delight, humour and good news. For those of us with wealth, prestige, and power, and in a global context … I know that includes the present writer and, I suspect many readers … this story offers an opportunity for repentance and freedom. The love and grace of God is so freely given and so abundant that no special rituals are required.

What do we need to repent of ?
Do we come to God as a person of power, prestige and wealth?

Psalm 30:
What is being celebrated in this text?
What is this text saying to us today?
What does confidence in God mean in our society today with such wealth?
What does confidence in God mean in an impoverished setting?
Could these be words Naaman offered as he dried off ?

Mark 1:40-45:
Was this a dramatic healing?
Why do you think Jesus told the leper to tell no one?
Do you think he listened?
If he did, why did Jesus fame spread so rapidly?
If you heard of this happening, would you tell people?

The man was desperate, he would have gone to Mexico or Italy, or grasped at any straw in order to be healed. He came to Jesus … “If you choose, you can heal me.” Jesus heals him and then says, “Now go and do what the Law commands, and shut up about the whole thing…” But the poor guy is so happy he disobeys and babbles all over town. Result, Jesus practically has to go incognito in order to do what he really wants to do – preach.
Apparently, the word pity in verse 41, can also be translated as “anger.” Jesus may have felt compassion (pity) but also irritation at the interference with his real priority. … Is majoring in a healing ministry the right way to go even if it attracts a crowd? Could it get in the way and attract too much attention to the physical, and away from the spiritual needs of people?

How does using the word “anger” in verse 41 change the story?
Did Jesus have reason to be angry at the intrusions in his life?
What takes away from our real interests?
How do we react to those interruptions? (with pity or anger?)
Are pity and anger connected and/or inter-related?

I Corinthians 9:24-27:
Is there a connection in this reading to the Olympics?? What is it?
How do we find ways to celebrate and encourage this kind of endurance?
Who do we know that lives this message from Paul?
Is there room for ego in this reading?
Is the “race” about winning, or just competing, or just doing our best?
How would Naaman hear these words?