Naaman the Leper
Embedded Files
Introduction
Introduction
Background Scripture
Background Scripture
2 Kings 5
Story Summary
Story Summary
Last week, we learned about many miracles Elisha performed as a prophet in Israel. This lesson is about another one of those miracles.
There was a man named Naaman, who was an important army commander for Aram (part of the Syrian kingdom). He was a brave soldier, but he had a skin disease. He was hopeless to have this condition healed. But lucky for him, one of his wife's servants was an Israelite. She knew of Elisha and the miracles he performed. She told Naaman's wife about Elisha and she encouraged Naaman to go to him to get healed.
After getting approval from the king of Aram, Naaman went to the king of Israel with a whole bunch of money and clothing, asking to be healed. At first, the king of Israel was upset because he didn't have the power to heal people. Why would the king of Aram send someone to him to be healed? He probably thought it was a trap. But Elisha put him at rest and told the king of Israel to send Naaman his way.
Naaman arrived at Elisha's house, but Elisha sent a messenger outside with the simple instructions on how to be healed: "Go. Wash yourself in the Jordan River seven times. Then your skin will be healed." (2 Kings 5:10) Naaman was upset! Here's why:
He wanted personal service from Elisha. Apparently the person healing him was more important than the fact that he got healed.
He was upset Elisha wanted to use the Jordan River and not a river from Damascus, near his home country. He was willing to see a foreign prophet, but not willing to wash in a foreign river?
According to Naaman's servants, he was also upset that it was so simple. They told him that if Elisha had given him some really complicated or hard thing to do, he would have surely done it (or at least tried!)
Naaman's servants convinced him to go ahead and follow Elisha's advice. So he went to the Jordan River, dipped himself in it 7 times, and sure enough - he was healed! Naaman agreed that the God of Elisha was the one true God and promised to only serve him. Naaman tried to pay Elisha, but Elisha refused the gifts.
But remember Gehazi from the last lesson? He was the one who helped Elisha heal the Shunnamite woman. Well, he was very interested in getting hold of the money that Naaman brought to pay Elisha. He snuck away from Elisha and told Naaman that Elisha needed the money for some new prophets that just came to town. Naaman gave him the money. When Gehazi got back, Elisha asked where he went. "Ummm, nowhere?" Gehazi answered. He thought he had tricked Elisha. But God had revealed it to Elisha that Gehazi left and took the money. So Gehazi ended up with the skin disease Naaman had just been cured of!
Activities
Activities
Activity 1 "Naaman is healed craft"
Activity 1 "Naaman is healed craft"
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Cups
Markers
Popsicle sticks
Paper for paper men
Scissors
Get the details by clicking here!
Directions
Give each child a cup and have them color it blue and write "Naaman obeyed and was healed" on it.
Give each child a popsicle stick and a piece of computer paper.
They can cut out two "people" figures as seen in the picture above and decorate one side as "sick"with a sad face and the other side as "healed" with a smile.
They can then act out the story with their stick figures and cups!
Activity 2 "Naaman was healed game"
Activity 2 "Naaman was healed game"
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Two Buckets
Two dolls
Get the details by clicking here!
Directions:
Divide the kids into two teams.
Place the buckets side by side on one end of the room and the two dolls side by side on the other end of the room.
When you say to, one person from each team will run down with the doll, dip the doll in the bucket 7 times, run the doll back to their team yelling "Naaman is healed!"
They will pass the doll to the next person on their team and that child will do the same thing. This will continue until everyone has had a chance to play.
Activity 3 "Books of the Bible craft"
Activity 3 "Books of the Bible craft"
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Construction paper
Markers
Scissors
Glue
Get the details by clicking here!
Directions
Let the kids pick out a piece of construction paper for their background (just like the blue piece in the background of the picture).
Next, have them cut "books" (just like the red, purpler, yellow, and green books in the picture above) and label them the first 12 books of the Bible. We are doing those because of that is how much of the Bible we have covered so far. They are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings.
Let them glue each one down IN ORDER so that they can learn about the books of the Bible. Ask them if they remember any stories from each book of the Bible... if they need help just click through the website pages and remind them of a few in each book.
Other Fun Games
Other Fun Games
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart:
Varies depending on the game
Get the details by clicking here!
Musical Chairs
Grab the black chairs out of the closet (so that they are lighter to move around) and have the kids play musical chairs!
David, David, Goliath
This is Duck, Duck, Goose.... instead use the words "David, David, Goliath" for the game.
Cup stack races
Keep a stack of cheap plastic cups in your bag to pull out for a quick game. Two children can race each other in making the highest or biggest pyramid of upside-down cups in one minute.
Activity 5 "Dance it out"
Activity 5 "Dance it out"
Time: 10-20 minutes
Materials needed from the cart (varies based on the game you choose):
christian just dance videos below
If they don't want to play the Christian Just Dance game they can play follow the leader.
Wrap It Up!
Wrap It Up!
**Snacks can be given at this time, if needed**
**Snacks can be given at this time, if needed**
-Come together and sit in a circle to talk about what they learned today. Ask them the same questions that you asked at the beginning of the day. How are their answers different now that they know more? Talk about what they can go home and tell their family. This is also a time they can update their journals (big kids only) or color the pictures (littles).
-Come together and sit in a circle to talk about what they learned today. Ask them the same questions that you asked at the beginning of the day. How are their answers different now that they know more? Talk about what they can go home and tell their family. This is also a time they can update their journals (big kids only) or color the pictures (littles).
-Ask if anyone has a prayer request/praise report. Pray over requests.
-Ask if anyone has a prayer request/praise report. Pray over requests.
-Worship time- Have the kids go find a spot to themselves and have some time with God (play the song below for around 3/5 minutes).
-Worship time- Have the kids go find a spot to themselves and have some time with God (play the song below for around 3/5 minutes).
Worship
Worship
Energy Release!
Energy Release!
Last Minute Filler Ideas
Last Minute Filler Ideas
-Have them gather around the table and draw a picture or write a letter to their families about what they learned today.
-Play a game of some sort. (If you have the hula hoops, have them join hands in a circle and pass the hula hoop around the circle without breaking their hands)
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