Youth Group Activity for Naaman's Healing
Bible Study Questions for Story of Servant Girl and Syrian Commander
This story is appropriate for youth group Bible study because it demonstrates continued faith in God after a major life changing event. The girl’s faith in God’s healing power does not change, even after she is captured and made a slave. She still has the ability to demonstrate unconditional love.
Bible Story – Naaman’s Healing (2 Kings 5)
This is the story of Naaman, who is the commander of the Syrian army. He is well-respected as a soldier, but he has leprosy. On a raid of Israel, the Syrian army captures a girl and she becomes a servant to Naaman’s wife. The girl says that if Naaman goes to the prophet in Samaria, he will be cured of his leprosy.
Questions for Youth Group Study of Naaman’s Healing (2 Kings 5)
The following questions can be used in a general discussion of the story. The whole group can work together or it can be divided into smaller groups, comparing their views in the larger group when everyone is finished.
Even though there is much more to this story than the part about the servant girl’s actions, the focus of the discussion is on her. In this case the questions are intended for youth, and it is more relevant for them to discuss the role of the young girl.
It is also important for children and youth to focus on one aspect of a story at a time. They can become overwhelmed when too many ideas or aspects of a story are presented together.
- Are army raids and slavery thought of the same way today as they were at the time of this story?
- How might the girl feel about being taken into slavery?
- What might the girl’s life have been like before she was captured?
- What might it have been like to be the servant of Naaman’s wife?
- What might a day in the life of the girl be like as a servant?
- How does the girl show her faith in God?
- Why does the girl tell Naaman’s wife that he should go to the prophet in Samaria to be cured of his leprosy?
- What do the girl’s actions tell you about Naaman and his wife?
- Why does Naaman want to do as the girl says?
- What actions in the world today can demonstrate the same kind of unconditional love that the girl shows?
- What things in today’s society can make an individual a slave?
- What might Jesus have to say about the actions of the girl toward Naaman and his wife?
Guidelines for Youth Group Discussion Activity
There are some general guidelines that are helpful to present to the groups before they start a discussion:
- The group is a safe place – all answers and members are treated with respect.
- If members disagree, they are to do so in a polite and respectful manner, without getting personal.
- Time should be allotted for each question. When all members have had a chance to speak, the group moves on.
- Only one member speaks at a time. Every member is given the opportunity to speak before the group moves on.
- Members choose whether or not to share details of their personal lives. No member is to be pressured to share personal information.
The story of Naaman’s healing provides a good opportunity for a youth group to engage in a discussion activity that will help them to relate their own lives to the Bible.
For other articles related to youth Bible study see Children of the Bible for Youth Group Activities, Devotion on Negative Peer Pressure and Readings and Activities for Advent and Christmas.
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