Rooted; Session 2 - Inductive Bible study 2 kings 2:23-25

Icebreaker & Hook

Read aloud to group: "I want to start by having you read this story silently. Don't overthink it yet. Just read. When you're done, I want to hear what you think or feel about it."

Direct them: Open to 2 Kings 2:23-25. Give them 2-3 minutes of silence to read.

After they read, ask:

"What's your gut reaction?"

"What do you think about this passage?"

"How does it make you feel?"

Listen. Let them share honestly. Don't correct or explain yet. Affirm their discomfort.

Transition statement: "Good. That reaction tells us something important: we need to observe carefully before we judge what's happening. And that's exactly what I want to teach you tonight."

Teaching Hook

"In our series called “Rooted”, I want to set you guys up to study the Bible by yourselves. Not dependent on what I tell you it means, or what your youth pastor says, or what some commentary says. Just you and the Scripture.

The most basic, yet effective method is called the inductive Bible method. Tonight we're going to learn it, and then test it on this passage that just made you uncomfortable."

MINI-LESSON: The Three-Step Method (10 minutes)

Display/Write these clearly:

OBSERVATION = "What does the text say?"

Read slowly

Notice: who, what, when, where, how

Circle repeated words

Mark transitions

Ask yourself: What details did the author include? Why those details?

what does the rest of the Bible say about this passage or similar situations

INTERPRETATION = "What does it mean?"

Why did the author add this story?

Why did the author put this story here (in this location in the narrative)?

How does the context around it help us understand it?

What does the rest of Scripture say about similar situations?

APPLICATION = "How does it change me?"

What does this reveal about God?

What does this reveal about how God wants us to respond to His Word?

Facilitator Tip:

Say it this way: "Think of it like detective work. First, you gather facts (observation). Then you analyze what those facts mean in context (interpretation). Then you ask: what does this mean for my life (application)? Tonight, we're going to do all three with this story."

OBSERVATION: Small Group Work (15 minutes)

"Now we're going to put this framework to the test. I'm breaking you into four groups. Each group is getting one set of observation questions. Your job is simple: just answer what the text says. Don't explain why yet. Just the facts. You're gathering information."

Assign groups and hand out questions below.

GROUP 1: The Setup (vv. 1-18)

What just happened before this story?

Look at vv. 1-18. What's the big event?

Expected answer: Elijah went up (ascended) in a chariot of fire. One of the most epic scenes in the Bible.

Who is Elisha, and what did he just receive from Elijah? Why is that important?

Expected answers:

Elisha is a student/disciple of Elijah

He received Elijah's mantle (a sign of authority)

Like a signet ring or a robe passed from father to son—it signals succession and power

He also received a double portion of Elijah's spirit (v. 9)

What was Elisha's first act as Elijah's successor? (vv. 19-22)

Expected answer: He healed the water of a city (Jericho). The people were suffering, and he fixed it.

GROUP 2: The Incident (vv. 23-25)

Who mocks Elisha? Where? When? (v. 23)

Expected answer: Boys from Bethel mocked him

What exactly do they say to him? Write it down word-for-word.

Expected answer (from ESV):

"Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!"

What does Elisha do in response? (v. 24)

Expected answer: He turned around, looked at them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord

Facilitator note: Emphasize "in the name of the Lord"—this is important for interpretation later.

What happens? (vv. 24-25)

Expected answer: Two she-bears came out of the woods and mauled 42 of the boys

GROUP 3: The Contrast (vv. 19-22 vs. vv. 23-25)

Compare the Jericho story (vv. 19-22) with the Bethel story (vv. 23-25). Fill in this chart:

Jericho (vv. 19-22)

Initial Situation

Water is bad, people are dying/barren

People's Response

They approach Elisha and ask for help

Elisha's Action

Gets a new bowl, throws salt in water, speaks blessing

Result

Water is healed, death and bereavement stop

Bethel (vv. 23-25)

Initial Situation

Boys come out and mock

People's Response

They taunt and mock him

Elisha's Action

Looks at them, curses them in the Lord's name

Result

Bears attack, 42 boys are mauled

How do the people respond differently in each city?

Expected answer: Jericho = obedience/respect. Bethel = mockery/contempt.

What are the results of each response?

Expected answer: Jericho = blessing (healing). Bethel = curse (judgment).

GROUP 4: Elisha's Pattern (vv. 1-25)

What two places does Elisha visit?

Expected answer: Jericho and Bethel

What do you know about Bethel from other parts of Scripture?

Hint: Flip to 1 Kings 12:26-33. What's happening there?

Read 1 Kings 12:26-33 and look for:

What did Jeroboam (a king) do?

Expected answer: He made two golden calves and set one in Bethel as a place of worship

What does this tell us about Bethel?

Expected answer: It's a place of idolatry—false worship, turning away from God

REPORT & OBSERVE TOGETHER (8 minutes)

Process:

Call on each group, one at a time. Give them 1-2 minutes max per group.

Write their observations on a board/flip chart as they share.

What should be on the board by the end:

Elijah went up (ascended) in a chariot of fire Elisha received his mantle (sign of authority) and a double portion of Elijah's spirit Elisha's first act: healed Jericho's water (people obeyed, blessing resulted) Elisha's next: encountered mockers from Bethel (they mocked, bears attacked) Bethel is linked to idolatry (golden calves, false worship—1 Kings 12)

Key Transition Question (Critical):

After all observations are listed, what do you notice about all these observation?

"Notice something: Elisha did similar kinds of work in both cities—he had power to affect things. But why are the results so different? In Jericho, the people approached him and asked for help, and they got blessing. In Bethel, people mocked him, and they faced judgment. That's our interpretation question: Let's dig in and figure out why."

INTERPRETATION: Understanding Context (12 minutes)

Setup (1 minute):

"Now that we've observed the facts, we need to interpret them. We need to understand: what does this mean? Why did the author put these two stories back-to-back? What's the bigger picture?"

Guide students through these questions:

Question 1: Why is the geography significant?

Ask: "Why did the author include both the Jericho blessing and the Bethel curse in the same chapter? What's the contrast teaching us?"

Facilitator direction:

from our observations

Let them think about this.

If they struggle, prompt: "What does Jericho represent? What does Bethel represent?"

Expected answer: Obedience leads to blessing. Contempt leads to curse. The author is showing a pattern.

Question 2: What does Scripture say about respecting God's messengers?

Say: "Let's see what the rest of the Bible says about this. for the best tool to interpret scripture is scripture its self. I want you to look up these passages and tell me what you find:"

Passage 1: 1 Samuel 15:23

“23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.””

Direct students to read it.

Ask: "What does this say about despising the word of the Lord?"

Expected answer: Despising God's Word is compared to witchcraft and idolatry—it's serious.

Passage 2: 2 Kings 1:9–14

“9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty men with his fifty. He went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “O man of God, the king says, ‘Come down.’ ” 10 But Elijah answered the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 11 Again the king sent to him another captain of fifty men with his fifty. And he answered and said to him, “O man of God, this is the king’s order, ‘Come down quickly!’ ” 12 But Elijah answered them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 13 Again the king sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up and came and fell on his knees before Elijah and entreated him, “O man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty servants of yours, be precious in your sight. 14 Behold, fire came down from heaven and consumed the two former captains of fifty men with their fifties, but now let my life be precious in your sight.””

Direct students to read it.

Ask: "What's happening here? How does the king treat Elijah, and what happens?"

Expected answer: The king sends soldiers to capture Elijah. Elijah calls fire from heaven on them. This shows Elijah's authority is backed by God's power.

Passage 3: Proverbs 13:13

“13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.”

Direct students to read it.

Ask: "What does this say about despising a messenger?"

Expected answer: Whoever despises a messenger will come to ruin, but whoever honors the message will be rewarded.

Synthesis prompt: "So what's the pattern? When people respect God's messengers and God's Word, what happens? When they despise it, what happens?"

Expected answer: Respect = reward/blessing. Despise = ruin/curse.

Question 3: What are "covenant curses"?

Say: "This next part is important. In the Old Testament, God made a covenant—a contract—with Israel. If they obeyed, they'd be blessed. If they disobeyed, they'd be cursed. Let me show you what those curses looked like."

Read Leviticus 26:14-22 aloud. Then ask:

Leviticus 26:14–22 ESV

14 “But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, 15 if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. 17 I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you. 18 And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins, 19 and I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit. 21 “Then if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins. 22 And I will let loose the wild beasts against you, which shall bereave you of your children and destroy your livestock and make you few in number, so that your roads shall be deserted.

"Look at verse 22 specifically. What does it say God will send as a curse?"

Expected answer: Wild animals that will take away your children.

Now ask the key question: "Does the bear attack in 2 Kings 2:24 sound like what Leviticus 26:22 describes?"

Expected answer: Yes—it's wild animals attacking people.

Follow-up: "Why would Elisha's curse invoke this? What's he really saying?"

Expected answer: He's not just angry. He's announcing that those who despise God's Word will face the covenant curses that God promised.

Question 4: What does it mean to curse "in the name of the Lord"?

Say: "Notice in 2 Kings 2:24, it says Elisha cursed them 'in the name of the Lord.' What does that mean? Is Elisha acting on his own anger, or is something bigger happening?"

Read Deuteronomy 18:18-22

Deuteronomy 18:18–22 ESV

18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

Direct students to read it.

Ask: "What does it mean for a prophet to speak 'in the name of the Lord'? Whose words are being spoken?"

Expected answer: A true prophet speaks for God. The prophet is God's messenger. The words are God's words, not the prophet's own.

Connect it back: "So when Elisha curses 'in the name of the Lord,' he's not losing his temper. He's pronouncing a judgment from God. He's acting as God's messenger, announcing consequences for despising God's Word."

Synthesis Statement (Read this aloud):\

can somone compress what what we have learnd so far?

"Here's what we're discovering: Elisha isn't a bald guy losing his temper over an insult. He's a prophet of the Lord who has just received Elijah's authority. When he curses in God's name, he's announcing that those who despise God's Word will experience the consequences—just like the covenant promises in Leviticus. The Jericho story shows blessing for obedience. The Bethel story shows curse for contempt. The author is showing us that how we respond to God's Word has real consequences."

APPLICATION: What This Means for Us (8 minutes)

Tie Back to Session 1:

Say: "Remember Session 1? We talked about why we study the Bible. We said Scripture is:

Sufficient—it's enough to equip us

Authoritative—it has power to transform

Christ-centered—it points us to Jesus

Our lens—it's how we see the world

Clear—it gives us discernment

This passage in 2 Kings shows us why those things matter."

Discussion Questions (Ask these and let them wrestle):

Question 1: "What does this story teach us about how seriously God takes His Word and His messengers?"

Listen for: Obedience matters. Disrespect has consequences. God's Word isn't optional.

Facilitator note: If they're struggling, prompt: "Look at the two stories. What's the difference in outcome? Why?"

blessing or cursing is in the word of God

Question 2: "The people of Jericho obeyed Elisha even though his instruction seemed weird (throw salt in water). The people of Bethel mocked him. What's the application for us when we encounter Scripture that seems confusing or countercultural?"

Listen for: We should obey Scripture even when it doesn't make sense. We shouldn't mock or dismiss God's Word when it challenges us.

Facilitator note: This connects to real life. Give an example if needed: "Maybe Scripture says to forgive someone, but it doesn't feel fair. Do we obey like Jericho, or mock like Bethel?"

Question 3: "In Session 1, we talked about Scripture being our 'lens' for understanding the world. This passage shows the cost of rejecting that lens. What does that mean for how we approach the Bible?"

Listen for: We need to take Scripture seriously. Dismissing it as irrelevant or outdated has real spiritual cost.

CLOSING CHALLENGE (2 minutes)

Say: "This week, I want you to practice what we did tonight. Pick a short passage—3 to 5 verses. Any passage you want. Then spend about 10 minutes working through it using this method:

1. Observe: What does it say? Circle repeated words. Note the setting. Who's speaking? What happens?

2. Interpret: Look at what comes before and after. Check a cross-reference if something confuses you. Ask: Why did the author include this? What's the context?

3. Apply: What's God saying? How does it change me? What does this reveal about Him?

Come back next week ready to share what you discovered. You're learning to read Scripture like a detective—not depending on what anyone tells you it means, but discovering it yourself.

Sound good?"