BUILDING A NEW CENTER
Key verse: 1,2
NIV
An Axhead Floats
6 The company(A) of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.”
And he said, “Go.”
3 Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?”
“I will,” Elisha replied. 4 And he went with them.
They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. 5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!”
6 The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw(B) it there, and made the iron float. 7 “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it.
Cross references
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
The Axe Head Recovered
6 Now (A)the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.” 3 Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” 4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” 6 Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, (B)he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. 7 And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it.
Read full chapterCross references
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Let's build a bigger meeting place (1-4)
Elisha was a disciple-maker. A company of young prophets studied with him, and their number was increasing. Their meeting place was small, so the intern prophets decided to build a bigger place to live and study. Elisha gave them permission and went with them to the Jordan River to cut logs. Elisha must have been very happy about their sense of responsibility.
2. The axhead floats (5-7)
While they were cutting trees, an accident happened. The iron axhead that one man was using flew off and fell in the river and sank. The man was distressed because he had borrowed the ax. Elisha was pleased with the man's sense of responsibility. No problem was too small for him. He solved the problem with the power God had given him.
Prayer: Lord, help us to make a good environment for young disciples to study your word and grow. Give us each a sense of responsibility.
One Word: Let's build a bigger place
