2. The Shunammite Woman: A Great Woman Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) –She chose to reach out to the prophet when the “rest of the nation” was following after idolatry.  Cared for the prophet  Recognized him as “a holy man of God” (v. 9, 16, 22)  Saw needs and wanted to fulfill them  Knew God was still on the throne –Understood the place of the prophet (as the authority & mouthpiece of God) and wanted to do all she could to help truth, further truth and hold only to the truth –God was the focus (& measure) of all that she did. Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) –She chose to reach out to the prophet when the “rest of the nation” was following after idolatry.  Cared for the prophet  Recognized him as “a holy man of God” (v. 9, 16, 22)  Saw needs and wanted to fulfill them  Knew God was still on the throne –Understood the place of the prophet (as the authority & mouthpiece of God) and wanted to do all she could to help truth, further truth and hold only to the truth –God was the focus (& measure) of all that she did.

3. The Shunammite Woman: A Great Woman Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) –She persuaded/constrained him to eat –He stopped to eat as often as he passed by –Hospitality is just as much needed today:  Rom. 12:13; 1 Pet. 4:9; Heb. 13:2; 3 Jn. 5-8; Tit. 1:8  Promotes increased love among brethren  Demonstrates genuine interest in people  Tool for evangelism  Become better acquainted with people  Helps to focus on others rather than self Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) –She persuaded/constrained him to eat –He stopped to eat as often as he passed by –Hospitality is just as much needed today:  Rom. 12:13; 1 Pet. 4:9; Heb. 13:2; 3 Jn. 5-8; Tit. 1:8  Promotes increased love among brethren  Demonstrates genuine interest in people  Tool for evangelism  Become better acquainted with people  Helps to focus on others rather than self

4. The Shunammite Woman: A Great Woman Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) Generous (2 Kings 4:9-11) –She persuaded her husband to add a room to their house so this Man of God would have a convenient place to stay on this road he frequently traveled. –She recognized she was but a steward of the things they had in their possession from God (cf. 1 Co. 4:2). –Generosity is not determined by the amount one possesses (not a big house with extra rooms but had servants, 4:19, 22) but by the way he uses what he does possess (cf. 2 Cor. 8:2, 12). Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) Generous (2 Kings 4:9-11) –She persuaded her husband to add a room to their house so this Man of God would have a convenient place to stay on this road he frequently traveled. –She recognized she was but a steward of the things they had in their possession from God (cf. 1 Co. 4:2). –Generosity is not determined by the amount one possesses (not a big house with extra rooms but had servants, 4:19, 22) but by the way he uses what he does possess (cf. 2 Cor. 8:2, 12).

5. The Shunammite Woman: A Great Woman Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) Generous (2 Kings 4:9-11) Self-starter (2 Kings 4:9-10) –No one told her to do what she did. She saw an opportunity to be of service to the man of God, and she acted without being asked. –She enlisted the help of her husband to help her do what she wanted done. –What is there that we can & should be doing in the kingdom of God but are waiting to be asked? Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) Generous (2 Kings 4:9-11) Self-starter (2 Kings 4:9-10) –No one told her to do what she did. She saw an opportunity to be of service to the man of God, and she acted without being asked. –She enlisted the help of her husband to help her do what she wanted done. –What is there that we can & should be doing in the kingdom of God but are waiting to be asked?

6. The Shunammite Woman: A Great Woman Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) Generous (2 Kings 4:9-11) Self-starter (2 Kings 4:9-10) Practical (2 Kings 4:10) –She wanted to make a “little chamber” with only the basic necessities that would be practical and helpful (not an elaborate suite). –Her purpose was to be helpful (not put on a show). –We don’t have to be lavish in helping others. We can be simple & ordinary and still be meaningful. Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) Generous (2 Kings 4:9-11) Self-starter (2 Kings 4:9-10) Practical (2 Kings 4:10) –She wanted to make a “little chamber” with only the basic necessities that would be practical and helpful (not an elaborate suite). –Her purpose was to be helpful (not put on a show). –We don’t have to be lavish in helping others. We can be simple & ordinary and still be meaningful.

7. The Shunammite Woman: A Great Woman Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) Generous (2 Kings 4:9-11) Self-starter (2 Kings 4:9-10) Practical (2 Kings 4:10) Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) Generous (2 Kings 4:9-11) Self-starter (2 Kings 4:9-10) Practical (2 Kings 4:10) Content & trusted in God (2 Kings 4:12-13)

8. The Shunammite Woman: A Great Woman Content & trusted in God (2 Kings 4:12-13) –Elisha wanted to reward her for her kindnesses –She was not interested in the king, the captain of the army or anything they had to offer (as the rest of the nation was and would have been) –She recognized that life is not about “getting what you can get”—it’s about listening to the prophets and living & faithfully serving God (therefore, she had what she wanted) –This woman was different, set apart. Content & trusted in God (2 Kings 4:12-13) –Elisha wanted to reward her for her kindnesses –She was not interested in the king, the captain of the army or anything they had to offer (as the rest of the nation was and would have been) –She recognized that life is not about “getting what you can get”—it’s about listening to the prophets and living & faithfully serving God (therefore, she had what she wanted) –This woman was different, set apart.

9. The Shunammite Woman: A Great Woman Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) Generous (2 Kings 4:9-11) Self-starter (2 Kings 4:9-10) Practical (2 Kings 4:10) Content & trusted in God (2 Kings 4:12-13) Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) Generous (2 Kings 4:9-11) Self-starter (2 Kings 4:9-10) Practical (2 Kings 4:10) Content & trusted in God (2 Kings 4:12-13) Tremendous faith (2 Kings 4:18-36)

10. The Shunammite Woman: A Great Woman Tremendous faith (2 Kings 4:18-36) –When her son died:  She put her son in the prophet’s room (not his own)  She asked her husband that she might go and find the prophet of God  She went in person to find the prophet of God (not the king or a physician or anyone else)  She told the driver to drive as fast as he could  She said and believed, “It is well.”  She bypassed the servant to go straight to the prophet of God  She would not leave the prophet of God’s side  She and the prophet prayed to the Lord Tremendous faith (2 Kings 4:18-36) –When her son died:  She put her son in the prophet’s room (not his own)  She asked her husband that she might go and find the prophet of God  She went in person to find the prophet of God (not the king or a physician or anyone else)  She told the driver to drive as fast as he could  She said and believed, “It is well.”  She bypassed the servant to go straight to the prophet of God  She would not leave the prophet of God’s side  She and the prophet prayed to the Lord

11. The Shunammite Woman: A Great Woman Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) Generous (2 Kings 4:9-11) Self-starter (2 Kings 4:9-10) Practical (2 Kings 4:10) Content & trusted in God (2 Kings 4:12-13) Tremendous faith (2 Kings 4:18-36) Appreciative (2 Kings 4:37) –She fell down at the prophet’s feet –She felt & acknowledged sincere gratitude Devoted to truth (2 Kings 4:8-37) Hospitable (2 Kings 4:8) Generous (2 Kings 4:9-11) Self-starter (2 Kings 4:9-10) Practical (2 Kings 4:10) Content & trusted in God (2 Kings 4:12-13) Tremendous faith (2 Kings 4:18-36) Appreciative (2 Kings 4:37) –She fell down at the prophet’s feet –She felt & acknowledged sincere gratitude