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World Adventurer Day Sermons

World Adventurer Day 2025, themed 'Travel with Faith', is celebrated on May 17, 2025, by the Youth Ministries Department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The event emphasizes the importance of faith in guiding children and encourages community service and spiritual growth among Adventurers. The program includes various activities such as sermons, performances, and service projects to inspire participants to embrace their faith and support others.

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Ilina Miller
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100% found this document useful (11 votes)
30K views22 pages

World Adventurer Day Sermons

World Adventurer Day 2025, themed 'Travel with Faith', is celebrated on May 17, 2025, by the Youth Ministries Department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The event emphasizes the importance of faith in guiding children and encourages community service and spiritual growth among Adventurers. The program includes various activities such as sermons, performances, and service projects to inspire participants to embrace their faith and support others.

Uploaded by

Ilina Miller
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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World Adventurer Day 2025

Theme: Travel with Faith

May 17, 2025

gcyouthministries.org
These World Adventurer's Day 2025 sermons are published by the Youth Ministries Department,

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists®. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2025, by the

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Youth Ministries Department. It is available for

free download at our website, gcyouthministries.org

Permission to photocopy these World Adventurer's Day 2025 sermons, granted for local use in

churches, youth groups, and other Christian educational activities.

Special permission is not necessary. However, the contents of this World Adventurer's Day 2025

sermons may not be reproduced in any other form without written permission from the publisher.

All rights reserved.

New International Version (NIV)

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®,

NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.TM Used by permission of

Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan. com The “NIV” and “New

International Version” are trademarks.

Writer:

Editor: Busi Khumalo

Editorial Assistant: Ivonne Omaña

Translator: Ivonne Omaña- OmanaIv@gc.adventist.org

Photos by:

Cover & Interior Designer: HadGraphic Inc. | Tel: 718-926-5468 | hadgraphic@gmail.com


Table of content

 Greetings
 About the Authors
 Purpose of World Adventurer's Day
 Program Suggestions for Adventurer's Day
 Helping Our World
 Pledge & Law
 Making Your Adventurer's Day More Visible
 Sermons

Greetings
Hello, Adventurers and Leaders. Happy Adventurer Day!

When some of us were your age, there was no Adventurer Day because there wasn't an
Adventurer Club. We belonged to the Pathfinder Club. Only in the late 80s was the Adventurer
Club established at the General Conference. This ministry is a blessing to children your age
because the Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in training and equipping you with resources
that prepare you to be better citizens in this world and to tell others about the second coming of
Jesus.

The Adventurer Day is an annual program that reminds us that children are important to God and
the church. "Travel with Faith" is the theme for this year. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as " …
confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (NIV).

Faith is like a GPS. The GPS helps us to know the direction in which we are going. Faith in God
is the only means of knowing where we are going in our Christian journey. God is not happy
when we doubt Him and depend on ourselves. Hebrews 11:6 also says, "And without faith it is
impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that
he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (NIV).

The Bible gives us examples of people who had faith in God. I will not name them all, but let me
mention the following: Abraham, Samuel, and Naaman. Abraham is known as the father of faith.
He left his people and nation at God's command to go to an unknown place. Abraham believed
God when he told him and Sarah they would have a child in their old age. He obeyed God when
instructed to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. God called Samuel at a tender age to serve Him. 1
Samuel 3 tells how God called Samuel to be a prophet. Initially, he did not recognize God's voice
when He called him three times. But Priest Eli advised him to respond positively to God's voice
when He calls him again. Samuel faithfully served God and the people of Israel, trusting God's
guidance. Naaman had leprosy. By faith, Naaman believed the slave girl when he traveled to a
foreign land and dipped himself in the Jordan River to receive healing.

This sermon challenges us to have faith in God. Faith in God means believing that the Bible is a
guidebook for all who call themselves Christians. Faith reminds us that Jesus's death means
salvation to all people. Faith helps us embrace salvation and renew our commitment to Jesus
daily. Faith in God makes us believe and receive all His promises. Faith makes us concerned
about the well-being of other people by sharing with them what we have, including God's Word.
By faith, we should believe that we will be among those who will go to heaven when Jesus
comes back to take His children.

May God bless you!


About the Author’s

Pr. Petronio M. Genebago


Petronio M. Genebago, MPH, MMin, PhD, has completed his PhD in Old Testament from
AIIAS Seminary. He has served as an instructor at the College of Theology of the Adventist
University of the Philippines, a pastor, communication, and youth director in the Central Luzon
Conference and North Philippine Union Conference. As of now, he is serving as the youth
servant (director) of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division.

Pr. Kevin Johns

Kevin Johns is the Associate Youth Ministries Director for the Trans-European Division of the
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, leading Pathfinder and Teens Ministries.
Previously, he served as Youth Ministries Director for the British Union Conference and
Pathfinder and Prison Ministries Director for the South England Conference.

A graduate of Andrews University, Kevin began his ministry in St. Lucia before returning to the
UK in 2003, serving in various leadership roles. He is married to Margaret, a retired podiatrist,
and they have two sons, Dwight and Aaron, and a daughter-in-law, Rachel. Kevin is passionate
about mentoring youth in faith and service.

Nick Kross D Min

Dr Nick Kross is the South Pacific Division Youth Liaison. He received his
D Min from Fuller Theological Seminary. In ministry for 38 years with the last 30 years in youth
ministry. He is the husband of Andrea Kross, and has three children, Nicholas, Caitlin, and
Joshua who are all engaged in Pastoral Ministry. Nick’s hobbies include surfing, mountain
biking, and living a missional life with Christ and seeing souls saved. Nick is also the originator
of the World Changer Bible Project and has distributed more than 1 million bibles throughout the
South Pacific Division.
Purpose of World Adventurer Day

World Adventurer Day is a joyful celebration that showcases how the Adventurer's Club makes a
positive difference in the lives of children and their families. It’s a day to highlight the club’s
role in nurturing spiritual growth, building strong values, and providing meaningful emotional
support for young adventurers and their loved ones.

This special day invites everyone—kids and adults alike—to come together, celebrate, and
reflect on how we can guide and inspire the next generation to grow closer to God.

This year’s theme, “Travel with Faith,” encourages us all to step forward with trust and hope,
embracing the journey of life while holding on to God’s guidance. Let’s explore this adventure
together!
Suggestion for the Adventurer Day Program
Welcome and Introduction
Kick off the program with a warm welcome, emphasizing the importance of Adventurer
Day and introducing this year’s inspiring theme, “Travel with Faith.”

Countdown Video
Set the tone with an exciting countdown video to build anticipation and energy.

Entrance Processional
Begin the event with a formal processional accompanied by music and flags, creating a
celebratory atmosphere. (Organize the participating Adventurers and leaders for the entrance parade,
ensuring everyone is ready to shine at least 15 min before the entrance.)

Invocation
Invite God’s presence and blessing through a heartfelt opening prayer.

Adventurer Song
Unite in spirit with a performance of the Adventurer Song, sung with enthusiasm and joy.

Pledge and Law


Recite the Adventurer Pledge and Law as a reminder of the values and principles guiding
the ministry.

Welcome and Announcements


Extend a warm welcome and provide a brief overview of the day’s schedule and possible
activities.

Greeting Video
Share a special video message from The General Conference to inspire and encourage
everyone.

Opening Song
Raise hearts in worship with a vibrant and uplifting song to set the tone for the program.

Prayer
Offer a prayer of gratitude and guidance, dedicating the day to God’s purpose.

Special Performance (Optional)


Enjoy a special presentation, such as a musical number, offered by a club or church
member to highlight talents and faith.

Scripture Reading
Pause for reflection with a meaningful Bible reading that aligns with the spiritual journey
theme and sermons.
Tithe and Offering
Collect offerings to support the Club Ministry, emphasizing the importance of giving
back.

Additional Special Performance (Optional)


Delight in another special presentation, such as a musical piece, to enhance the program.

Sermon
Deliver an inspiring message, chosen from options provided by our World Adventurer
Day Booklet or another relevant speaker, to encourage and uplift.

Closing Song
End the program on a high note with a powerful closing song to celebrate the day.

Closing Prayer
Conclude with a final prayer, thanking God for His blessings and seeking His continued
guidance.

Lunch and Fellowship (Optional)


Gather for a time of fellowship over lunch, fostering connections and sharing the joy of
the day.
Helping Our World
Adventurers can make a positive difference in their community while embracing the
theme “Travel with Faith.” Just like every journey requires steps, these simple acts of service
show how even the youngest Adventurers (ages 4-9) can take small steps of faith to help those
around them.
1. Clean-Up Activities:
 Neighborhood Clean-Up: Take a Faithful Step to care for God’s creation by picking up
litter in parks or on sidewalks (with adult supervision). Encourage Adventurers to think
of it as keeping their community clean for everyone’s journey.
 Recycling Helpers: Remind them that recycling is like helping the earth on its journey to
stay healthy.
2. Caring for the Environment:
 Planting Trees or Flowers: Teach Adventurers to plant seeds of faith—literally! Each
seed they plant represents a step toward a better, greener world.
 Watering Plants: Caring for plants teaches faithfulness in nurturing and patience as they
grow, just like our faith does.
3. Caring for Others:
 Making Cards: Encourage Adventurers to share hope and faith by creating cards with
uplifting messages for those who need encouragement on their life journey, like hospital
patients or the elderly.
 Delivering Care Packs: Frame it as sharing supplies for someone’s journey, such as
food, toiletries, or warm socks for those in need.
4. Supporting Local Programs:
 Food Drives: Adventurers can “Travel with Faith” by gathering food to help others who
are facing difficult paths. Explain that their generosity is helping make someone’s
journey easier.
 Clothing Donations: Encourage them to share clothes or toys they no longer need,
helping others on their journey to a brighter future.
5. Helping Neighbors:
 Helping Elderly Neighbors: Teach Adventurers that lending a hand—like carrying
groceries or sweeping porches—is a way to show faith in action, making someone else’s
journey lighter.
 Pet Sitting: Caring for animals is another way to show God’s love, supporting furry
friends on their daily “travels.”
6. Sharing Joy:
 Singing or Performing: Adventurers can bring joy to others by singing songs that
inspire faith and hope, reminding everyone to trust God on their journey.
 Storytime: Reading stories about courage and faith can uplift others and inspire them to
keep going.
7. Acts of Kindness:
 Kindness Rocks: Decorate small rocks with messages of faith, hope, and love, and place
them around the community to inspire others on their paths.
 Bake and Share: Deliver homemade treats as a reminder of God’s provision and
kindness during life’s travels.
By helping others while traveling with faith, Adventurers learn that every small act of kindness is
a step closer to becoming more like Jesus. They are not just helpers—they are fellow travelers,
sharing God’s love every step of the way.
Pledge and Law

PLEDGE

Because Jesus loves me, I will always do my best.

LAW
Jesus can help me to:
 Be obedient
 Be pure
 Be true
 Be kind
 Be respectful
 Be attentive
 Be helpful
 Be cheerful
 Be thoughtful
 Be reverente

Making Adventurer Day More Visible
To create a global impact and make Adventurer Day more visible, here are creative and accessible ideas
to celebrate and share the message of “Travel with Faith” across communities and borders:

1. Social Media Campaigns


- “Steps of FAITH” Challenge: Encourage Adventurers worldwide to post pictures or videos of their acts
of service with the hashtag #TravelWithFaith. Create a global collage or highlight reel from submissions.
- Inspirational Videos: Share short clips featuring Adventurers talking about how they “Travel with Faith”
in their daily lives or during community projects.

2. Community and Global Events


- Faith Journey Bags: Organize community service activities centered around assembling and delivering
"Faith Journey Bags." These travel-themed care packages can include essential items for those in need,
along with uplifting messages, faith-based materials, and tokens of encouragement to inspire hope on
their life journey.
- Global Unity Prayer: Set a specific time for all Adventurers worldwide to pray together, live-streamed
or shared in recordings.
- Global Service Week: Coordinate a week of community service activities under the “Travel with Faith”
theme, encouraging Adventurers to share their experiences online.

3. Partnerships with Local Leaders and Organizations


- Collaborate with Schools or Community Centers: Host an “Adventurer Experience” where kids can
learn about the program and participate in themed activities like faith-based crafts or storytelling.

4. Creative Activities
- Faith Footprint Trails: Create a public display of footprints leading to key service areas, with each
footprint showcasing an Adventurer value or Bible verse about faith.
- Faith Lantern Release: Organize a symbolic release of lanterns or balloons representing prayers for
Adventurers’ continued faith journeys.
- Adventurer Postcards: Adventurers create postcards with faith-inspired messages to send to clubs or
communities in other countries.

5. Storytelling and Testimonies


- Faith Stories Across Borders: Collect and share testimonies from Adventurers worldwide about how
they’ve lived out their faith in everyday life.

By using these ideas, Adventurer Day can inspire not just local communities but also spark a global
movement of unity, faith, and service under the banner of “Travel with Faith.”
Sermons
Sermon 1: Faithful Journeys: Lessons from Samuel
Written by Nick Kross
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for bringing us together on this special day to learn from Your Word. As we explore
Samuel’s story, open our hearts to hear Your voice, strengthen our faith, and guide us to trust in
Your plan for our lives. Bless every Adventurer here and help us walk faithfully with You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Key Text: 1 Samuel 1:11-18.
“And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s
misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to
the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” As she kept on
praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were
moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are
you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a
woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul
to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my
great anguish and grief.” Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what
you have asked of him.” She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went
her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.” (NIV)
Opening
Today we’re celebrating Global Adventurer Day. There are thousands of young boys and
girls who are worshiping in churches in more than 210 countries where we have adventurer
clubs. This Sabbath, we’re going to talk about someone very special from the Bible. His name is
Samuel, and he had an amazing life filled with faith, adventure, and trust in God. Samuel’s story
teaches us how to follow God no matter where our journey takes us. Let’s go on this journey
together and see how Samuel travelled with faith!
Samuel’s Special Beginning
A long time ago, there was a woman named Hannah. Hannah really wanted a baby, but
she couldn’t have one for a long time. She prayed and prayed to God, asking Him for a child.
One day, she went to the temple and cried out to God. She promised that if God gave her a son,
she would give him back to serve the Lord all his life.
Guess what? God heard Hannah’s prayer and gave her a baby boy! She named him
Samuel, which means “heard by God.” Isn’t that amazing? When Samuel was still a little boy,
Hannah kept her promise. She brought Samuel to the temple to live with Eli, the priest, and to
serve God.
Samuel Listens to God
Samuel grew up in the temple, learning about God and helping Eli. One night, something
incredible happened. Samuel was lying down when he heard someone calling his name:
“Samuel! Samuel!” He thought it was Eli, so he ran to him and said, “Here I am!” But Eli said,
“I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” 1 Sam 3:4-5.
This happened three times! Finally, Eli realized it was God calling Samuel. He told
Samuel to say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” 1 Sam 3:9. The next time God called,
Samuel answered, and God spoke to him. Samuel learned to listen to God’s voice and trust Him.
Boys and girls, did you know God wants to speak to us too? He may not call our names
out loud, but He speaks to us through the Bible, through prayer, and sometimes through other
people. Like Samuel, we need to listen and say, “Speak, Lord, I’m listening.”
Samuel Becomes a Leader
As Samuel grew up, he became a prophet. That’s a special person God chooses to share
His messages with others. Samuel loved God and obeyed Him, and the people respected Samuel
because they knew he followed God’s ways.
One day, the people of Israel asked Samuel for a king. They wanted to be like the other
nations around them. Samuel wasn’t sure this was a good idea, but he prayed to God. God told
Samuel to listen to the people, even though He knew a king might not always lead them well.
Samuel obeyed God and anointed Saul as the first king of Israel.
Even when Samuel didn’t understand everything, he trusted God’s plan. Sometimes in
life, we don’t know why things happen, but like Samuel, we can trust that God knows what’s
best for us.
Samuel Anoints David
Later, God told Samuel to choose a new king because Saul had disobeyed Him. God sent
Samuel to a man named Jesse, who had many sons. God told Samuel that one of Jesse’s sons
would be the next king. Jesse showed Samuel his older sons, but God said, “Don’t look at how
tall or strong they are. I look at the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7.
Finally, Jesse brought his youngest son, David, who was out taking care of sheep. David
didn’t look like a king, but God said, “This is the one” 1 Sam 16:12. Samuel anointed David with
oil, which was a special way of showing that God had chosen him to be king.
Boys and girls, this teaches us that God doesn’t look at what’s on the outside—He cares
about what’s in our hearts. No matter how young or small you are, God has a plan for you, just
like He had a plan for Samuel and David.
Lessons We Can Learn from Samuel
Samuel’s life is full of lessons for us:
1. Pray and Trust God: Just like Hannah prayed for Samuel, we can pray and trust God to
answer us in His perfect way.
2. Listen to God: Samuel learned to listen to God’s voice. We can listen to God too by
reading the Bible and praying.
3. Obey God: Samuel always obeyed God, even when it was hard. We can ask God to help
us obey Him in our lives.
4. Trust God’s Plan: Samuel didn’t always understand why things happened, but he trusted
God. We can trust that God’s plan for us is good.
How Can We Travel with Faith Like Samuel?
Samuel’s life shows us what it means to travel with faith and to be a true Adventurer.
Traveling with faith means trusting God, listening to Him, and following His path, even when we
don’t know where it will lead. Here are some ways you can travel with faith:
 Pray every day: Talk to God about your worries, hopes, and dreams.
 Read the Bible: It’s like a map for our journey with God.
 Be kind and loving: Show others God’s love through your actions.
 Trust God’s timing: Sometimes we have to wait, just like Samuel’s mom, Hannah,
waited for her prayer to be answered.
Conclusion
Adventurers, Samuel’s life is a wonderful example of what it means to walk with God and trust
Him on our journey. Just like Samuel, you can listen to God, obey Him, and trust His plans for
you. Remember, you are never too young to make a difference for God!
Closing Prayer
So, let’s pray together:
Dear God, thank You for the story of Samuel. Help us to listen to You, trust You, and follow
Your plan for our lives. Thank You for loving us and guiding us every step of the way. We love
You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Now, go out and travel with faith, just like Samuel did!
Sermon 2-Are We There Yet?
Written by Pr. Kevin Jones
Genesis 12:1-4
The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s
household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless
you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless
you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through
you.” So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was
seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. (NIV)

Prayer

Dear Jesus thank you for waking us up this morning and loving us so much. Help us to have the
desire to want to love and serve you every day. Grow in us faith that depends on you and not on
us. Help us to trust you more and more each day, I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen

Some time ago, a movie entitled ‘Are We There Yet?” came out. Really, it's about a young man
and his fiancé who had children. He planned to take them on a vacation, but instead of flying he
decided to drive. This would give him time for bonding and getting to know each other better.
The young man had this clever idea not to tell the children where they were going, he just
wanted to enjoy the trip and surprise! Surprise! Disaster after disaster plague the whole journey,
all you could hear the children saying is, “Are we there yet?” “Are we there yet?” Not knowing
where you're going can be very frustrating, even more so when you are given very little
instructions on how to get there and you are told just have faith.

There's a man in the Bible who loved God dearly, and he also loved his own country even more,
so he loved his family more than his country, and he lived a lovely life, very comfortable, full of
luxuries. One day God instructed this man to leave his own country and to follow His
instructions.

He took his wife, his servants and all his wealth and he travelled to a foreign land, not knowing
where he was going. But God knew. This man's name was Abraham. All the people around him
did not worship the true God, including his father. You can read this Joshua 24:2.

You see, God did not tell Abraham where he was going, Abraham had no clue. All he could do
was have faith in God. There was no artificial intelligence, no iPhone, no text message, no
iMessage, no GPS, no Tik Tok, nothing!

Where he was going, he wasn't sure if he would see any friends or any of his family again. He
just knew he had to trust God and he had to go. Abraham would be a foreigner, he would live in
exile, he was ever so worried, but he trusted in God.

Just imagine if God was to call you to leave home and leave all your family behind. What would
you do? You would probably say, “Oh no! No way! I can't leave. I can't leave my iPhone. I can't
leave my games. No, I can't!” But God made Abraham a promise. He would give him land. He
would give him people. He would bless him abundantly. And that made Abraham happy, made
him faithful. He also told Abraham that the whole world would be blessed by Him, all people
would be blessed by Him. When you're faithful, God will always reward you.

If you were to tell Abraham’s story, we would prefer it to go something like this:

“Abraham left his homeland, went to a country where God had promised him. The kids were
having a great time living in their tents, something they had never done before, just like
Pathfinders and Adventurers having a good time camping out. But Abraham had great
responsibility just like your leaders.

The land was fertile and perfect for grazing animals and growing crops. All manner of fruit trees
were in abundance and flowing rivers separated the land. Despite her age Sarah became fertile
and had many children who grew strong and healthy, and they too had many children, thus
Abraham saw the beginning of the promise God had made to him that his seed would be like the
sand of the earth!”

But nothing like this happened

Abraham unfortunately did not get to see the promised land. Neither did his children. A tent
became his home for 100 years. He had no place to call his own, just temporary living
arrangements in foreign lands. In fact, the Bible says, “He gave him no inheritance here, not even
enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him
would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. “ (This was before
Abraham had any descendants.) Acts 7:5 (NIV)

So how could he travel with faith in God, believing that God would keep his promise? The
answer is found in Hebrews 11:10 “For he was looking forward to the city with
foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (NIV)

We tend to want to see the answers to our faithfulness straight away but that’s not how God
works! Sometimes it can take a lifetime! But one thing is certain, although the journey may be
long and difficult, God does keep His promises and will reward your faithfulness towards Him.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for providing people with strong faith in You to show us how to
walk in faith as we seek direction and purpose. May children recognize Your power in their lives
and choose to follow You even though the road may difficult, and they may not see the promises
of God in our lifetime like but know that He will always keep His promises just like He did for
Abraham. In Jesus name I Pray. Amen.
Sermon 3- Faith Travelers: The Little Girl, the Mighty Captain, and the God Who Heals
Writteb by Petronio M. Genebago, PhD

Opening Prayer:

Our Heavenly Father, we praise your name for who you are. You are the God of Abraham,
Moses, Joshua, Elijah and other travelers with faith in the Bible. Forgive us our sins and
shortcomings when we fail to walk by faith. Thank you for allowing us to celebrate this World
Adventurer Day with all the adventurers in the world. Be with us as we travel with faith today. In
Jesus’s name, Amen.

Scripture:

“Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your
flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” 2 Kings 5:10 (NIV)

Introduction & Ice breaker:

Hi Adventurers! Blessed Sabbath!

Who wants to travel? Thanks for raising your hand. If you are given a chance to travel for a
month for free (free ticket, free accommodation, free food, yes all paid for) where would you like
to go? (Let them participate). I, myself, love to travel. When you travel, you see new places, hear
new languages, experience new cultures, taste new foods, and meet new friends.

This Sabbath, we will travel to a famous river in the Bible called the Jordan River in Israel.
Together, we’ll travel with faith and learn new things. Which Bible characters do you know are
connected to the Jordan River? This river is connected to many popular Bible characters such as:
Abraham who is the father of faith (Gen. 13:11), Joshua who led the people to cross the Jordan
“on dry ground” (Jos. 3:15-17), Elijah and Elisha who both struck the water and the Jordan was
divided “this way and that way” (2 Kings 2:8; 2 Kings 2:13-14), and John who baptized Jesus
(Mark 1:9). So, you see how interesting the Jordan River is. It is connected to many travels with
faith.

Did you know that Jordan is also connected to a little girl in the Bible? We will focus on how
this little girl was instrumental in the travel with faith of Captain Naaman. Naaman “was
commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and
highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant
soldier, but he had leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:1, NIV). The Bible also gives information regarding the
little girl. She was a captive from Israel who was brought to Syria because of invasion. We can
read the beautiful story in 2 Kings 5:2-14.

Did you observe the contrast between Captain Naaman and the little girl? Captain Naaman is a
great man, honorable, and a mighty man of valor while she is a little girl, a slave, but a believer
of the mighty God—a traveler with faith. Both travel with faith as we will see in this story.
1. Travel with Faith of the Little Girl

How did the little girl travel to Syria? It was not her choice. She was a captive from Israel who
was brought to Syria because of an invasion. The Syrians “sold her to be a slave. She had been
purchased for the household of Naaman, the captain of the Syrian host, who had helped his king
and nation to win important victories either against Israel or against Assyria.”1 This little girl’s
journey was not easy, but she traveled with faith. “She said to her mistress, “If only my master
would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”’ (2 Kings 5:3,
NIV).” She believed in the God of Elisha. Though she was a captive and a slave, she desires to
be a blessing to Captain Naaman who was instrumental in bringing her captive. She did not
forget her identity. Her “faith is remarkable. That she would honor her captor by suggesting, in
good faith, that he visit the prophet of the Lord in Israel (2 Kin. 5:3) indicates that even in the
distress and distraction of her captivity, she knew who she was….she had not lost her
identity….”2

She inherited this faith from her parents who taught her stories about God. Her parents were also
travelers of faith. They trained their child in the Lord. They trained their child in the LORD. 3 She
travelled with faith and shared it with the people around her. This little girl might have heard the
stories of Elijah and Elisha parting the Jordan River (2 Kings 2:14), the curse on the youths and
the two bears (2:24), the widow’s oil (4:6), the raising of the Shunammite’s son (4:35), the
multiplying of food (4:44), and other Bible stories. Bible stories helped her to develop her faith
that she demonstrated in Syria.

2. Travel with Faith of the Great Man (Naaman)

Although Captain Naaman was the commander-in-chief in Syria and a great and honorable man,
he was a leper. Despite being a leper, he was also a proud man (2 Kings 5:9-12). However, his
health condition led him to consider the word of a humble little maid as related to him by his
wife regarding Elisha, who could heal him of his leprosy.

Thus, Captain Naaman informed the King of Syria regarding the possibility of healing from
leprosy. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my
servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:6, NIV). When
Naaman secured the letter, he went to Israel and brought with him gifts: “750 pounds (340 kg) of
silver (worth today over $150,000), and 150 pounds (68 kg) of gold (worth today over $3
million).”4

1
F.W. Farrar, Second Book of Kings, The Expositor’s Bible. Accordance electronic ed.
(London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1895), 50.

2
David Tasker, 2 Kings, Andrews Bible Commentary. (Michigan: Berrien Springs),
505.
3
Ellen White, The Story of Prophets and Kings, 269.
4
David Tasker, 2 Kings, Andrews Bible Commentary. (Michigan: Berrien Springs),
505.
When Naaman reached Israel, he expected that Elisha would welcome him. But instead, he just
sent a word to Naaman saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be
restored to you and you will be clean” (2 Kings 5:10). He initially rejected the idea since the
Jordan river is not as beautiful as the rivers in Damascus. Nevertheless, in humility he gave in to
the instruction and dipped himself seven times and he was healed. His “flesh became as healthy
as a little child’s” (2 Kings 5:14). God healed him. God did not require him to bring huge amount
of money. What he only needs is humility and faith. Since that day, Captain Naaman travelled
with faith, saying, “I know at last that there is no God in all the world except in Israel…” (5:15).

The little girl made a life-transforming impact to the great man. Her travel with faith in Syria
although a challenging one had a great influence on Captain Naaman’s healing physically and
spiritually. As a result, Naaman travelled with faith from Israel singing, “God is good to me, God
is good to me. There is no God like Him.”

Jesus also traveled with faith from heaven to earth to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). His
journey was not an easy one. His travel on earth was much harder than that of the little girl. But
because He loves you, he came, lived, suffered, died, resurrected, and ascended back to heaven.
He promises that He will be with you (Matthew 2:20) as you travel with faith in this world and to
the heavenly Canaan. Life on earth is not easy but remember He travels with you. His Word is
more powerful than the words of the little girl. Listen to Jesus. Soon, you will meet Him in the
air and travel with faith to heaven with all the travelers with faith. Bon voyage!

Closing Prayer:

We thank you Heavenly Father for the stories of faith of the little girl and of the great man
Naaman. Although life was challenging for both, they traveled with faith, proclaiming that there
is a God in heaven who can heal and that there is no other like Him. May we all be adventurers
in the world who travel with faith despite the problems we have like the little girl. May we, all in
simple faith, lead others to travel with faith as well. In Jesus’s name, the name above all name,
the one who traveled with faith from heaven to help us travel with faith with Him, Amen.

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