Sermon Notes:
1. Miracles are for the purpose of giving testimony that Jesus is the Messiah. (John 5:36; Acts 4:4-12)
2. Miracles are always done by the sovereign will of God. (John 5:19)
3. God heals to glorify Himself and His Son. (Luke 5:24-26; Matthew 15:30-31; John 11:4; Luke 17:17-18)
4. Jesus’ healing ministry is motivated by His compassion and mercy. (Matthew 14:13-14; Mark 1:41-42; 9:22)
5. When God heals, it brings encouragement to His Church. (1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Corinthians 14:12)
6. God calls for His people in the church to seek out the leaders with their request for healing. (James 5:13-16)
7. The supernatural events found in the book of Acts are seen as descriptive, but not normative.
Follow-up Questions from Sunday:
Introduction question for groups:
What’s your favorite miracle in the Bible?
Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Digging Deeper:
1. When the Church was first born, how did the early believers practice their faith according to Acts 2:41-47? What are the similarities and differences in how we practice our faith today?
2. In vs 43, it says that the supernatural was happening all around them. How do you explain the supernatural and where do you think it belongs in our daily faith today?
3. Have you ever seen a miracle? If so, please share with your group.
4. If someone was to ask you, “What is God’s purpose for doing miracles?” what would you say?
5. One of Jesus’ first recorded miracles in Jerusalem is found in John 5:1-15.
6. According to John 5:31-36, what two testimonies does Jesus say are evidence that He is the Messiah sent from God the Father?
7. Read John 10:37-38. What is Jesus saying is the purpose of the miracles He performs?
8. In Acts 12, the Apostle James, the brother of John, was killed and the Apostle Peter was arrested to be killed, but God sent angels to save him. Why do you think God chose to save Peter, but not James?
9. In John 5, the pools of Bethesda had many disabled people, why do you think Jesus only healed one and not all?
10. How does John 5:19 help us answer this question? (see theological truth below)
11. Why do you think God doesn’t always choose to do miracles?
12. How does Isaiah 55:8-9 help us answer this question?
13. How are we to Biblically understand miracles and healings and apply them to our belief system today and to our lives?
14. How do you think the message on Sunday helps us in answering this? What mysteries do you think are still to be understood on this topic?
Prayer:
Pray that God will help you to understand His purpose for His miracles in our lives and how we share and live our faith.
A theological truth to meditate on according to the message on Sunday:
“According to the principle of John 5:19, God decides who gets healed and directs his servants accordingly. It is our responsibility to listen for those directions and follow them, rather than to determine who gets healed.”