How Can a Rational Person Believe Miracles are True? | Aug 13 – Aug 19, 2017
Series Big Idea
Even when facing big questions that don’t have easy answers, we can find solid reasons to move forward in faith, believing that the message of Christianity is true.
Message Big Idea
While God does not provide the reason for each experience of pain, through Jesus he does provide a A Christ-follower does not need to abandon rational thought to believe in the miracles described in the Bible or that miracles still happen today.
Scripture – Luke 5:17-26 and Matthew 10:5-8
Ice Breaker
If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why?
Opening Thought
Miracles remain some of the hardest to understand and explain phenomena in the Christian faith. It’s difficult to know what to think of them or how to think of them, especially when it hasn’t been our experience or when we know people who have prayed for a miracle and not had one happen. When you hear the word “miracle” what comes to mind?
Bible Discussion
- Read Luke 5:17-26, what stood out to you? What struck you?
- What is the attitude toward miracles here?
- Read Matthew 10:5-8, what stood out to you? What struck you?
Life Application
- Do you have difficulties with the idea of miracles? If so, what are they?
- In the message, we talk about the four types of people regarding belief in miracles:
• Naturalists- don’t believe miracles happen.
• Cessationists- miracles don’t happen anymore.
• Undecideds- just aren’t sure about miracles
• Believers- they believe in miracles, both historically and today.
Where would you put yourself and why? - What do you think of this statement: “The belief that miracles cannot happen is not a scientific statement; it’s a philosophical statement”?
- Have you ever seen/had a miracle personally or known someone who has?
- How can we live in the tension between expecting God to show up when situations are dire and maintaining faith if it doesn’t happen?
Challenge
If we can get to a place where we believe that God can and will intervene in miraculous ways sometimes, how could that change the way we pray? What would that change about the way that you approach prayer? Pray for God to reveal God’s self to you or to break through in miraculous ways.
