LO: I will know about miracles as presented in the Bible Hmk: Presentations tomorrow.

Just so you know … Do I need to learn miracle stories for the examination? The OCR Specification says that you should consider how God acts in the world in relation to miracles and the Bible. In order to do this you will need to be familiar with some examples of miracles from the Bible. You need to think about how the Bible writers understood these stories as well as some of the interpretations given to them by people today.

Teaching hit! This activity is designed to develop your ability to peer-teach In pairs, one of you will be ‘equipped-to-hit’ with a handout, to teach about New Testament miracles with a partner At the end, hand the sheet to your partner (the student) so that they can then go off, pair with someone else, and repeat the process. Questions for students to ask: 1.Give 3 types of miracles performed by Jesus 2.Explain what these miracles show. 3.What are the 3 Greek terms used to translate into miracle and what do they mean? Questions for students to ask: 1.Give 3 types of miracles performed by Jesus 2.Explain what these miracles show. 3.What are the 3 Greek terms used to translate into miracle and what do they mean?

Key verse ‘Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles (dunamesi), wonders (terasi) and signs (semeiois) … which God did among you through him … as you yourselves know.’ Acts 2:22

Miracles – Task 1 There are a number of good examples of miracles in the Bible. Grab a Bible. In groups, you will be given a passage to focus on. You must do the following: Study the miracle. What happened? Was it an act of power (dunamis), wonder (teras) or a sign (semeion). What does it tell us about God? What does the miracle demonstrate?  Exodus 4:2-8  1 Kings 18:16-39  John 2:1-11  Luke 4:33-41  Acts 12:5-17  Mark 16:1-8

The purpose of miracles for Christians They demonstrate the love and goodness of God. God is compassionate and responds to prayers and demonstrations of faith. They demonstrate God’s power over nature, illnesses and even death. They show that God is continually involved and active in the world that he has created They are signs pointing to the person and message of Jesus.

Wayne Grudem (A Christian) on miracles Definition: ‘A miracle is a less common kind of God’s activity in which he arouses people’s awe and wonder and bears witness to himself.’ He clarifies that miracles are not just ‘a direct intervention of God in the world’ because God does not only intervene occasionally. Biblically speaking, God is actively involved in sustaining what he has made. E.g. God makes the rain fall (Matt 5:45) and causes grass to grow (Psalm 104:14). Hence why Grudem prefers to use the phrase that a miracle is a ‘less common kind of God’s activity.’ He says miracles serve four purposes: 1. To confirm the truthfulness of Jesus’ message 2. To bring help to those in need 3. To remove hindrances to people’s ministries (I.e Peter released from prison) 4. To bring glory and worship to God

Question What do biblical miracles show about God? Write a paragraph giving your response.

Issues … The problem of election – particularly within the old testament. E.g. Why is God defending his chosen people and not others? The problem of evil – Why doesn’t God make these ‘less common’ forms of activity on a more regular basis? E.g. why are some healed and not others?

Counterarguments God’s bias may reflect who is in the right Explanations for the problem of evil (i.e. as punishment for fall, to enable us to develop) We can’t be expected to understand the will of God. It is arrogant to assume that God’s will falls in line with human reasoning. Maybe everything is part of a greater benevolent plan that we cannot understand.

Plenary LO: I will know about miracles as presented in the Bible