Miracles Never Cease!

Challenge kids to believe the unbelievable by taking them on this biblical journey that will challenge their thinking from this “strange but true” department!

MIRACLE PIG RETURNS FROM THE DEAD
LONDON, Ky.-Dr. Campbell Mercer figures there's something that happens at least once in every doctor's career that he can't explain. He believes the miracle of Arnold the pig is that ""something"" in his career. Arnold, all 2 1/4 pounds of him, arrived at Mercer's office clinically dead. But a few hours later the pig was kicking up a fuss in Frank Strunk's kitchen squealing with all his might. Mercer says that clinically Arnold was probably suffering from the pig equivalent of hypothermia. But he came back to life after Strunk and his 8-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, soaked him in warm water and massaged him.

But Mercer has a less clinical explanation: "I think it's as close to a medical miracle as I've seen or ever will see,” he says. "Arnold taught us about faith and how tough little animals can be." The pig froze to death after he was mistakenly left outside in cold weather. When Elizabeth discovered Arnold she pleaded with her mother to take him to the doctor. Her mother gave in but Dr. Mercer pronounced him dead. They took Arnold home to bury him but Elizabeth insisted on trying to revive him. So she and her dad soaked him in warm almost hot water and massaged him.

Soon Arnold's eyes began to move. Then when the pig gave out his first squeal Elizabeth ran through the house shouting: "Praise the Lord! Thank you Jesus!"

Do miracles still happen? The Bible says they do. But do your kids believe it? Use this meeting to expose them to the reality of miracles and to the author of all miracles God.

Objectives:

• decide what is and isn't a miracle


• discover miracles all around them


• learn about God's power the root of all miracles


• pray for a miracle and wait for God's response

Before the Meeting

• Read the meeting, collect supplies and photocopy the handout.


• For activity 1 write a ""secret message"" on a sheet of paper with lemon juice and a stick. Also hard-boil an egg and write a ""secret message"" on it with a white crayon. Prepare a cup of dye by combining 1 cup of hot water with 1 teaspoon of vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon of food coloring.


• For activity 2 gather a few copies of the National Enquirer.


• For activity 3 you'll need a bucket of dirt and a bucket of water. Also bring a plastic grocery bag for each young person to the meeting. Ask a grocery store for a supply of the bags.

Leading the Meeting

1. Miracles: The Untold Stories opener - (You'll need a sheet of paper with a secret message written on it in lemon juice, a hard-boiled egg with a secret message written on it in white crayon, matches, a candle, spoon, cup of dye sheet of newsprint and marker.) Welcome kids to the meeting. Read aloud the ""Miracle Pig Returns From the Dead"" article from the introduction.
   
   Ask: When was the last time you witnessed a miracle? Do you believe in miracles? Why or why not?
   
   Say: Well, I can tell you for sure that miracles do happen. Why? Because I have two proven miracles right here in my possession. Pull out the secret-message paper the secret-message egg, some matches, a candle, cup of dye and spoon. Light the candle and have a volunteer hold the secret-message paper an inch or two over the flame. Have kids watch as the message appears.
   
   Say: If you thought that was miraculous wait 'til you see this! Have a volunteer use the spoon to dunk the hard-boiled egg into the cup of dye. Have kids watch as the message appears.
   
   Then ask: Are these real miracles or what? Kids will probably respond with something like "Those aren't miracles!"
   
   Ask: Oh really? Did you look close enough? Where did this paper come from? (a tree) Where did the tree come from? (a seed) Where did the seed come from? (who knows?) God created the seed that grew into the tree that this paper was made from. Paper is a miracle!
   
   Ask: What about the egg? Do you think our best scientists will ever discover how to create an egg inside a chicken? Why or why not? Form pairs and ask partners to brainstorm a definition of "miracle." After a few minutes have pairs each write their definitions on newsprint. Ask kids whether they agree or disagree with each definition then together decide on one definition. For example: "Miracles are examples of God's presence and power in the world."


2. The Hunt for Miracles - (You'll need a few copies of the National Enquirer, a photocopy of the ""Is It a Miracle?"" handout and two pencils.)
   
   Ask a volunteer to read aloud Judges 6:11-24.
   
   Say: Gideon asked for a spectacular miracle as a sign of God's presence and faithfulness. But there are miraculous signs of God's presence and faithfulness all around us. Let's go on a "miracle hunt" right now.
   
   Form three groups. Give group 1 some copies of the National Enquirer and a pencil. Give group 2 a photocopy of the "Is It a Miracle?" handout and a pencil. Have group 1 look through copies of the National Enquirer (a source of wild stories) to find articles about "miracles." Ask them to mark whether each miracle is true or false. Have group 2 answer the questions on the "Is It a Miracle?" handout. Send group 3 on a "miracle scavenger hunt" in and around your meeting room. Challenge kids in the group to find miraculous "clues" to God's presence and faithfulness and bring them back to the group. After five minutes gather the groups together.
   
   Ask: What are some of the miracles you found? How do you know these are miracles? How do you know some things aren't miracles?
   
   Read aloud Acts 8:9-24.
   
   Ask: Why did the disciples object to Simon's offer? What was Simon's motive in asking for miraculous power? In the disciples' opinion what was the purpose of miracles?


3. What Makes a Miracle? - (You'll need a bucket of dirt and a bucket of water. For each person you'll need a plastic grocery bag and some paper towels.) Give kids each a plastic grocery bag and some paper towels. Have them each open their bag lay it on the floor pile some dirt on it then add water to make mud. Ask them to each form a person with the mud.
   
   When kids finish, ask: What can your person do? Is it possible for you or anyone else to bring your "dirt person" to life? Why or why not?
   
   Read aloud Genesis 2:7.
   
   Say: According to the scriptures God created us out of the "dust of the ground." We're all walking miracles! And by his power and presence in our lives today miracles can still happen.


4. A Miracle in the Making closing - (You'll need newsprint and a marker.) Gather in a circle and place a sheet of newsprint and a marker in the middle. Ask kids to each think of one need in their life-something that needs God's miraculous help. Have kids each pray for their need then write the need on the newsprint along with their initials. After each person has prayed tell kids you'll follow through with the prayer needs by checking on them each week. Close with a prayer of thanks for God's miraculous care.