There is a large debate among modern religious thinkers concerning the issue of spiritual gifts. Some say that miracles are alive and being actively performed on a daily
basis by men and women of God. Others are saying miracles ceased in the closing years of the first century. Who is right? Allowing the New Testament to be the
authoritative guide in answering the question at large will increase our faith by a knowledge of truth (Romans 10:17).
1. (Read Mark 16:17-20)
What miraculous abilities did Jesus authorize the apostles to have?
(verse 20) Did they perform these signs?
2. Do you know of any person who has consumed deadly poisons and not need medical attention?
What would happen to you if I slipped some lethal poison into your drink?
3. (Read Acts 28:1-6)
Did Paul suffer any harm from the viper’s bite?
Would a Christian who was bitten by a viper today need medical attention?
4. (Read John 11:1-45)
In verse 17, how many days had Lazarus been dead when Jesus raised him?
Do you notice any differences between Biblical miracles and those who claim this ability today?
5. (Read Matthew chapter 10)
a. (v. 1) In this chapter, who did Jesus authorize to perform miracles?
b. (v. 5, 6) Were the twelve disciples limited as to whom they would speak to?
c. (v. 7) Why were they sent?
d. (v. 8) Were the miracles to accompany their preaching?
e. (Read Romans 1:16) What saved souls: the preaching or the miracles?
f. Would the people have believed they were sent from God if they didn’t give signs from God to prove who they were?
g. Would the people have believed the message they preached without having seen the miracles?
6. (Read Mark 16:20)
Did the miracles confirm (prove it was from God) the Word spoken by the apostles?
1. (Read Luke 24:46-53)
Where did Jesus tell His chosen disciples to wait for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit?
2. (Read Acts 1:1, 2)
In these verses, who did Jesus give commandments to?
3. (Read Acts 1:3,4)
Who did He command to wait in Jerusalem? Who does "them" refer to?
4. (Read Acts 1:4,5)
Who did He say would be baptized with the Holy Spirit?
5. (Read Acts 1:6,7)
Who asked Him a question?
6. (Read Acts 1:8)
To whom did Jesus say, "you shall receive power . . ." ?
7. (Read Acts 1:9-26)
Now, how many apostles are there?
8. (Read Acts 2:1)
To whom does the word "they" refer?
9. (Read Acts 2:2-4)
Who was given the ability to speak in foreign tongues?
10. (Read Acts 2:5-6)
Did the assembled crowd hear unintelligible gibberish or real human languages?
11. (Read Acts 2:7-16) Who was performing the miracle, the apostles or the gathered crowd?
12. (Read Acts 2:17-37)
What pricked their hearts, the miracle or the message spoken?
Did the miracle confirm the message to be from God?
When the apostles spoke in "unknown tongues" did they speak in some personal prayer language or did they preach in human languages once foreign
to them?
1. (Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-7)
Who was the source of miraculous gifts?
2. (Read Acts 8:14-17)
Peter and John were apostles (Matt. 10:2-4). Why did these apostles go to Samaria?
3. (Read Acts 2:38; 5:32)
Did God promise that all Christians would have the Holy Spirit?
4. (Read 1 John 3:24)
Does this describe a covenant relationship - a bond between saved souls and God?
5. (Read Acts 8:14-17)
So then, was this a case where the apostles endowed other Christians with the ability to perform miracles?
Why couldn’t other Christians do what Peter and John did?
6. (Read Luke 1:15)
Was John, the forerunner of Christ, full of the Holy Spirit?
7. (Read John 10:41)
Did John ever perform a single miracle?
8. Is it reasonable then that having a covenant relationship with God does not equate with having the ability to perform miracles?
9. Was John saved? Must I perform a miracle to know that God abides in me (1 John 3:24)?
10. (Read 1 John 5:13)
Where does our confidence in salvation come from?
1. (Read 1 Corinthians 12:28-31)
The miraculous gifts had their splendor but was there a more excellent way?
2. (Read 1 Corinthians 13)
What Christian characteristic is greater than all others - faith, hope or love?
3. (Read 1 Corinthians 13:8)
Were the miraculous gifts temporary?
4. (Read 1 Corinthians 13:13)
Does he say that when that moment comes, these three will remain: faith, hope and love?
5. (Read Romans 8:24,25)
When Jesus returns to earth, will we have to hope for His final coming anymore?
6. (Read Hebrews 11:1)
When hope has been realized, will faith have any substance?
7. Hence, when Christ returns to earth what one great thing will remain?
8. (Read 1 Corinthians 13:8)
Can the word "perfect" refer to the final coming of Jesus if faith and hope are yet to abide?
9. So, is it reasonable to conclude that "perfect" refers to something preceding the return of the Christ to earth?
10. (Read James 1:25)
Is the Word of God perfect?
11. (Read 2 Timothy 3:16,17)
Can a Christian become perfect, or complete, by an understanding of the Bible?
12. (Read Galatians 1:6-9)
Does anyone have the right to change or add to the Bible today?
13. (Read 1 Corinthians 4:6)
Does anyone have God’s authorization to speak beyond what is already written in the New Testament?
14. If God’s Word is able to furnish me completely unto every good work, do I need a modern prophet to tell me how to live for God?
15. Do you agree that once truth is confirmed, it is confirmed forever?
16. (Read Jude 3)
Has the Christian faith once for all been delivered?
17. Since the purpose of miraculous gifts has been fulfilled, to reveal and confirm the truth, these gifts are no longer operative. Is this true or false?
18. Finally, the means of obtaining the miraculous gifts has ceased. Only the apostles had the ability, by the laying on of hands, to pass the gifts of the Spirit to another
Christian (Acts 8:14ff). No apostles are living today to perform these signs, or to impart these gifts. Hence, no real miracles are really perfomed today.