Bible Study

Give each child a Bible. Let’s say our SuperTruth together. “Prayer produces results.”

In this Bible activity, we are going to scripture passages where people prayed and God answered in a miraculous way. We’ll dig out the answers to these questions together. Point to the board and read the questions. 

If scripture doesn’t describe a reaction, share what you may have done if you were there.

1.   John 11:41–45: 

⁴¹ So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank You for hearing Me. ⁴² You always hear Me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe You sent Me.” ⁴³ Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” ⁴⁴ And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!” ⁴⁵ Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. 

• Who prayed? Jesus.
• What was the request? Lazarus would be raised from the dead and come out of the tomb.
• What was the result? He came out wrapped in grave clothes and they let him go.   
• What was the reaction? Many people believed in Jesus.
• For extra credit, why did Jesus pray aloud? So the people would believe Jesus was sent by God.  

2.   2 Kings 6:15–17: 

¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. ¹⁶ “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” ¹⁷ Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. 

• Who prayed? Elisha.
• What was the request in verse 17? For God to open his servant’s eyes to see. (Supernaturally.)
• What was the result? He could see God’s invisible angels with horses and chariots of fire.      
• What do you think Elisha's servant’s reaction would have been? Surprise, amazement, faith and trust in God; he wasn’t afraid anymore. 

3.   Luke 1:6–7,11–14: 

⁶ Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. ⁷ They had no children because Elizabeth was unable to conceive, and they were both very old. ¹¹ While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. ¹² Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. ¹³ But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. ¹⁴ You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.” 

• In verse 6, who prayed? Zechariah and Elizabeth.
• Based on verse 13, what was his request? To have a son.
• What was the result? Zechariah and his wife would have a son. 
• In verse 14, what did the angel say the reaction would be? The parents would have great joy and gladness; many people would rejoice.   
• For extra credit, why was it an amazing miracle? They were both very old and had prayed a long time, as Elizabeth had been unable to have children.   

 4.   1 Kings 18:36–39:   

³⁶ At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant. Prove that I have done all this at Your command. ³⁷ O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that You, O Lord, are God and that You have brought them back to Yourself.” ³⁸ Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench! ³⁹ And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—He is God! Yes, the Lord is God!” 

• Who prayed? Elijah.
• What was the request? For God to prove that He was God, that Elijah was His servant, that God was bringing the people back to Himself.
• Based on verse 38, what was the result? Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench.
• In verse 39, what was the reaction? When all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—He is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”

 5.   James 5:16b–17:  

^16b The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. ¹⁷ Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 

• Who prayed in verse 17? Elijah.
• What was the request? That no rain would fall.  
• What was the result? It didn’t rain for 3 1/2 years!     
• What do you think the reaction of the people would be? Blame Elijah, be in awe of him, or also be angry with him.   
• Do you remember what praying earnestly means? To pray seriously, sincerely, and with determination.
• What does verse 16 say is the result of a righteous person’s earnest prayer? Has great power and produces wonderful results. 
• Was Elijah special and different to experience this result in prayer? No, he was human like us.

Conclusion: God answers prayer. The church prayed for Peter in prison and God delivered Peter from his cell. In the Superbook adventure, Joy wanted Rhoda to do something to help Peter. She found out that prayer is effective and powerful!