- Talk about a time when you thought something bad was going to happen and something good happened instead. Maybe your team came back from being way behind to win the game, or someone you know was really sick but got better. (Answers will vary. Have a story from your own life prepared to get discussion going.)
- How did you feel when you realized the bad thing wasn’t going to happen after all? (Students may talk about feeling relieved, overjoyed, amazed, etc.)
We all love a good surprise. But sometimes we’re surprised in life by something bad. We live in a world where there is life and death. People are born, and people die. You may know someone who has died. Even with doctors and hospitals, sometimes people die—and that is very sad. Ultimately, life and death are beyond our control. This can be sad and scary, especially when people we love are sick and dying.
Last year, a couple found out they were expecting a baby girl. But when the baby’s mother went into labor at just 24 weeks—well before the typical 40 weeks of pregnancy—these parents weren’t sure if their baby girl would make it. Let’s take a look.
Play the following video for your students [2:39; start at 0:19; stop at ] Micro-preemie Nora beats the odds
- What happened that surprised everyone? (Students may share that baby Nora lived despite being born so early.)
- How do you think her parents felt? (Answers will vary. Students may say that they were amazed and couldn’t believe what was happening, they were surprised, they were thrilled, etc.)
Nora’s parents were overjoyed that her condition improved! Eventually, they were able to take her home from the hospital and begin life as a family of three.
At one point, these parents believed their daughter Nora would not live. They prepared for that devastation and prepared to say goodbye. While Daniel Nora up living, the reality of death can feel sad and even frightening.
As believers in Jesus, we don’t have to fear it. Jesus has conquered death and offers us eternal life. When Jesus was on earth, some of His friends experienced the death of someone they loved very much. But Jesus showed that He has absolute power over death.