Key Thought: Daniel’s experience with persecution shows how God’s people will be treated at the end of time. God will ultimately vindicate His people.
February 15, 2020
1. Have a volunteer read Daniel 6:1-5.
- Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
- Why was Daniel placed first over the presidents and princes in Medio-Persia?
- Personal Application: Have you ever had to deal with issues of jealousy in your life? How have you dealt with it? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Most Christians are Christians of convenience. As long as they have time or inclination, they follow God and the Bible. But when it becomes unfavorable or inconvenient or costs something like too much time, money, or effort; they won’t give up their job, freedom, or lives for their faith.” How would you respond to your relative?
2. Have a volunteer read Daniel 6:6-9.
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
- What is the thinking and motive behind the decree?
- Personal Application: What are some ways that people might want to be “like God” in their lives? What are some of the dangers of this self-importance? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your friends states, “Where do we draw the line between loyalty to the state as the Bible tells us to do, and loyalty to God? Are they mutually obeyed in all cases? Are there differences and what would they be?” How would you respond to your friend?
3. Have a volunteer read Daniel 6:10-23.
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
- Why doesn’t Daniel simply pray quietly without anyone seeing him?
- Personal Application: Why must we be sure that when defying human law, we are truly doing God’s will? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “I know some crazy people who claim to be doing God’s will by killing Jews, burning churches, cursing other faiths, and disrespecting and disobeying the laws of the land. How can we stand for our faith and not be classified with these crazy people?” How would you respond to your neighbor?
4. Have a volunteer read Daniel 6:24-28.
- Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
- How did Daniel’s faithfulness to God end up influencing not only the king but the whole country of Medio-Persia?
- Personal Application: What may be two or three reasons for the accused and their wives and children to be thrown in the lion’s den? Is this really an act of social injustice? Share your thoughts.
- Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.
(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).
Amen!
(1)
(1)
