SERMON QUESTIONS 9-28-14
What similarities do you see between what Nebuchadnezzar was doing to influence Daniel and his
cohorts and what you see today in American culture?
Note: Even though we think we live in unique times, nothing has really changed from thousands
of years ago. The story of Daniel shows the tension that has always existed between the nonbelieving culture and the people of God.
Daniel and his associates improved in appearance, wisdom and understanding. Do you think that God
rewarded Daniel for his faith in resisting the food requirements of Nebuchadnezzar? Did Daniel get
rewarded for what he "did?"
Note: As Pastor Tim stated, it had little to do with what Daniel did and everything to do with
what God had planned. Daniel is not the central character in the story, God is. God is the
author of every detail of human life. God is the one writing the human story!!
It is easy to read the story of Daniel and think God blessed him based on what he "did." In what ways do
you think of God operates this way in your life and the life of others? Do you think you have to perform
for God and he will reward you as it appears he did with Daniel?
Note: It is often said that the default mode of the human heart is religion vs. the gospel, which
means that we tend to think we have to "earn" God’s favor rather than receive the free gift
found in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Consider how you may fall into this trap
in your thinking.
Pastor Tim cites the word "gave" used multiple times in these verses to indicate how all the events of
this story were authored by God. As Christians, how are we to think that God authored all the "good"
things that happened as well as the "bad," as in the surrender of his own King of Judah into the hands of
this brutal King of Babylon and other seemingly evil things that happen in this story?
Note: As Pastor Tim stated, God is the author of EVERYTHING. He is the central character, not
us, and he has a plan that will not be thwarted. As Christians we all need to reconcile God’s
sovereignty as it is applied to the "good" things that happen in life as well as the "bad." How
can you think of this more biblically?
Do you find yourself fearing that things are "out of control" in this world or that you are being controlled
by things other than God?
Note: We all seek counterfeit Gods, thinking they will give us life better than what God will
provide. It may be money, relationships, success, comfort, etc. Consider what part of life you
think is out of God’s control and what control you have given to something/someone other than
God.
Christ said "if anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up the cross…" To what
extent do you think of yourself as the central character in your life as opposed to Christ? Pastor Tim
stated that the greatest "gave" that God provided was Jesus. How can you more fully see the newness
of life that Jesus provides when we give our lives to him?
Note: The most common counterfeit God we create is SELF. Christ commands us to deny
ourselves and allow his indwelling presence to be our life. Consider how you can put Christ as
the central character in your life.