Daniel 4: Leader's Guide

Study 4: Steadfastness in times of trial

Daniel 6: 1-28

Objective:

Ø To challenge members to be a living testimony to others you meet daily(salt).
To grow a heart for the world.
To be strong when tested.

Ice-breaker:

Who are you really? What are your gifts? What are your passions? Is this only what people see?

Daniel in the lions den[2] is an interesting story. Why? Because Daniel was thrown into the den for being godly! We usually expect that those who do wrong will be punished and those who do right should be rewarded. But this isn’t always the case. At that time, Daniel’s way of honouring God was against the law in Babylon. Daniel was punished because of what he stood for. This study will show that standing up for God can be difficult and even costly.
God doesn't rescue us from lions but He is in there with us.

1.     How would you feel if your classmates decided to watch everything about your public and private life? Talk about living out God's word ie praxis watch sections of the video to give examples.

      Tip 4          Praxis
      Do we do small things with great love? Consider what Shane Claiborne says about what makes Christians different in how we live? Daniel served his whole life in the king's court and is probably what we would consider a government official? How did his life stand out? Do you think Christianity both conforms to culture and counters culture? When we wrestle these questions, we do praxis, we apply the bible to our lives...

(5 mins)

Read Daniel 6:1-28

2.     What description is given of Daniel in verses 3-5?

(5 mins)

3.     Why do you think Daniel’s colleagues plotted against him (vv1-5)?

(5 mins)

4.     What did Daniel do when he knew about the decree?

What does this tell us about Daniel’s character?

(5 mins)

5.     If you were being watched like Daniel was being watched, what changes (if any) would you make in your present lifestyle?

(10 mins)

A little background:

In Babylon, the king’s word was the law. In the Medo-Persian empire, however, when a law was made, even the king couldn’t change it[3].

6.     What impact did Daniel’s life have on King Darius (vv14-20)? Can you think of some ways in which your want your life to impact somebody else?[

(5 mins)

4]

7.     King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth. What does it show you about God? How does the passions of our heart intersect with the brokenness of this world? 

(10 mins)

Closing:  Pray for each other and what you want to do. Pray for the questions that have been raised and God will challenge you the rest of your life.

(10 mins)

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[1] This study will be looking at Daniel’s character. It is a chance to use an ice breaker to link in with the theme of the study.

[2] The lions’ den was not an unusual means of execution in Persia. Do some background research to find out how it was used.

[3] Taken from Life Application, notes for 6: 8-9

[4] Note: some people may think of negative impact they may have had – if so encourage them to think of positive impacts or look towards being a positive impact to others.