Sermon & Small Group ResourcesThis is the third of seven sermons in our series on Daniel. This sermon is ‘A Tall Order’. Preacher: The Rev’d Dr Daniel Rouhead. Bible Reading: Daniel 2DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).










Next Steps this Week


BIBLE READING: Daniel 2:1-23



In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.”Then the astrologers answered the king, “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.”This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”


SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS



Download in PDF format.CONNECT: On any of your frontlines, is there anything you need to say ‘no’ to in order to be faithful to God?WARM-UP Share an experience when your knowledge or strength failed you. How did you respond?Read Daniel 2:1-23Why was Nebuchadnezzar so disturbed by his dreams? What does this say about their origin and significance?Where do he seek guidance? Why doesn’t he tell his “wise men” the details of his dreams? What does this say about him?In whom or what did the Babylonians place their trust? Who was their god? In whom or what do we place our trust, and how reliable is it?Read Daniel 2:16-23; 27-28How did Daniel respond to hearing the news that he and his friends had been sentenced to death?How does Daniel seek the answer to Nebuchadnezzar’s question? Who gives him the answer?How do you approach a difficult situation or problem? How does Daniel respond to receiving the answer from God?When Daniel approaches Nebuchadnezzar, who does Daniel say is the source of the answer? How is this so counter-cultural (then and now)?How do we acknowledge God in our achievements? How can we be consistent in this?How does our church’s mission acknowledge this? How can we, as a community, remain consistent in this?Read Daniel 2:36-49Who does Daniel say is the source of Nebuchadnezzar’s power and authority? Why is this significant?What is the main message of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream? How does Nebuchadnezzar react?How, and by whom, is God’s kingdom established? How is it different from human kingdoms?How can we tell others about God’s Kingdom and Jesus’ invitation for all to enter?Apply How can we trust God this week and acknowledge his work in our lives to those on our frontlines?


PRAYER



Gracious Father, help us to place our trust in Jesus so that we seek your guidance in all things, follow you faithfully and give you honour and praise in all things, through Jesus Christ, Amen.


GOING DEEPER



On Your Frontline This Week: How could God’s wisdom shape how you engage on your frontline? Bring to God in prayer what you do and don’t need help with this week.Listen, Watch, and Read: AUDIO: “Daniel: Hope for the Minority” by Stuart Holman:AUDIO: “Clash of the Kingdoms” by Hugh Palmer:AUDIO: “Courageous Christianity” by Christopher Ash:ARTICLE: “Welcome to Exile. It’s Going to Be Okay” by Gospel Coalition:Series Resources:Some helpful resources for our Series:Series overview both in PDF and Audiobook:

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