Sermon & Small Group ResourcesThis is the first of seven sermons in our series on Daniel. This sermon is ‘Welcome to Babylon’. Preacher: The Rev’d Michael Calder. Bible Reading: Daniel 1:1-7DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).










Next Steps this Week


BIBLE READING: Daniel 1:1-7



In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god.Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service.Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.


SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS



Download in PDF format.CONNECT: In what circumstances can you show that the gift of eternal life has sprung up in you through Jesus?WARM-UP Have you ever experienced or witnessed a crushing defeat? What was it like?In regards to living for God, in what ways are the times in which we now live different to the times of Daniel? What are some of the similarities between us and those led out to exile?Read Daniel 1:1-2To the outsider who didn’t know about the covenant and the Lord’s hand in all of this, what do these verses in Daniel look like?Why were the Israelites defeated and led out to exile? Who was the one who orchestrated the whole thing? For what reason?Read Deuteronomy 30:15-18. What is the role of the covenant in the exile of God’s people?What was the main and underlying cause of Israel’s sinfulness? How could they still have hope even in the midst of their situation in exile?In our context of uncertainty, instability, messiness, and our sinfulness, what is our source of assurance and peace?Read Daniel 1:3-7How do these verses show God’s faithfulness to his people and covenant?What may have been king Nebuchadnezzar’s intention in bringing these educated people into his courts? What sort of things may they have learned?What may have been the intention in changing the names of these men?In our modern culture, have you ever experienced pressure to conform to the world? In what way? How did you react in this situation? How did Daniel react in V8?Read 1 Peter 2:9-12. In what way are we foreigners and exiles in our world? To whom do we belong and where is our ultimate home? How are we called to live this side of the cross?How can we ensure that we are living in line with God’s will for our lives and not the world’s?APPLY: How should the cross shape the way in which you act on your frontlines?


PRAYER



Heavenly Father, thank you that you are a God who is faithful to his promises from generation to generation. Thank you that even while our backs were turned against you, Christ died for us. Help us to live lives devoted to you and not to the patterns of this world for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


GOING DEEPER



On Your Frontline This Week: How do your interactions with people & problems demonstrate your satisfaction in Jesus?Listen, Watch, and Read: AUDIO: ‘God of the Exiles’ by Alistair BeggAUDIO: ‘Discipleship with Distinction’ by William TaylorAUDIO: ‘Discretion & Valour’ by Christopher AshSeries Resources:Some helpful resources for our Series:Series overview both in PDF and Audiobook: https://bit.ly/3DsC3bBDaniel and the Twelve Prophets by John Goldingay. https://bit.ly/3jLRKnwKingdoms in Conflict by Andrew Reid. https://bit.ly/3kZp61uDaniel Overview by The Bible Project. https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/daniel/“Exile” Overview by The Bible Project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSua9_WhQFEGrow as Families Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.Families: Read, Chat, Do, and PrayHigh School: CHARGE Discussion QuestionsKids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ TalkeBook: Watch the eBook

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