-When we face crisis in our lives, how do we respond?  Do we get busy trying to figure it out ourselves…rushing into it, or do we respond with wisdom and tact…taking time and allowing the Lord to give direction?

-Where do we go looking forward answers?  Do we look for answers from the world like Nebuchadnezzar, or do we look for answers from the Lord like Daniel and his friends?

As we look at the culture around us, we see that it is a culture that is rooted in ‘SELF’ benefit.  Hananiah , Mishael and Azariah did not give into that culture and modeled for us a culture of SELF-SACRIFICE.  Let’s dive into together to see how we can either allow ourselves to be influenced by the culture, or discover how to influencers in the midst of a worldly culture.

Discussion Questions:
-Are there areas of our lives where we have chosen to live like the culture around us that pushes us toward self-promotion and serving one’s self above others as pathways to a good life? 

-When the self-serving culture around us meets the opportunity for a self-sacrificing culture to be chosen instead, a confrontation occurs within us. How can we choose to consecrate those times with the Lord’s help and be transformed by them? (Romans 12-1-2)

God revealed himself to King Nebuchadnezzar on several different occasions, and at each moment Nebuchadnezzar had time to reflect.  He made a choice each time to continue following his own desires, and being prideful in his authority instead of submitting to the authority of the Most High God.  Ultimately, he turned to God through his difficulties and received blessing through his submission.
 

Discussion Questions:
-When we see God at work in our lives, there is always a moment to reflect and choose whether it will deepen our trust/faith/relationship with Him, or whether we will continue on the path of self-reliance.  When is a time God revealed Himself in my life and I chose to allow a deeper relationship to develop?  When is a time God revealed Himself and I chose to pass by the opportunity to know Him better?
 
-As I reflect on what I am seeking God for in this season of my life, what is He revealing to me about Himself? Have I let my pride determine how I respond to God’s invitation in this area of my life?  If so, how can I respond differently to Him?  

The Lord had a very specific message for King Belshazzar:  Mene Mene Tekel Parsin (Peres/Upharsin)
Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
Hebrews 9:27-28
Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
With the corresponding verses in the New Testament, what can we see in God's master plan through what He told the king?

Discussion Questions: 

-What does this reveal to you about Jesus and His work on the cross for us?  

-How does His work on the cross apply specifically to you? And to the world as a whole?

-What keeps us from sharing this with others?

As we look at Daniel’s character in chapter 6…we see that he clearly is not conforming to the norm of Babylonian society.  

Discussion Questions:
-How do we live different than the world today and live with character that is pleasing to the Lord?

-Are there times that we have experienced the victory that comes from consecration before the Lord?  What does that do for our faith?  Have we seen change in the people around us as a result of what God is doing?

In Daniel 7 we discovered that God revealed Himself to Daniel as the Ancient of Days: all authority belongs to Him and nothing escapes His notice. And Jesus is revealed as the Son of Man: He is given all authority and is establishing an eternal, universal Kingdom. 

Discussion Questions:
-Has the Ancient of Days shown you any kingdom you have constructed in your heart & life that in your eyes looks recognizable and shiny, but from His perspective is beastly and deadly?  Ask Him to help you surrender that kingdom to His eternal and everlasting Kingdom. 

-The Son of Man is establishing an eternal, universal kingdom…all other kingdoms will be brought down before His. How is this thought a comfort or a discomfort to you? How is it comforting or discomforting to consider that all authority is His? Why? How can you respond to these understandings? 

As we see in Daniel 8…Daniel gets a vision of things that are to come. He is bothered by what he is shown, but also is given the understanding that the madness will come to an end.

Discussion Questions:

-We live in troubling times, and even have understanding that the future may not look any better. How does our understanding that the madness will end, and Jesus is coming back shape our attitude in the current season?

-What is the work that the King is about, and how do we partner with Him in that work?

Daniel acknowledged his sinfulness along with his people’s in prayer. He also acknowledged that judgment is what we deserve from Him and He consistently shows us His mercy instead because of His Name’s sake. His prayer was rooted in the knowledge that God is Who He says He is and does what He says He will do. 

Discussion Questions:
-How far is our prayer motivated by a deep concern for the Name and reputation of the Lord?  

-Are we in the habit of considering ourselves as part of the eternal Kingdom of God that He is establishing, a part of a “we” and not just an “I”?  

-What does the fact that God took action as soon as Daniel began praying tell you about God and the work that He is accomplishing in establishing His eternal Kingdom? 

Discussion Questions:

-We believe that the Lord has the ability and the willingness to help us by strengthening us physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. What are some of the ways that we can prepare ourselves to receive the help that He wants to give?

-Do we have a story (testimony) of the Lord’s help in any of those areas in our lives that others need to hear, and we get to give thanks and praise?  

We learned that Daniel 11 is one of the most detailed historical prophecies in scripture about the kingdoms to come after Daniel. The Medes/Persians, Alexander the Great, and the kingdoms of the North (Syria) and the South (Egypt) and how they all fought of Israel. The prophecies after verse 20 are also repeating prophesies and will happen again in the end times. We learned about the king of the North, also known as the little horn in Daniel 8. He is describing the Antichrist in the end times in the same prophesy. We can learn a couple of different things from this.

Discussion Questions:
-We all build our own kingdoms to our own detriment. 
-Matt 6:33 says that if we "seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
We have to be about building HIS kingdom and not ours. We are to seek His kingdom and His Righteousness (Jesus) because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. He gave us his identity and his inheritance. There is no kingdom we can build on this earth that will compare to His kingdom.
What has Jesus done for you specifically? Who do you need to tell about what Jesus has done so they can join the kingdom?
-Satan even tempted Jesus to bow down before him so that he could have all the kingdoms of the earth, and Jesus, not so politely refused.
What kingdoms are you being tempted with and why should you choose God's kingdom instead?

The Bible is God's very own words to us...He gave it to show us how we can have a continuing real and personal relationship with Him.  Reading it & meditating on it helps us to know God and how He works in our lives.  Making Bible reading a part of our daily life will help us grow in our faith and in godliness.  

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT

Need help getting started?  Here are a few suggestions! 

• Download the BIBLE APP to have the Bible at your fingertips and to have access to 100's of reading plans to help you stay consistent.  Find it here
  
• New Believers Reading Plan: Find it here
  
• Verse of the Day Bible Reading Plan: View it here
  
• The Gospel of John Reading Plan: Find it here
  
• The Bible Project: New Testament in One Year: Find it here
  
• The Bible Project: The Bible (read the Bible chronologically in one year): Find it here
  
• Get more out of your Bible reading! Find out more here
  

Prayer is simply a conversation with God.  Talking to Him, and listening to Him, just as you and I have conversations everyday. Prayer is one of the primary ways in which we interact with God. We share our thoughts, concerns, and allow space for Him to work in our lives. It’s a set-aside & ongoing time to talk to Him about anything that’s on our mind and receive his direction and encouragement.

"...your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
    may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
    as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
    as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
    but rescue us from the evil one."

Matthew 6:9-13 NLT

Here are some ways to get you started! 

• Presence-Filled prayer: Experiencing God in Prayer reading plan: Find it here
  
• Prayer for Beginners: Find more here
• How do I talk to God? Find it here