Untitled Sermon

Unbreakable Faith in the Lion's Den

Bible Passage: Daniel 6:1–23

Summary: Daniel's unwavering faith in God leads him to be unjustly accused and thrown into a lion's den, yet God protects him, showcasing the power of faith and God's deliverance.

Application: This passage encourages teens to stand firm in their faith, even in difficult circumstances. It highlights the importance of trusting God amidst peer pressure or when facing trials, reminding them that God is always with them.

Teaching: The sermon teaches that faith can lead to trials, but God is capable of delivering us through any situation. Believers are called to remain steadfast in their faith, knowing God can work miracles on their behalf.

How this passage could point to Christ: Daniel's experience in the lion's den prefigures Christ's ultimate sacrifice and His victory over death. Just as God delivered Daniel from the jaws of the lions, Jesus delivers us from sin and death, showing God's power to save.

Big Idea: Standing firm in faith invites God's deliverance, no matter how dire the circumstances may seem.

Recommended Study: As you prepare using Logos, consider exploring the historical context of Daniel's Babylonian captivity to better illustrate the pressures he faced. You may also want to investigate the literary structure of Daniel 6 and how it contrasts with surrounding chapters. Look into commentaries addressing the theological implications of God's sovereignty and deliverance in this narrative.

1. Daniel's Declaration of Integrity

Daniel 6:1–5 “1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; 2 and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. 4 Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.””

he got appointed above the others that worked with him because of the way that he did things

because of the excellent spirit that was in him.

I love this saying because with have a gift from God that is the holy spirit that lives inside us. That is their to direct and guide our lives.

John 14:15–30 ESV

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. 25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,

Jesus left and gave us a helper that lives inside of us! So cool that we can have the spirit of God with us in our every day life!

2. Daniel's Defiant Devotion

Daniel 6:6–10 ESV

6 Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. 10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Perhaps delve into the reality that true faith may require standing against unjust decrees, just as Daniel continued to pray despite the edict.

Sometimes what God calls us to do is different that what the world says.

Story about one of my friends growing up asking why do you do this, why do you go to church

David had a choice: to give in and worship the king only or to continue to pray to the Lord. Just think, what would you do?

Daniel had a problem on his hands because of the faith he had in Jesus

3. Daniel's Dilemma of Faith

Daniel 6:11–17 ESV

11 Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. 12 Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” 14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. 15 Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.” 16 Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” 17 And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.

The king relizes that he has been set up by some of the other leaders of the law, je tries to find a loophole to help get him out.

4. Daniel's Divine Deliverance

Daniel 6:18–23 ESV

18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. 19 Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

God can bring you out of whatever situation you are in, no matter how hard it might seem.

Spend time in prayer with leaders in the front to engage with students, talk about the power of prayer that Daniel had