The Lion's Den

Introduction:

P.O.V. — Kids Chuch/SS stories knew as kids… refreshed!

The Fall — choice btwn Gods’ Way & satan Way

The Exod’ — God’s reigns supreme!

The Giant-slayr — David trust’d YH ev’y single day… start sm. ways

The Big Fish — Jonah bitt’ss & ang’r sent life spin out of control! Forgive others when they offend or hurt U!

TODAY: >>

Daniel & the Lion’s Den

Kids - let me hear you make lion noises!

Courageous & obedient man named Dan lived thousands of years ago… hundreds of yrs b4 Jesus.

Yet, life gives us many good examples of how to live.

Rather than bore U w/ story, we’re going to watch a video…

VIDEO: Hey-o Daniel Lions Den

What an amazing faith!

Daniel faced with starved, wild beasts; STRONG lions!

Dan had to have amazing faith that God could save him!

DYK:

“To have faith” means the same as “to trust”; or “to rely on”!

Daniel trusted God.

There’s one verse in particular that we’re going to focus on. Shows Daniels’ actions.

Do it in a FUN way; get U all involved! >>

SWORD DRILLS!

If > 12yrs: over head — If < 12yrs: table contents open!

Look up: Daniel 6:10

Thank you, volunteers! Let’s give it up…

Let’s consider the verse…

Daniel 6:10 “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

If watching TV was outlawed, U find way to view screen?

If was law that learning about Jesus was illegal, would you still find someone to study w/ or teach U?

Daniel got the news that his faith was illegal & went right up to his room to pray.

It was against the law to pray — and he prayed!

Daniel did the RIGHT thing even tho the gov’t & law said diff.

Not thing that agreed w. him; fun thing… HARD thing… the right thing is what GOD says is right.

How many kno… Right thing is diff. to do??

Dan used passive resistance - to a dictator; not democ like USA. He protested by living the God’s way.

His actions showed that >>

Daniel Trusted God!

Daniel had relied on God; he knew that God could handle any challenge he faced.

He knew that God had made lions and could protect him!

Daniel knew that >>

God is Trustworthy:

He acts for our good; in His Way.

That doesn’t mean that God’s Way isn’t challenging.

KIDS: Make Lion noises (again)

Daniel is an example of how doing right thing is tough!

But he does help us when we trust Him:

Psalm 40:1 “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.”

Why did Psalmist have such bold faith? Gives reasons a bit later…

Psalm 40:5 “Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.”

YH worked powerful signs - Egypt, Jonah, David, etc!

Sometimes we XP’ce God’s power.… ‘times we need to hear them from others!

Called “Testimonies”

“But I’ve never seen God to amazing things!”

Say to that: “Look & listen! Keep eyes & ears open, give God more credit for the good… ”

God works more than U can see/can count!

He never changes!

Isaiah 26:3–4 “…Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”

Is God an actual pc. of sedimentary rock? Igneous? Metamorp?

God is the same yest, 2day, 4ever! His grace doesn’t get old. His justice foll’s same principles!

Creation still works as it always has — much as we try to thwart it

God is the same! ROCK ETERNAL.

Say: Rock Eternal!

He acts for our good; tho not always our pref’d way… && never changes!

THERE4, because of this (and More!), >>

I will Trust God

Faith often seen as something you can’t see or actually DO.

End of James 2: “faith w/o action is dead”!

In other words, if you don’t act on your belief, it serves no purpose; has NO value whatsoever.

Can say: “I love Jesus,” but does your behavior LOOK like you love Jesus??

CHAIR OBJ. LESSON:

Set Up: Place the chair in front of the audience. Invite Vol’ to come and stand near the chair.

Ask: “Do you believe this chair can hold you if you sit on it?” Most likely, they will say “Yes.”

Ah, but can you SHOW me you believe? “Believing the chair can hold U is good; that’s faith. But if you never sit, how can I know?

Invite Vol’ to Sit: "Are U now putting full weight on the chair?” "Do U fully trust it?"

What if: ‘believed’ all chairs were sturdy.… but never sat on 1 (just to be cautious). Faith?

Let’s give it up for awesome vol! May be seated.

Explain the Lesson:

Even MORE than the chair, God is so much more trustworthy!

Might say we believe God is strong & capable,… true trust means putting our lives in His hands; like sitting in the chair.

Some U today:

believe He’s your friend & don’t pray;

b’lieve he’s only hope, don’t tell anyone;

b’ieve He’s all p’wrful & don’t pray;

b’lieve His word gives life & don’t read it…

What kind of faith is it if it doesn’t change things?

Scripture Connection:

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Believe that God can heal X; save Y; even guide Z! Trust Him.

Solomon writes here - trust God in EVERY area!

Isaiah 26:3–4 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you…”

When we trust in God, no matter how reckl’ss it may seems, he provides peace: things will seem to work out, generally…

God desires for us to grow in our understanding Him.

God wants OTHERS to see it, too.

Can have all faith in world, all spir’l gifts, & not show God’s love or not talk about it.

Me tell U: Par’, grand’’ts — Kids need to see this modeled.

Jesus was God’s Best Plan

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Gospel tells: Jesus & His Way is the best way!

The way Jesus cared for others; work’d G’s power; prayed; X went after lost ppl.; laid down his priv. so the worse-off could have much…

God wants YOU to live your life in way that looks like X.

Jesus is the same yes’day, today, forevermore! Rock solid; trustworthy!

SO:

If G.. is trustworthy (reliable) & we trust God by acting… & JC is best way to see G’s plan… >>

I will be Bold for Jesus

Being BOLD for Jesus starts by saying:

“I believe in Jesus.”

Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Saying “Jesus is Lord” means admitting: Jesus’ way of life is best way.

AND He can tell my how to live MY life; you’ll accept it.

You believe that He has a say in how treat siblings, parents; greet neighbors; parent kids; act when no one’s watch’g…

But, today, take faith to the next step — DO something!

“Because of Jesus, I will live differently.”

Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”

4 some, means treating siblings like Jesus; w/ respect.

4 some, less screen time & more Bible time

4 some, means forgiving past hurts—or saying sorry for hurt

4 some, running away from & putting up roadblocks around tempt’n you face.

4 some, means telling some1 about X; inviting to church; serving @ soup kitchen; vol. in ministry; standing for what’s RIGHT even if hard…

Today: make U take action, come 2 front, take committal card!

PA - hold up card

Reminds you of today’s message & your homework!

Sign it today. Right now!

Put it somewhere reminded of your comm’t to be BOLD forX

LAMINATED IN FOYER

Ushers dismiss from rear; come forward; return down outer aisle. (send some1 if can’t)

PRAY.

Remind: laminator in foyer. Team standing by.