Untitled Sermon (5)

Workshops on Biblical Exposition

Small Group Preparation Worksheet

Name: Kyle Lammott Passage:

instructions: In your small group, you will have 5 minutes to present on each of your passages. For each of your assigned passages, please respond to the questions below and provide 10 copies of this one-page handout (front and back, typed) that will assist your group in offering productive feedback. If you do not understand any of these questions, please visit simeontrust.org/prepare/ to find additional advice.

1. How does the context inform the meaning of this passage? Please consider: a) the literary context (passages before and after the passage), b) the historical context (circumstances of the audience), and c) the biblical context (citations/allusions or historical connections to other books that the author is making).

Literary Context:

- Chapter 4 conclude the life of Nebuchadnezzar with his redemption

- Chapter 5 introduces and concludes the life of Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar.

- introduces the apocalyptic portion of the book while chapter six concludes the historical portion of the book and chronologically go back in time to the first year of Belshazzar’s rule.

o in , Babylon is pictured as a lion. The Babylonian captivity is a captivity in a lions’ den.

o Daniel’s being cast into a lions’ den is a symbol of the whole preceding 70 years, and his emergence from the den is a symbol of the exodus from Babylon that is about to take place.

Historical Context:

- Chapter six is near the end of the Babylonian captivity.

- Darius is the third king mentioned in the book of Daniel – many believe Darius and Cyrus to be the same person, while others believe Darius to be Cyrus’ grandfather.

Biblical Context:

- Daniel in the Lion’s Den echoes many stories in the Bible

o Daniel and his friend in the furnace ()

o Joseph in the pit ()

o Jonah in the fish ()

o God’s people in Israel ()

o Jesus in the tomb

o Daniel in the lion’s den symbolizes Judah’s captivity in Babylon

- Daniel coming out of the lion’s den likewise echoes

o The exodus from Egypt

o The exodus from Babylon

o The resurrection of Christ

- The narrative likewise follows the narrative of Jesus’ life

o Daniel is known for doing miraculous signs (Jesus’ ministry)

o Daniel was about to be exalted over the whole kingdom (Triumphal Entry)

o The leaders (Satraps) become jealous and scheme a way to get rid of Daniel (Scribes and Pharisees)

o The king listens to the leaders (Jesus’ trial before Herod)

o Daniel is then given the death sentence (Crucifixion)

o Daniel is then brought out of the pit (Resurrection)

o Darius then tells the whole world about God’s eternal dominion (Great Commission)

o Daniel is then honored (Ascension)

2. How has the author organized this passage? Please a) show the structure in sections with verse references and b) explain what strategies you used to see this structure.

The Prelude: Daniel finds favor 1-3

The Plot: get rid of

The Plan: trick the king 6-9

The Petition: Daniel’s plea before God 10-13

The Punishment: the lion’s den 14-18

The Preservation: the lions’ mouths were shut 19-24

The Proclamation: tell the whole world of God’s eternal kingdom 25-28

Time references (then) move the text forward. Verse 10 is the only anomaly where the English translates the temporal marker when.

3. Drawing on your work to this point, state the author’s aim for his audience (in one short sentence).

The author wants to give hope to God’s people that God has not abandoned them in exile, for he faithful to redeem them from slavery.

4. What parts of this passage connect to the gospel of Jesus Christ? What part of the gospel is in view?

- The narrative itself point to the gospel (see biblical context)

- Through God’s people were enslaved to the power of darkness, Jesus has entered into pit to save his people from death and give them new life.

5. Drawing on your work to this point, what conclusion will you argue to your audience (in one short sentence)? What applications will you make for your audience?

Conclusion: God is faithful to his covenant people to bring them from death to life

Application: We are to live for Christ because we have been united with him in his death and his resurrection ()

6. What is your sermon title and your preaching outline?

The Prelude: Daniel finds favor 1-3

The Plot: get rid of

The Plan: trick the king 6-9

The Petition: Daniel’s plea before God 10-13

The Punishment: the lion’s den 14-18

The Preservation: the lions’ mouths were shut 19-24

The Proclamation: tell the whole world of God’s eternal kingdom 25-28