Sermon Tone Analysis
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Who comes to mind when you think about demonstrating courageous faith?
Someone in history?
Someone in your own life?
What about this person demonstrated faith through difficulty?
Why do you think people give up so easily?
I think society has made it much easier for us to give up on relationships, financial obligations, jobs, you name it, we’ve made it very easy to just quit and go find something else to do or someone else to do it with.
In tonight’s study, we are going to see Daniel’s friends stand up to incredible pressure to stand firm in their beliefs in order to continue worshipping their one true God instead of the God N wanted them to worship.
What was Nebuchadnezzar’s purpose in setting up the statue?
He wanted to express his supreme leadership over Babylon.
There is recorded in history in his 10th year a revolt which may have caused him to build this statue and see who he needed to weed out of his leadership.
Why would he require people to worship it at all costs?
If his leaders still refused to bow, then the revolt wasn’t over.
He would need to weed out more of his leadership.
Also, if he could get his leaders to do this, then he would be able to get the people to do it as well.
Why do you think the people obeyed?
There was the threat of execution by a fiery furnace if you didn’t do what he told.
This was a common form of punishment which was used back in this day.
I’m sure they had witnessed many executions by this form.
When have you felt pressure to conform to cultural standards that went against God’s will?
How did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego respond to the king’s threat?
They were very upfront they didn’t bow to this statue.
They wouldn’t do this.
They had complete faith in the God they served and wouldn’t bow to his god.
How were they able to stand against the king as they did?
They had put their faith in God and knew whatever the outcome, if they remained faithful, God would deliver them.
They would either be saved from the king’s punishment or they would be taken into God’s glory to be with Him.
How should the response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego challenge us to stand in the face of peer pressure?
They stood firm in what they believed.
They didn’t let what the king and his officials telling them what to do change their faith even though it meant it may cost them their lives.
Do we still struggle with peer pressure as adults?
Of course the answer to this question is yes.
It might be in different forms than when we were teenagers, but I think it is something we need to let children and teenagers know this is something that doesn’t go away.
We can also demonstrate to them how to stand up against it.
I think a lot of teens think this is something that will go away when they get older and they won’t have to deal with it any more.
When Christian teens rely on God to help them stand up to the challenges they face during this time will help them when they grow older.
I think this is something we need to be showing to our teenagers.
Why is it important that we put emphasis on the object of the three men’s faith and not their personal strength to exhibit faith?
If we focus on their personal strength, we miss the fact of what God was doing here.
These men had their faith built on God and what He had done in their lives before this.
There had been so many ways God had shown them His love and faithfulness to them, they didn’t even question that He would work through this.
Their faith really wasn’t theirs as much as it was how God had proved Himself to them throughout their lives.
These really were ordinary men who chose to follow God and allow Him to work.
Why do you think the king responded even more harshly than he initially threatened?
His authority had been threatened by the response of the three.
He was furious.
Once again, if we go back, the king was wanting his leaders to bow to the new image he had created.
If he could get them to do this, the people would follow and then he wouldn’t have an issue with everyone following his leadership.
These three were not only bowing down to the image of his god, they were telling him exactly why they weren’t and that his god was inferior to the God they served.
How did God provide in a seemingly impossible circumstance?
He protected them from the fire.
Not only did He protect them, some say He sent an angel in with them and some say it was actually the Son of God who was in there with them.
They not only were protected from the flames, but there was no hint they had even been in the fire.
How did the king respond to seeing the men emerge from the fire untouched?
He stated that their God was superior to all other gods, but he fell short of professing He was the only true God.
He also rewarded the trio by giving them promotions.
Some questions to think about as we leave this evening.
Where do you struggle to be faithful in the face of peer pressure?
How might the Lord be challenging you to be bold in your faith in this area?
The three men’s faith was not dependent on God rescuing them from their circumstances.
How does their statement challenge your faith?
Where do you need to trust God’s character no matter the outcome of your circumstances?
How might you share the gospel with others this week using this account from Daniel?
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