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You can make an impact. Get in the game. You never know what life is going to bring your way. I spent my first nine years of life in Southern California. After my dad had a heart attack, we moved over 300 miles away. That was a game changer: new environment, new school, and new friends. A few years later, my mom had major surgery, and I had to go live with my sister for a year of high school. Another game changer: new school, new surroundings, and new friends. While living with my sister for that year, I visited Immanuel Baptist Church and gave my life to Jesus. That was the ultimate game changer. I went to school to be a teacher and a coach, but God called me to ministry. That was really a game changer. Then I married yet another game changer. You get the point. Now, imagine being a young person who has suddenly been taken from your family, friends, and country to a foreign land not by choice, but as a captive. That certainly would be a game changer! That was what Daniel and some other Jewish young men experienced. For the next six weeks we re going to see how God used these four Hebrews to witness, speak to, and impact a pagan culture. God used Daniel and his friends in tremendous ways just as God can use us to impact and change our world today. As we go through this study in the Book of Daniel, may God speak to us and encourage us to get in the game and be game changers. Rob Zinn Rob Zinn came to Christ through the ministry of Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, California. He has served on the church s staff since 1971 and he is currently the senior pastor. He and his wife, Jacque, have 6 children and 15 grandchildren. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 81
Game Changer: How to Impact Your World As you lead your group in this study, help them to know CHRIST and His gracious work, live as contributing servants in the COMMUNITY of faith, and effectively engage the CULTURE without losing distinction. Note in the group plans the icons (below), which identify activities to help group members connect in specific ways to Christ, Community, and Culture. Christ Community Culture Prayer is a call to seek God and not just what He can do for us. Christ is our ultimate example of how to remain steadfast in the face of opposition. We are to embrace a life of humility even as Jesus did. 82
We can generously serve with our resources and abilities, regardless of our circumstances or environment. It s easier to stand courageously and faithfully when we stand together. God will do great things through us as we humble ourselves under His lordship. The church should stand gracefully but resolutely against sin, even if that stand is not popular. We can unashamedly represent Christ to those around us. We can lovingly engage the culture with the truth. We can build bridges to Christ even in a world that opposed us. We point others to Christ when we serve those who oppose us. Helping you move from where you are to where God wants you to be. This is your passion for your class or group. Yet helping different individuals each take their next step to grow as disciples is challenging. The Transformational Discipleship Assessment (TDA) is a quick and easy tool to help you discover how you and the members of your group are doing in eight essential areas of discipleship. The TDA provides next steps to help your group move from where you are to where God wants you to be. The assessment is online which allows each group participant to take it in the comfort and privacy of their home, office, or even on their mobile device. Discover more at: TDA.LifeWay.com BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 83
GAME CHANGER: HOW TO IMPACT YOUR WORLD Session 1 Develop Conviction Daniel 1:3-5,8-13,17-19 Session 2 Pray Fervently Daniel 2:13-21,26-28a Session 3 Stand Courageously Daniel 3:13-18,26-28 Session 4 Live Humbly Daniel 4:28-35 Session 5 Confront Sin Daniel 5:17-28 Session 6 Act Faithfully Daniel 6:6-10,13-16,19-22 Songs, Magazine Articles, and Book Excerpts are available online to support this study. Go to BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. Here are some examples: 84 Session 1 Session 2 Develop Conviction Pray Fervently How to Reach the Unchurched in a Postmodern Culture (Threadsmedia. com) We re surrounded by friends and acquaintances who need to hear the gospel. Where do we begin? Does Prayer Really Change Things? (Threadsmedia.com) Prayer is much more than a ritual. It allows us to see the life that God wants us to experience in Him. game changer
The Point Live your life with uncompromising conviction. The Passage Daniel 1:3-5,8-13,17-19 The Bible Meets Life Ever notice how our behavior changes depending on where we are? We re quiet and deeply respectful when we visit a memorial like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We re loud and boisterous at a sporting event. Certain expectations are placed on us depending on the place or event. You re expected to cheer and yell at a football game. People will think you re bored or don t like the game if you just sit on your hands when the home team scores a touchdown. But cheer and yell at an art museum, and security will probably be called. The setting the culture often defines our behavior. But what do we do when the culture calls for us to act in a way that s just not right? In this study we will look at four young men four teenagers who were taken against their will to a new city, country, and culture. They were expected to embrace the new culture in every way. We ll see that they accepted some aspects of their new environment, but others they rejected. They simply didn t assume a When in Rome attitude. But how did they determine when to go against the flow? The Setting The divided kingdoms of God s people were near their end. The Northern Kingdom (Israel) had already met its demise at the hands of the Assyrians. The Southern Kingdom (Judah) still existed but was quite weakened. Continued disregard for God and His ways had led God to remove His hand of protection from the remaining kingdom. In 605 B.C., nearly 20 years before Judah s final fall, Babylon had laid siege to the land and taken captive some of its best and brightest residents, including Daniel and his friends. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 85
What does the Bible say? Daniel 1:3-5,8-13,17-19 (HCSB) Chaldean (v. 4) This is a general term for the people who lived in Babylonia during the time of Daniel, usually called Babylonians, and a specific term for a category of wise men in Babylonia (see 2:2). Defile (v. 8) To defile is to make someone or something morally impure or unclean. The Hebrew word refers to something soiled, stained, or polluted. 3 The king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring some of the Israelites from the royal family and from the nobility 4 young men without any physical defect, good-looking, suitable for instruction in all wisdom, knowledgeable, perceptive, and capable of serving in the king s palace and to teach them the Chaldean language and literature. 5 The king assigned them daily provisions from the royal food and from the wine that he drank. They were to be trained for three years, and at the end of that time they were to serve in the king s court. 8 Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king s food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief official not to defile himself. 9 God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official, 10 yet he said to Daniel, My lord the king assigned your food and drink. I m afraid of what would happen if he saw your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age. You would endanger my life with the king. 11 So Daniel said to the guard whom the chief official had assigned to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Please test your servants for 10 days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then examine our appearance and the appearance of the young men who are eating the king s food, and deal with your servants based on what you see. 17 God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind. 18 At the end of the time that the king had said to present them, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king interviewed them, and among all of them, no one was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they began to serve in the king s court. 86 SESSION 1
THE POINT Live your life with uncompromising conviction. GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes DISCUSS: Invite your group members to Notes turn their attention to the image on page 67 of the Personal Study Guide (PSG). Ask: When have you felt like you were going against the flow? Allow time for each person to respond. (A response now will encourage them to respond to other questions later in the session.) ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): To illustrate TIP: Visit the Bible Studies for Life blog for additional teaching ideas, especially if you lead a group just for women, men, or collegiates. how our surroundings influence us, wear an accessory that you wouldn t normally wear to church (ie., pool floatie, football helmet, or baseball hat). Point out that some items are important (and needed) in specific places, that are out of place in others. RECAP THE PSG (PAGE 68): Ever notice how our behavior changes depending on where we are? We re quiet and deeply respectful when we visit a memorial like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We re loud and boisterous at a sporting event. The setting the culture often defines our behavior. But what do we do when the culture calls for us to act in a way that s just not right? In this study we will look at four young men four teenagers who were taken against their will to a new city, country, and culture. They were expected to embrace the new culture in every way. We ll see that they accepted some aspects of their new environment, but others they rejected. ENHANCEMENT: Bring your group s attention to Pack Item #8 Game Changer poster, to introduce the topic of this six-week study. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point on page 68 of the PSG: Live your life with uncompromising conviction. Explain that this key idea will drive your discussion today. PRAY: Transition into the Bible study with prayer. Pray for wisdom and courage to follow God when facing unusual or spiritually challenging situations. Display Pack Item #8 to communicate the study topic. Display Pack Item #9 to give a visual illustration of the Babylonian empire. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 87
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Daniel 1:3-5 Notes 3 The king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring some of the Israelites from the royal family and from the nobility 4 young men without any physical defect, good-looking, suitable for instruction in all wisdom, knowledgeable, perceptive, and capable of serving in the king s palace and to teach them the Chaldean language and literature. 5 The king assigned them daily provisions from the royal food and from the wine that he drank. They were to be trained for three years, and at the end of that time they were to serve in the king s court. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Daniel 1:3-5. RECAP THE PSG (PAGE 70): Because of the disobedience of the nation of Judah, God allowed the wicked Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar, to lay siege to the nation, first in 605 B.C. A number of young men among Judean nobility were captured and carried into exile; among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Around 15-17 years of age, Daniel and his friends were hauled off to the land of Babylon where Nebuchadnezzar placed them in a special program to prepare them for service to the king. ENHANCEMENT: Display Pack Item #9, World Powers of the Sixth Century map, to provide a visual of the Babylonian empire. SUMMARIZE: Ashpenaz, chief of the court officials, was charged with assimilating the young men into the Babylonian culture. 1. They were to learn the Chaldean language and literature. This education included learning about Babylonian history and culture. 2. They were to change their names. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What are some of the defining values of Christianity? 88 SESSION 1 DISCUSS: Question 2 on page 70 of the PSG: What are some of the defining values of our culture? TRANSITION: It s important to note that not all assimilation is bad. We assimilate to changing culture all the time without thinking about it: food choices, fashion trends, language, and technology. Still, we need to know when it s OK to adapt to the culture and when it s not. We will see that clearly in the next passage.
THE POINT Live your life with uncompromising conviction. Daniel 1:3-5 Commentary Culture expects you to assimilate. The opening verses of the Book of Daniel indicate that Nebuchadnezzar [neb yoo kad NEZ uhr], King of Babylon, invaded Jerusalem in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah (v. 1). The destruction of Jerusalem occurred in three stages. First, in 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to the city. He plundered the temple and removed ceremonial vessels used for worship and placed them in the house of his god (v. 2) as a display of conquest and power. He also took captive many of the citizens of Jerusalem. The second stage occurred in 597 B.C. when Jehoiachin [jih HOY uh kin], the son of Jehoiakim [jih HOY uh kim], was compelled to surrender (2 Kings 24:11-14). Nebuchadnezzar again took more treasures from the temple and deported to Babylon over 10,000 Hebrew captives including numerous craftsmen and leaders. Finally, the third and ultimate stage in the fall of Jerusalem occurred in 586 B.C. when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Solomon s temple. He took another large population of Hebrews to Babylon and left Jerusalem impoverished and in ruins. Verses 3-4: King Nebuchadnezzar practiced a policy of assimilating talented young leaders into service for his government. He promised them a better life in exile than what they had in a war-ravished homeland. He instructed Ashpenaz [ASH peh naz], the chief of his court officials, to bring some of the brightest and best Israelites for training. The Israelites were to be from the royal family and from the nobility. They were to be young men. The Hebrew term translated young men could refer to children or older youth, but in keeping with Babylonian custom, the age of 14 or 15 was a suitable time to commence training. Furthermore, Nebuchadnezzar wanted the trainees to be without any physical defect, good-looking, and to demonstrate teachability and intellectual acumen. Verse 5: The entire learning process required three years. It was designed to reshape the thinking and lifestyle and fully persuade the trainees to embrace Babylonian culture. During these three years the young men from Judah would receive the finest of treatment and training and then serve in the king s court. For the young Hebrews, their daily diet included food and wine from the king s table. The Babylonians only had the best intentions in providing the royal food and drink to the trainees. They had little or no knowledge of the dietary provisions of the Mosaic law. Consequently, the Babylonian culture was unaware of the possible conflicts with the thinking and values of persons of faith. Among the Hebrews trainees were Daniel, Hananiah [han uh NIGH uh], Mishael [MISH eh uhl], and Azariah [az uh RIGH uh] (v. 6). The phrase among them in verse 6 indicates that more young men were involved than the four mentioned here. The chief official gave these four young men Babylonian names. Daniel was given the name Belteshazzar [bel tih SHAZ uhr]. Whereas, his Hebrew name meant God is my judge, Daniel s new name included a reference to a pagan god, Bel, and it meant Bel protect his life. Daniel s three friends were given the names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 89
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Daniel 1:8-13 Notes 8 Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king s food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief official not to defile himself. 9 God had granted Daniel favor and compassion from the chief official, 10 yet he said to Daniel, My lord the king assigned your food and drink. I m afraid of what would happen if he saw your faces looking thinner than those of the other young men your age. You would endanger my life with the king. 11 So Daniel said to the guard whom the chief official had assigned to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Please test your servants for 10 days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then examine our appearance and the appearance of the young men who are eating the king s food, and deal with your servants based on what you see. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Daniel 1:8-13. SUMMARIZE: Here we see the third area in which these young men were expected to assimilate. 3. They were to change their diet. The king s officials planned to give the young Jewish men daily provisions from the royal food and from the wine that he drank (v. 5) rich foods that likely included pork, horsemeat, and other foods forbidden by the Mosaic law (Leviticus 11:3-47). Furthermore, the king s food and wine were likely offered to their pagan gods before they were sent to the king s table. To eat foods prohibited in the law was to act in direct disobedience to God. To eat meat offered to idols was to acknowledge the Babylonian gods. Daniel and his friends were unwilling to do either. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What steps can we take to prepare ourselves before we re asked to compromise our convictions? DISCUSS: Question 3 on page 71 of the PSG: How do we know when it s time to take a stand? SUMMARIZE: Daniel asked permission to eat only foods allowed by Mosaic law. DISCUSS: Question 4 on page 72 of the PSG: How can we stand by our convictions without condemning others? 90 SESSION 1
THE POINT Live your life with uncompromising conviction. Daniel 1:8-13 Commentary Draw the line where you will not compromise. Verses 8-9: No doubt Daniel had been taught the covenant as a child before being exiled to Babylon. He grew up hearing the Torah and the tenants of the faithful. Although Daniel understood Babylonian culture, he didn t endorse cultural activities that violated his convictions. Daniel s conviction would not allow him to indulge in the royal menu of food and drink. What lay behind Daniel s uncompromising conviction? Could his witness and influence have been just as strong if he had compromised and enjoyed the king s diet? Daniel s stand was based on two factors: First, most of the food eaten in a Babylonian palace was considered ritually unclean according to the law of Moses (see Leviticus 11). The Babylonians enjoyed meat and other foods that God instructed the Israelites to avoid. Furthermore, even when the meat on the menu was acceptable, the Babylonians saw no need to drain the blood from the meat as prescribed in Leviticus 17:13-14. A second reason behind Daniel s conviction was that the meat and the wine were first sacrificed to Babylonian deities before being sent to the king s palace. Accepting a royal diet meant accepting the idols associated with it. Daniel refused because he wanted to remain faithful to God. In an attempt to honor God and avoid personal defilement, Daniel asked the chief official if he could be exempt from the king s diet. Daniel s request was a bold act of faith. He must have known the risks involved. The chief official could have informed the king, and the king could have taken the request as an insult to his authority. The request could have hindered Daniel s position and advancement in the palace. In addition, Daniel could have faced social alienation from his peers. Verse 10: The conviction Daniel held stands in ironic contrast to that of the chief official. While the official was sympathetic toward Daniel s desire, he was not convinced enough to risk his personal security. He feared that if he honored Daniel s request it would endanger his own life and imperil his future in the royal palace. Verses 11-13: Daniel voiced his request to the guard assigned by the chief official. The guard served as a subordinate with a responsibility to care for the development of Daniel and his friends. Daniel proposed a test for 10 days. He asked for a diet of vegetables to eat and water to drink. The Hebrew word translated vegetables was not limited to vegetables, but included fruits, grains, and bread made from grains. Ironically, the guard was willing to accommodate a request that the chief official would not endorse. Perhaps the guard received permission from the chief official. Perhaps the guard acted independently with mixed motives. We can only speculate about the guard, but we can be certain about God. God stirred the guard to grant the request. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 91
10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Daniel 1:17-19 Notes 17 God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind. 18 At the end of the time that the king had said to present them, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king interviewed them, and among all of them, no one was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they began to serve in the king s court. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Daniel 1:17-19. ALTERNATE QUESTION: How might others benefit when we stand our ground? RECAP THE PSG (PAGE 73): God gave these four young men abilities that were highly prized in Babylon particularly Daniel s ability to interpret dreams. The Babylonians strongly believed the gods spoke through dreams; consequently, they placed a high value on Daniel. After the three years of preparation, the young men stood before King Nebuchadnezzar. None of the young men equaled Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These four young men valued their obedience and walk with God more than anything else, and now they were placed in positions of influence with the king himself. DISCUSS: Question 5 on page 73 of the PSG: How can we support one another when it s necessary to stand against the culture? DO: Instruct group members to complete the activity on page 72 of the PSG on their own. If time allows, call on volunteers to share their responses. Which Way? When have you recently faced a decision where you had to decide between following God or following culture? What was at stake? What spiritual disciplines or practices help you understand what is right and wrong in today s society? TRANSITION: Daniel s life gave testimony of the God of Israel to every king he served over the next 66 years. From youth to old age, Daniel stood and served faithfully in uncompromising, unwavering godliness. 92 SESSION 1
THE POINT Live your life with uncompromising conviction. Daniel 1:17-19 Commentary Serve and stand for the Lord no matter what the culture does. Verse 17: God s expectation of us never lacks His revelation to us. The words God gave underscore the divine education provided to them. God gave Daniel and his friends knowledge and understanding. Hard work and disciplined study habits were important, but their success ultimately was directly attributable to God s provision. They each excelled in the curriculum of Babylon, but Daniel additionally comprehended visions and dreams. Babylonian culture placed a priority on the interpretation of dreams and visions. To serve as a representative in the royal palace, Daniel was exposed to the skills of professional seers who were trained in the ancient art of analyzing dreams. God enabled Daniel to gain expertise and provided him with discernment between truth and falsehood. There must have been plenty of dark magic that Daniel disavowed, but he was so informed about God s standard that he could correctly evaluate and repudiate Babylonian fallacies and inaccuracies. This is an important missional principle. Daniel lived in the heart of a pagan culture, but he found a way to express his faith and live by his convictions without stigmatizing his peers. Daniel s God-given ability for understanding visions and dreams later became central in his ascendancy with the Babylonian hierarchy. In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar s wise men could not understand his dream. Nebuchadnezzar s frustration resulted in an order of execution of all wise men, including Daniel and his friends. But God had prepared Daniel with the ability to meet the emergency, not only saving the lives of all the wise men, but also bringing himself and his God to the forefront of Nebuchadnezzar s court. Verses 18-19: The phrase at the end of the time is not a reference to the 10-day test (v. 12), but indicates the completion of the three-year training period designed by King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of the training period, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar, a crucial test both for the Hebrews and their trainers. If the four Hebrews failed to meet the king s expectations, the Hebrews could have been severely punished, perhaps even executed. Certainly the chief official in charge of Daniel and his friends believed his life was at stake in the outcome of their physical and intellectual training (v. 10). Even King Nebuchadnezzar was impressed as he interviewed them. In fact, no one was found equal. God did not merely give the Judeans satisfactory abilities, He also gave them exceptional standing. Consequently, they began to serve in the king s court. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 93
5 minutes LIVE IT OUT SAY: How will you live your life with uncompromising conviction? Notes GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 74 of the PSG. Evaluate. While we continually adapt to our culture, we need to discern what s OK and what s not OK. Spend time asking God to reveal any areas of your life in which you ve compromised on His standards. Respond in a God-honoring way when your convictions are put to the test. Let God use each test for His glory by responding with grace and conviction. In a complex situation? Ask God for wisdom and clarity as you seek to honor Him. Stand together. Intentionally invest in some deep friendships with other Christ-followers who are growing in their faith. Make an agreement to be honest and open, holding each other accountable to godly convictions. Wrap It Up SAY: Our culture is always changing, which means you will be continually confronted by the temptation to compromise what you know is right. Choose to stand strong. You may be going against the flow, but you won t be going alone. 94 SESSION 1