Making Good Choices God s Hero Daniel IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS. (PROVERBS 3:6) 1. Lesson 1 - Overview of Daniel 1, 2 & 6 2. Lesson 2 - Making good choices with peer pressure 3. Lesson 3 - Making good choices with wisdom and prayer 4. Lesson 4 - Making good choices with the courage of a lion 5. Lesson 5 - Learning to make good choices in my life BIBLE CAMP STUDIES (Five Lessons suitable for VBS, Bible Camps, Youth Lectureships, and Weekend Studies) Senior High & Junior High Class (Grades 7-12) TEACHERS GUIDE Written by Kent Heaton 1 P a g e
TEACHER S GUIDE This series of BIBLE CAMP STUDIES was developed for the North Florida Bible Camp in High Springs, Florida. After using various VBS materials it was decided the best effort for the campers was to develop material that would be suited for the five days of Bible classes in the camp format. As in the case with most summer Bible camps there is no preparation of the student for the material presented during the course of camp. The first day of class introduces the student to the material (in some cases) for the first time. Backgrounds of campers vary in knowledge and understanding. Time is limited in the camp format to present a complete picture each day. It was also found that concentrating on a single theme during the week left more of the lesson in the mind of the camper than changing each day to a new Bible story or theme. The BIBLE CAMP STUDIES are designed as FIVE lessons to give the camper an opportunity to learn the Bible lesson and make practical application in their own words. Each lesson is formatted to fit on one sheet of paper (front/back) and to be passed out on the day of class. We found that purchasing books and expecting campers to bring their book every day was a fun challenge to say the least. The teachers of the BIBLE CAMP STUDIES are able to easily teach the lesson and focus on certain applications in the lives of young people. A key to successful teaching during a full week of camp is to keep the students interested, involved and excited about the lesson. Much of the material comes from the lives of the student. This guide will help to direct some of the discussions of each lesson and encourage participation from the students. LESSON ONE OVERVIEW OF DANIEL 1, 2 & 6 (PAGE 2) Making Good Choices God s Hero Daniel will teach the lessons of Daniel 1, 2 & 6. Four young men are taken from their homeland and thrust into a pagan world of idolatry, culture and challenges that would test their faith in the one true God. Based upon the admonition of Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths Daniel and his three friends face an important test in Daniel 1 that will determine the courage to overcome the test that await them. Lesson One will spend time familiarizing the student with the lessons for the week. The need in this lesson is to establish how important it is to win battles today so there can be victory tomorrow. QUICK NOTES Which one of these decisions had more consequence than the other? For a Jew being thrown into a pagan land would present challenges on a number of levels. It really would not matter if they were commanded to learn a different language as this would become a tool to help them show the Babylonians the one true God. Learning the culture and education of the Babylonian world would also help them understand the people of the land. It was quite a challenge to have their names changed that represented worship of God to worship of pagan gods (covered more in Lesson Two). But none of these would have has much conflict as eating the king s delicacies. That is where Daniel and his friends drew the line in the sand. If they did not stand up for what they believed here they would not have the faith to stand before the fiery furnace and den of lions. It becomes a matter of CHOICE. Help the student see that what is watched on TV and the movies has a great influence on their lives. Impress upon them the example of Daniel and friends being people of God who made tough choices to be separate and apart from the pagan world around them. 2 P a g e
WHERE DO YOU STAND Let the students explain their answers and why they chose their answer. APPLICATION An example is given on making the acrostic. This will be due on the last day of class. Talk about how they define a HERO! LESSON TWO MAKING GOOD CHOICES WITH PEER PRESSURE (PAGE 5) The lesson today will focus on Daniel 1. Review the first lesson. Outline of the text: A. Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem taking Jehoiakim king of Judah with articles from the Temple B. Ashpenaz, master of Nebuchadnezzar s eunuchs, to select young men for service before the king C. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are chosen but Daniel refuses to eat the king s food and drink D. Daniel proposes a test to see if refraining from the kings food and drink would be different from those servants who indulge in the king s delicacies E. After ten days Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were no longer required to eat of the king s food and drink F. By God s blessings the four young Jewish boys excelled in all matters before the king Three things define a hero: 1. A willingness to take risks 2. A willingness to step out of my comfort zone 3. A willingness to make a difference in the world Matching: Nebuchadnezzar - Babylonian King Jehoiakim - Judean King Ashpenaz - Eunuch master Daniel - Belteshazzar Shadrach - Hananiah Meshach - Mishael Abed-Nego - Azariah What descriptions do we have of Daniel and friends? Young men in whom there was no blemish Good-looking Gifted in all wisdom Possessing knowledge and quick to understand Ability to serve in the king s palace Capable of learning the language and literature of the Chaldeans PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR SANDALS Class participation MORE INFORMATION Show the students how important the Jewish name was and how the Babylonians changed the names to reflect the gods of the Chaldeans. Again show that while this had an impact it did not matter to the four young men as they still worshiped the one true God. 3 P a g e
HELPING TO LEARN THE LESSON Lesson 1 What made Daniel willing to take a stand against eating the food of the king was something that began in his heart first. Great men and women of faith always overcame difficulty because they were prepared for it. The heart is the seat of the will and until the heart is prepared to make the right choice it will be difficult to make those right decisions. Courage began in the HEART of Daniel. Purposed in his heart is a decided resolution. Daniel had already made his mind up what he would do if confronted with the choice. Conviction is what we have already decided before the moment of decision. APPLICATION Let the students give their answers and the reasons why. Lesson 2 Daniel was willing to allow God to work in his life. Sometimes young people want things now and not later. This lesson shows to the student the need to trust in God s way. Throughout the book of Daniel we find how these four young men let God work through them. Encourage your students to let God work in their lives. This means to trust Him for the small decisions and the big decisions. Show in your own life how that you waited for God and found reward. Share how often we get in a hurry and it does not work out so well. Proverbs 3:6 Clark writes: Begin, continue, and end every work, purpose, and device, with God. Earnestly pray for his direction at the commencement; look for his continual support in the progress; and so begin and continue that all may terminate in his glory: and then it will certainly be to thy good. End the class with a preview of the next lesson. Challenge them to find ways to be like Daniel and his friends in the days ahead. Ask them to share how they have done this later in class. LESSON THREE MAKING GOOD CHOICES WITH WISDOM AND PRAYER (PAGE 7) Review the previous lesson (three points to learn) Outline of the text A. Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that disturbs him and he asks his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and the wise men (Chaldeans) to tell the king the dream and its meaning. B. Finding the wise men unable to tell him his dream and the interpretation, the king begins executing all wise men of Babylon. C. Daniel hears of the plight and implores the king to allow him time to tell the dream and its meaning. D. Returning to his three friends, Daniel prayed to God who gave them the dream and its meaning. E. Daniel is brought before the king and describes the dream with its meaning. F. Nebuchadnezzar promoted Daniel and his friends over the affairs of the province of Babylon. 4 P a g e
Read Daniel 2:1-13 A fun exercise: Student participation. Anyone can tell the meaning of a dream if told them; no one can tell the dream of another without either the person revealing the dream or God revealing the dream. Nebuchadnezzar brought out the true colors of his wise men. Read Daniel 2:14-23 FAITH FACT Daniel exhibited tremendous faith to believe he could know the dream. He knew if it were to be done that God alone had the power to do so. Verse 18 is an powerful example of our prayer among friends can change things. Emphasize the importance of Daniel and his friends praying together. The power of prayer is show in clear terms. Remind the students that God answers prayers in His way and His time. But never doubt the importance of collective prayers of God s people. Read Daniel 2:24-30 WOW WHAT A MOMENT It would seem easy in the mind of men for Daniel to take the credit for revealing the dream. The result would be immediate power and glory. But show the students that Daniel was not tempted by man s glory but rather wanting to give God the glory because without God Daniel would not have been able to reveal the dream. Read Daniel 2:32-45 There is not enough time to go carefully through the meaning of each element of the statue. Explain to the students this is a matter of revealed history. God prophesied these nations before they happened. The most important part is to show the prophecy of the kingdom of God (the church) coming into existence during the days of the Romans Empire (Daniel 2:44). HELPING TO LEARN THE LESSON Lesson 1 Student participation. Lesson 2 a) Babylon b) Medo-Persians c) Greeks (Alexander the Great) d) Romans e) The church was established in Acts 2 during the period of the Roman Empire All of the empires listed are gone Read Hebrews 12:28 Who is in CHARGE of nations? Have a student read each passage. The answer: THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY LESSON FOR TOMMORROW: We will not be able to study the more familiar story of the fiery furnace but move to Daniel 6 where Daniel is faced with the decision of prayer. His faith puts him in a den of lions but again the Lord delivers him. 5 P a g e
LESSON FOUR MAKING GOOD CHOICES WITH THE COURAGE OF A LION (PAGE 9) Review the previous lesson (three points to learn) Outline of the text A. Darius the Mede organizes his kingdom with 120 satraps (a governor or viceroy of a Persian province having both military and civil power). B. The political enemies of Daniel convince the king to sign a law prohibiting petitioning any god or man for thirty days except Darius with the penalty of death for those who disobey. They acknowledge the faith of Daniel and use his worship as a means to have him cast into a den of lions. C. Daniel, aware of the decree, continues to worship Jehovah as was his custom since early days. D. Daniel is tried and convicted and thrown into a den of lions. E. King Darius spent the night fasting on behalf of Daniel and returns to the den early the next morning to find Daniel unharmed. The Lord had sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions. F. In response the king condemns the accusers of Daniel, their children and wives to the lions. G. Darius writes a decree exalting the living God and Daniel prospers in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Ask your students to explain the meaning of Courage is never to let your actions be influenced by your fears. The challenge of Daniel was not to fear the lions and allow God s will to be done regardless of the consequence. Read Daniel 6:1-9 THE PLOT a) Daniel distinguished himself before men and God. As a politician there could not be found any charge of wrong not even a speeding ticket! Important lesson showing the life of godliness produces a good character. b) Because of his life example, the enemies of Daniel could find no charges of wrong. c) The way the enemies attacked Daniel shows the example of Daniel. They knew he was a devout man who prayed to Jehovah daily and they used his relationship with God against him. d) They thought if they made it illegal to pray to anyone (including Daniel s God) they would finally find a way to charge him. This also suggests they knew how strong the faith of Daniel was to disobey the king s command. May we all have that kind of faith. Read Daniel 6:10-17 THE PLAN a) Daniel understood the law and how the wording prohibited him from praying to Jehovah but he knew it was necessary to obey God rather than men (Acts 4:19; 5:29). b) He did not change anything he had done before to show his enemies his faith in the Lord. This was his custom from early days and he would not change now. c) Notice the impact of Daniel s life upon a Gentile king. Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you. 6 P a g e
Read Daniel 18-28 THE PRAYER a) Darius knew what his politician had done and he worried Daniel would be killed. He could not sleep nor eat. b) An angel of the Lord and shut the lions mouths and no harm came to Daniel. c) Daniel was brought out of the den but his enemies (including their children and wives) were cast into the den where they were killed. Emphasize the THREE THINGS TO LOOK AT TODAY! Have the students give their answers to the following: SHOULD CHRISTIANS LIVE IN SUCH A WAY THAT NO CHARGE CAN BE BROUGHT AGAINST THEM? What about road rage? What about egging the next door neighbor s house? What about speeding tickets? What about stealing some watermelons? What about cheating on tests? What about breaking the rules? What did people say about Timothy? He was WELL SPOKEN of by the BRETHREN (Acts 16:2) Paul told Timothy to be an example how? Let no one DESPISE your YOUTH, but be an EXAMPLE to the BELIEVERS in WORD, in CONDUCT, in LOVE, in SPIRIT, in FAITH, in PURITY (1 Timothy 4:12) DARE TO BE A DANIEL STAND UP FOR JESUS CHRIST GO AGAINST THE LAW OF THE LAND???? Wow that took a lot of COURAGE!!!! How many laws of the land are we supposed to obey? ALL UNLESS THEY DISOBEY THE LAW OF GOD! When do we have a right to disobey a law of the land? (See Acts 5:27-29) Does that mean we can disobey a law only because we do not like it? NO Do you pray in school? Do you pray in public? CHALLENGE TO STUDENTS TO SEE HOW THEY CAN SHOW THEIR FAITH IN PRAYER. GO AROUND THE ROOM AND ASK THE STUDENTS: If it is against the law to oppose homosexuality, what would you do? If it is against the law to gather for worship, what would you do? If it is against the law to mention God in speech, what would you do? If it is against the law to have a Bible, what would you do? IF YOU WERE ARRESTED FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CONVICT YOU? 7 P a g e
BEING EATEN BY A LION IS A HORRIBLE WAY TO DIE NOT FUN! Describe what happened to the men who accused Daniel (notice their children and wives were included) Daniel 6:24. This is what would have happened to Daniel. Knowing that if you prayed you would be thrown to the lions, why would you PRAY? Are you scared to let people know that you are a Christian some times? (It is okay to say yes because a lot of times it is scary)!!!!! WHAT IF: Your boyfriend/girlfriend will leave you if you don t have sex with them? WHAT DO YOU DO????? Your friends will laugh at you if you don t go see a certain movie? WHAT DO YOU DO????? People at school laugh at you because you wear modest clothes? WHAT DO YOU DO????? The school says that prayer is not allowed? WHAT DO YOU DO????? HELPING TO LEARN THE LESSON IMPRESS THE LESSONS OF BEING A BLAMELESS DANIEL, A TRUSTING DANIEL AND A HEART LIKE DANIEL! In this lesson you want to challenge the young people to have a faith of their own. Daniel was far from home but he kept doing what he had learned from an early age praying to God. Show the importance of making a stand for right even when others will laugh, ridicule or make fun of them. It is a hard time for young people but Daniel (and his friends) show that it can be done. Sing the song, Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus Close the class with a prayer for the heart of the young people. LESSON FIVE LEARNING TO MAKE GOOD CHOICES IN MY LIFE (PAGE 11) This lesson is a review lesson to impress the choices of Daniel and three friends. Have each student share the acrostic they created from DANIEL. Have each student share the acrostic of their own name. TOUGH CHOICES Ask a student to read a story and give their thoughts on how to handle the situation. Do not criticize the manner they may answer the question but challenge them to apply their answers to what God would want them to do. BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE STUDENTS WITH YOUR LOVE FOR THE LORD. LET THEM SEE DANIEL LIVING IN YOUR LIFE SO THEY CAN SEE HOW TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS LIKE DANIEL. Thank you for loving the hearts of young people. kent 8 P a g e