SESSION 3 STAND COURAGEOUSLY The Point Be ready and willing to stand for God. The Bible Meets Life Many of us gravitate toward whatever is popular or trending at the moment. However, not everything that is popular and trending is good or right. In those moments, we must make a decision to stand apart from the crowd. In the Book of Daniel, three men faced just such a decision. Their willingness to die rather than disobey God is a model for how we can stand courageously. With God, we can stand courageously because He goes with us every step of the way. The Passage Daniel 3:13-18,26-28 100 SESSION 3
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Daniel 3:13-18,26-28 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands? 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. 13 The Setting King Nebuchadnezzar, feeling the power of his position, commissioned a huge golden statue up to 90 feet tall. Upon Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here! Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 26 its completion, he announced a dedication of the statue and required all the various government officials throughout the land to attend the dedication. There, he commanded all in attendance to worship the statue. Disobedience was punishable by death. Even so, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow and worship. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 101
ENGAGE (15 MINUTES) GET INTO THE STUDY ENGAGE: Begin the session with one or more of the Engage Options on the next page. (This is optional. If you d rather skip the Engage Options, just begin with the first discussion question.) SAY: Many of us gravitate toward whatever is popular or trending at the moment. However, not everything that is popular and trending is good or right. In those moments, we must make a decision to stand apart from the crowd. In the Book of Daniel, three men faced just such a decision. Their willingness to die rather than disobey God is a model for how we can stand courageously. With God, we can stand courageously because He goes with us every step of the way. DISCUSS: Ask students the question, When have you seen someone act like a hero? 11 Leader Pack: Use the Fiery Furnace Activity poster to introduce the session. GUIDE: Call attention to The Point. Explain that this is the key to keep in mind throughout the session. THE POINT ITEM Be ready and willing to stand for God. READ: Read and summarize The Bible Meets Life for your group (p.90). Mustering the courage to do the right thing is not always easy. If it were easy, it wouldn t take courage! Being a follower of Christ often calls us to saddle up in a different direction from the crowd. In the Book of Daniel, three men were willing to die rather than compromise their faith. Their courage inspires us to stand unwaveringly for God. The gray bar indicates this material is from students Personal Study PRAY: Transition into the session by praying that students would have the Guide. The bolded page courage to stand for Christ, even when it s hard. number is where you can find the corresponding text in the Personal THE POINT. Study Guide. 102 SESSION 3
Engage Options YY Lead with Action Play the game Stand Up If Inform students that you are going to read statements to them, and they are to stand if they agree with the statement and remain seated if they disagree. After a few rounds, say, You could have stood for a lot of things in this game. In life, we often have the same option to either stand for truth or remain sitting. Sometimes it is hard to act in courage because it requires going against the grain. We are called to stand courageously for what we believe in all circumstances. OPTION: For this activity, begin with silly statements, such as pizza is the best food ever, and then work your way to more serious statements. YY Lead with Atmosphere Display the following quote on the board: A ship is safe in harbor, but that s not what ships are for. William G.T. Shedd. Say, Think about what this quote means to you. What might God be calling you to do with courage? He calls us to stand courageously and act boldly on our convictions and beliefs. YY Lead with Media Refer to the movie Chariots of Fire (Warner Bros., 1981) in which Eric Liddell, a Christian runner, refuses to run in a race on the Sabbath. Say, Here, the main character, world class runner Eric Liddell, chooses not to run in a Sunday race in order to honor the Sabbath. His choice had the potential to cost him international recognition and accolades. Even when no one else understood his decision, Eric stood courageously for what he believed. God calls us to do the same to stand for truth no matter the circumstance. OPTION: After reading the quote to students, guide them to make a list of ways they can glorify God through boldly standing for Him... -In their school -At practice -In their social groups BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 103
IMPART (10 MINUTES) STUDY THE BIBLE The Point: Be ready and willing to stand for God. Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands? DANIEL 3:13-15 104 SESSION 3 DANIEL 3:13-15 DISCUSS: Lead students to discuss the following question, What are some pressures we face today as followers of Christ? READ: Instruct a volunteer to read the following (p.92): King Nebuchadnezzar was not happy. YY He built a golden statue 90 feet high to honor himself. YY He commanded everyone to bow to it when the music played. YY Everyone bowed except for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. YY Nebuchadnezzar even gave them a second chance to obey his command. GUIDE: Help students understand that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego could ve disobeyed God and bowed to the statue, but they chose to honor God, knowing that by doing so, they risked their own well-being. SAY: The king was beside himself with anger. He taunted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, asking who could rescue them from his wrath. Nebuchadnezzar was challenging God Himself. Your God may have been able to reveal my dream, but He is powerless in protecting you from death. The challenge had been issued, and these three men were in a tight spot. DISCUSS: Discuss the following question with students, Do you see Nebuchadnezzar s response reflected by leaders today? If so, how?
Commentary DANIEL 3:13-15 King Nebuchadnezzar had given orders for a giant golden statue to be erected in his honor. The size of the statue and its placement on the plain of Dura (see Dan. 3:1) made it a centerpiece of Babylonian culture. Nebuchadnezzar brought together every leader in the empire to attend the dedication of the statue. He instructed all his civil and military officials to attend. His invitation list was as detailed as it was representative of the vast authority he exercised over everyone. In addition, he assembled an impressive orchestra of instruments to highlight the ritual of worship. Consequently, at an arranged moment when the music began all the officials and citizens were required to fall down and worship the statue. If an individual refused to comply with the command of Nebuchadnezzar, the punishment involved a terrifying death in a blazing furnace (see vv. 6-11). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego found themselves at a fork in the road. They could take the road of compromise and go through the external motions of worshiping an idol and resist internally so that no one would notice. The other road, of course, was the path of courage by which they would refuse to participate in a sinful act of idolatry and accept the perilous consequences. [Verse 13] Nebuchadnezzar, like most ancient monarchs, did not tolerate defiance. When he heard the news that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to the statue (vv. 8-12), he went into a furious rage and he ordered them to appear before his throne. Nebuchadnezzar s reaction suggests that he understood the response of the three friends as something more than a petty infraction. He saw it as both a blatant act of treason against the nation and as a flagrant insult to the authority of the king. [Verses 14-15] Nebuchadnezzar asked them if the accusation against them was true. If so, he was offering them an opportunity to recant at the sound of the music. All they needed to do was worship the statue. Perhaps it was because of Nebuchadnezzar s esteem for the devotion and service rendered by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that he was willing to give the accused an opportunity to recant their position. After all, the three had demonstrated a previous pattern of exemplary duty and respect. In the event they still chose not to honor the king and worship the statue, however, Nebuchadnezzar made it clear that they would be killed. With the severity of a sworn punishment ringing in their ears, the three friends heard the king ask who the god was that could save them from his powers. TIP: Be organized. Come to the session ready to lead. Work prep time into your schedule, even if it s just looking over the session to know the direction you re headed. TIP: Guide students to understand that we will face opposition as followers of Christ. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we will have to choose to follow God at times, knowing that obedience to Him is worth the risk. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 105
IMPART (10 MINUTES) STUDY THE BIBLE The Point: Be ready and willing to stand for God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. DANIEL 3:16-18 DANIEL 3:16-18 SAY: In their response to Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego s words reflected an attitude and approach we can adapt when people challenge our beliefs and convictions. READ: Invite a volunteer or two to read the following attitudes to adopt when facing opposition for our beliefs (p.93): YY Stay calm. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not beg, cry, or shout for mercy; they just stayed calm and answered the king. YY Be committed. A commitment to the Lord and His Word comes before the fire threatens. YY Make an open confession. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego unashamedly confessed their belief in God. Don t miss the opportunity to confess Jesus. YY Be courageous. Stand firm in your faith. The Lord promised He will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5). YY Stand confident. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego expressed their confidence in God. They didn t know what God would do in this situation, but they knew God was infinitely more powerful than anything the king could do to them. DISCUSS: Lead students to discuss the following question, What helps you stand firm when your convictions are challenged? 106 SESSION 3
Commentary DANIEL 3:16-18 [Verse 16] Courage knows that there is a moment to be quiet and remain silent and a moment to stand up and speak out. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew the time was ripe to give voice to their faith. The three Hebrews did not sense a need to give the king an answer to his question (see v. 15). They knew defending themselves was useless. First, the king s command was not open to question. Second, their position was not flexible. They would not compromise with false religion. Third, Nebuchadnezzar was not considering the situation logically, but emotionally. Any argument would have made the king s wrath more intense. TIP: Discuss the five attitudes to adopt when facing opposition for our beliefs. Spend a few minutes in prayer, asking God to help students have courage and confidence as they stand for Him. [Verse 17] But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did speak to the king. Their reply should not be interpreted as cavalier disrespect. Tone is sometimes difficult to distinguish when we analyze statements in Scripture. Given their past demeanor, their tone was most likely one of calm resolve rather than one of emphatic haughtiness. They could make the response they did because of their faith in God. The young men declared the supremacy of their God. They knew that God was more powerful than the fire or the king who controlled the fire. They knew that the Lord was able to rescue them even from the furnace of blazing fire. [Verse 18] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not presume on God. They never claimed God would rescue them, but only that He could deliver them. They had no doubt about God s goodness to intervene in their crisis. They had no doubt either about God s power to accomplish a miracle. Their faith did not rest on the belief God would perform a miracle, but that God was sovereign and could be trusted. The conclusion of the matter was that whatever action God took, they would not deny Him by worshiping the gold statue. When we believers understand that the Lord has all authority in heaven and in earth, we can confidently stand firm for our Lord regardless of the threats. TIP: Make an effort to connect with each student in your group beyond the session time. The courage of the three young men was based on a confidence that whatever happened, God would still reign. The union of courage wed to faith doesn t pretend to know how the story of life will unfold, but it relies on the grand truth that God will direct the story. Courage merely to be defiant misses the point. Courage to depend on God despite the fire of tribulation is the point. Consequently, a holy surrender to God s script for our lives reveals true courage that speaks louder than any story we could write for ourselves. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 107
IMPART (10 MINUTES) STUDY THE BIBLE The Point: Be ready and willing to stand for God. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here! Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. DANIEL 3:26-28 108 SESSION 3 DANIEL 3:26-28 SAY: God didn t merely protect the men from the effects of the fire; He was in the fire with them. This was not lost on Nebuchadnezzar (v. 25). Many people believe this person was either an angel sent by God or the pre-incarnate Christ. From a Christian perspective, we have no hesitation in affirming that God Himself was in the furnace. Nebuchadnezzar had earlier asked Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego the following question: who can save you? (v. 15) Now he saw the answer firsthand and had to admit the truth (v. 28). DISCUSS: Discuss the following with students, Christians are still being put to death for belief in God. How would you respond if you were faced with death for professing your faith? GUIDE: Help students understand that their faith will be challenged at times. We know that God will be with us every step of the way, like He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but we aren t necessarily guaranteed to be rescued as they were. In fact, countless Christians have died for their faith. Even still, we can take heart that Christ has overcome this world (John 16:33). DO: Direct students to complete the Action Point, Worth the Risk (p.94). Worth the Risk The 2015 film Selma (Paramount), depicts the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., particularly focusing on the Selma to Montgomery Marches. Much of the film focuses on the incredible opposition Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. faced against his efforts to bring about racial equality in the U.S. YY Based on the movie and your own knowledge of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., what was his response to opposition? YY What risks are you taking for your faith?
Commentary DANIEL 3:26-28 Following their courageous stand, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were ushered toward the blazing furnace. Nebuchadnezzar gave instructions for it to be heated seven times more than normal (v. 19). That was a figurative expression indicating that the furnace was to be heated as hot as possible. There is some evidence to suggest that the furnace may have served as a huge kiln to smelt the metal for Nebuchadnezzar s statue and to manufacture the clay stones used as a base for it. Temperatures in such furnaces could sometimes reach a maximum temperature of 1800-2000 degrees Fahrenheit and sufficiently melt aluminum, brass, lead, copper, silver, and gold. Apparently, Nebuchadnezzar took the opportunity to watch the gruesome spectacle. He was alarmed, however, to see a fourth person walking around in the furnace with the other three (v. 25). He thought the fourth person looked divine. Whether Nebuchadnezzar saw an angel of God or the pre-incarnate Son of God is not specifically recorded. The presence of the fourth person does emphasize however the Immanuel concept of God among His people. [Verse 26] The king s response to this miracle was to acknowledge that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were servants of the Most High God. The term was the best he knew for the God who was above all gods. Nebuchadnezzar was not ready to abandon all his ideas of a host of gods, but he recognized the superior power of the three Hebrews God. TIP: Discuss the Action Point, Worth the Risk, with students. Lead them to make lists in their journals of ways they can stand for their faith in their daily lives. [Verse 27] Not only did Nebuchadnezzar stare in jaw-dropping amazement, his officials likewise gathered around the three friends to carefully evaluate them. They noted that, not only did the men not die, they weren t even burned. No one could deny the miraculous intervention of God. [Verse 28] To Nebuchadnezzar s credit, he exalted the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. In addition, he underscored the courageous trust the three friends placed in God. He respectfully noted their refusal of his command and how they risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. The power of God through the plan of God in a person fully surrendered to God points consistently to the glory of God. The application of this truth in the lives of believers today is crucial. What kind of stand are we taking that would point clearly to God s power in us? What risks do we run for His renown? In a culture easily offended by biblical truth, dare we defy the idols that surround us? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 109
IMPACT (10 MINUTES) APPLY IT TIP: If an activity is going well, spend more time on it. Never let it take over the entire session, but use it as a tool to better connect students with the material. SAY: What can you do this week to stand courageously for God? READ: Guide a volunteer to read aloud a few ways students can take what they learned and Apply It (p.95). YY Pray for others. Discuss individuals and people groups who are undergoing persecution because of their faith. Pray daily that God would give them strength and courage to stand for Him. YY Be prepared. Consider what you will do when your faith is challenged. Ask yourself what resources and support (prayer partners, Bible verses, and so forth) will help you stand courageously, and begin to put those resources into place. YY Speak up. Put into practice the five attitudes mentioned under Daniel 3:16-18 when you face opposition. Rely on God s Spirit to fill you and speak through you. GUIDE: Lead students to consider which of the three suggested responses to the Bible study most closely applies to them and their current circumstances. ASK: Which of these responses do you personally need to focus on most as you live this session out? Allow time for responses. WRAP UP PRAY: Close in prayer, asking God to help students choose to honor Him in all their actions. ASK: Ask students about last week s Live It Out options. Discuss any responses and encourage students as they choose to apply the Bible to their lives. GUIDE: Encourage students to complete one or both of the Live It Out activities for the week. Let them know you will discuss them the next time you meet.. For free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife 110 SESSION #
LEADER LIVE IT OUT To find the One Conversation for all ages, visit www.biblestudiesforlife.com. Before the session, challenge yourself to grow with your students through this Live It Out. Live Courageously Daniel 3:13-14 Notes: Standing courageously is tough. It almost always requires us to step outside of our comfort zone and do something we may not be used to doing. Consider a group or population in your community that is forgotten or vulnerable. Some examples are the elderly, the homeless, or the disabled. Plan a specific project to do with or for this group. Maybe it is spending an afternoon at a nursing home or working in the yard of your elderly neighbor. Be creative and remember to be bold and courageous in your actions. ONE CONVERSATION Scripture: Daniel 3:13-18,26-28 Topic: Stand Courageously Use these discussion starters to help foster a spiritual conversation with your family. THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Many of us gravitate toward whatever is popular or trending at the moment. However, not everything that is popular and trending is good or right. In those moments, we must make a decision to stand apart from the crowd. In the Book of Daniel, three men faced just such a decision. Their willingness to die rather than disobey God is a model for how we can stand courageously. With God, we can stand courageously because He goes with us every step of the way. STUDENTS THE POINT: Be ready and willing to stand for God. What are some pressures we face today as followers of Christ? What helps you stand firm when your convictions are challenged? Discuss the following quote:... Radical obedience to Christ risks losing all... But in the end, such risk finds its reward in Christ. And He is more than enough for us. 1 David Platt 1.David Platt, David Platt > Quotes, Goodreads [online], [accessed 16 March 2015]. Available from the Internet: www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/846687.david_platt LIVE IT OUT: Your student has been encouraged to do one or both Live It Out activities in the Personal Study Guide. Here are some suggested ways to help your student: If he or she plans to complete Live Courageously: Help your student research ways to serve the forgotten or vulnerable in your community. If he or she plans to complete Stand Together: Discuss with your student the importance of community when living courageously. Pray that he or she would have the courage to seek out a spiritual mentor, and offer encouragement and support as they begin this process. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 111