DANIEL GOD AND THE END OF THE WORLD CONTENTS Introduction Recommended Resources Bible Reading Plan Sermon Text Commentary & Community Group Guide Living Stones Family Devotions INTRODUCTION God in the End of the World. End times. The second coming. The theological word for it is eschatology. There are several sections of the Bible that give us insights and clues on what the end will be. Daniel 7-12 is one of those sections. It seems like every weekend another movie hits theaters where someone dons a superhero suit to save planet Earth from impending doom. Visions of civilization crumbling at the hands of the undead, daydreams of stockpiling our basements with goods, and people predicting an official end-time date pervade our culture. One of the best-selling video games of 2015, Fallout 4, places you in control of a lone survivor in war-torn America hundreds of years after a Nuclear War. We are fascinated with the end of the world. Whether that s at the hands of little green men from Mars or what the Bible calls, The Day of the Lord, this obsession has led to a murky understanding of what the Bible actually says about the end of the World, God s wrath, and Heaven. Over the next five weeks, we ll be studying the second half of the Book of Daniel as we look at Daniel s vision of the fulfillment of God s coming Kingdom, the end of this world,and the beginning of the recreated world. The Bible often uses poetic, hard-to-decipher language when it talks about all of these things, but how should we understand and interpret these passages? Ask yourself: What do they mean not only about what happens after I die, but how I live today?
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES LISTEN SERMON DROPBOX FOLDER http://bit.ly/lsdanielsermons Click the link above for access to 100+ sermons on Daniel from other preachers. Dropbox account not required. WATCH BIBLE IN FIVE: DANIEL https://vimeo.com/43549929 Quick overview on Daniel from The Bible Project s Tim Mackie WHAT WILL THE NEW EARTH BE LIKE? http://bit.ly/alcornworkshop Randy Alcorn teaching on how the Bible talks about Heaven & the New Earth. READ RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS: SAM STORMS http://bit.ly/stormsbook Sam Storms examines the essential elements of Christian hope including bodily resurrection, judgment, hell and eternal punishment, and heaven in the presence of God to show that this hope is a confident expectation rooted in the historical reality of what transpired in the life and death of Christ. HEAVEN: RANDY ALCORN http://bit.ly/alcornbook What will heaven be like? Randy Alcorn presents a thoroughly biblical answer, based on years of careful study and presented in an engaging, reader-friendly style. His conclusions will surprise readers and stretch their thinking about this important subject. Heaven will inspire readers to long for heaven while they're living on earth. RENOVATE: LÉONCE CRUMP http://bit.ly/crumpbook God is not wiping this world away. He is in the midst of renovating it. Léonce Crump, lead pastor of Renovation Church in the urban core of Atlanta, invites you to do what God did when He wanted to make a difference in this world: move in.
BIBLE READING PLAN The 2016 Bible Reading plan is about experiencing the Scriptures through a daily commitment to opening your heart and mind to God. This is a discipline essential to all disciples of Jesus. The Bible Project has created a unique and powerful experience, called Read Scripture, to help us engage with the text throughout the year. This plan includes an average of four chapters of Scripture a day and one Psalm for prayer. Along with the plan are animated videos providing insight on the book we are currently studying and occasional videos covering the major Scriptural themes. In order to start the reading plan, head to the ios App Store or Google Play Store and search Read Scripture, download the app, and that s it. You can also download the app through tapping one of the following applicable links: Apple Device Android Device *Note: If you d like a paper version of the reading plan, a PDF version is available for printing here. Along with that, the reading plan is available under the name Eat This Book on the Life.Church Bible App.
SERMON TEXT COMMENTARY & COMMUNITY GROUP GUIDE May 22nd THE KINGDOM OF GOD Daniel 7 The historical confession of the Christian church has always been that Jesus Christ will come back. Several places in the New Testament tell us that this is actually a crucial part of the Gospel. This section of Scripture is one of the most powerful in all of the Bible to assure believers that our Messiah will come back and bring his Kingdom into his whole world not only spiritually, which he accomplished in his first coming, but physically as well. Daniel s vision of the four beasts is another vision in the book of Daniel to assure us that the kingdoms of this world will not stand forever but will all fall at the coming Kingdom of Jesus. In verses 9-11, Daniel assures us that while these kingdoms are reigning on Earth, God is still on his throne and working his eternal plan to send his son. DISCUSS: 1. Describe the political and military power of the beasts (nations) referred to in this passage (v.v. 19-27). 2. Who is the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:13? And who is the Son of Man that Daniel saw (v.13)? 3. What aspects of God are displayed in this chapter? 4. How is the Kingdom established? How does this passage affect your perception of the future? 5. How does the content in this chapter help you in the midst of trial or fear of current events? Pray for the nations currently in turmoil; ask God to bring hope to all nations. Ask God to use us to establish his reign in our city and neighborhoods.
May 29th HIS STORY Daniel 8 History is literally His story. In this chapter, we see that throughout history and in the time of the End, evil rulers with wicked powers will rise up and bring destruction to this world. But at the end of time there will be one called the Prince of Princes who will bring all history into subjection under God. Part of being a Christian is having confidence in God s sovereignty, which is God s absolute and total authority, control, and rule over every moment of history. And because he is sovereign, he is using history to reveal his will, purposes, power, and goodness. And he is bringing history to his desired end. DISCUSS: 1. Daniel is first given a strange dream involving a ram and a goat (look at vv. 1-14). And it s not until later that he understands the dream. Why do you think God chose to reveal the truth in these strange dreams rather than simply declaring it? 2. In the dream of the ram and goat, God shows Daniel two evil kings rise to power in the Ancient Near East. How does God s knowledge and even allowance of their rise to power inform our perspective on the leadership over us? (Use resources and study Bibles to uncover some of the meaning) 3. This text reveals the God-centeredness of all of history. Discuss Godcenteredness and what it means in the world and your world. Do you have a perspective of history that understands that it ultimately brings God glory, or is your understanding that history is primarily about humanity? How might this text influence that? 1. Ask God to provide you with eyes to see him at the center of history, and ask him to continue to make himself the center of your story. 2. Prayerfully reflect on Psalm 2
June 5th WHEN ALL THE PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED Daniel 9 If you re a Christian you probably pray. But do you pray for others? Your church? Your family? Non-Christian friends? Most of Daniel 9 is a prayer for God s people, and at the end of this chapter, Daniel receives another vision about what the end of this world will bring. Prayer leads to spiritual insight, but praying for others leads to spiritual insight about others, God s word, and your own life. Intercessory prayer leads us to deep knowledge of God and his purposes. DISCUSS: 1. When you pray, do you only spend time praying about yourself and your world (which is perfectly appropriate), or do you also pray for others. Do you spend more time talking about others or talking to God about others? Discuss and then spend time praying about this. 2. Go through Daniel 9 and notice phrases that Daniel uses and the ways he addresses God, how could you incorporate these things into your prayer life. Spend time incorporating these things into your prayers together. 3. In verse 26 it reads, an anointed one shall be cut off, and in verse 27 it continues, because he was cut off he will make a strong covenant with many. What in the world does this mean? 1. Spend an extended time this evening praying for one another, maybe by splitting into groups. Possibly write down specific prayers that you can take with you this week to pray over.
June 12th SPIRITUAL WAR Daniel 10 There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve their existence. The other is to believe and feel an unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight. C.S. Lewis In a meeting with a messenger from God, Daniel once again realizes that there is more to this world than we often see. This week we ll be looking at Daniel 10 together and joining with Daniel in having the curtain pulled back as we peer into the ongoing siege of creation and God s ongoing plan of redemption. DISCUSS: 1. Describe the glorious man. What impact did this have on Daniel? 2. Do you see yourself as part of a spiritual war? If so, why or why not? How does that impact the way you see the world. If you don t see yourself this way, why not? 3. Read Revelation 1:12-16. Who does it seem like Daniel is seeing in his vision? 1. Ask God to not only see spiritual realities behind circumstances, but prayerfully and boldly to push back against the evil in our world and our hearts. 2. Ask God to reveal to all those enslaved to the Devil their bondage and for them to trust in Jesus as their Savior who brings them into freedom.
June 19th THE END TO BE CONTINUED Daniel 11 & 12 WATCH: THE BIBLE PROJECT - HEAVEN & EARTH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy2aqlk6c5k What do you think about when you think of Heaven? What do you think about when you think of Heaven? Do images of babies with wings and harps come to mind? Do you think of near-death experiences and stories from people who claim to have seen the other-side? Or maybe you think it ll be boring, but at least its better than the other place. Daniel closes his book with a final reflection on one more of his visions, this time concerning the end of both evil and the brokenness of the World. And in doing so, he invites us into a study of what the Bible actually says about the end of this world and the beginning of the world we were actually meant for. DISCUSS: 1. What are the images that come into your mind when you think of Heaven? Where did those images and ideas come from? 2. What stood out in the video or in the sermon on Sunday? How does the Bible talk about Heaven and Earth? 3. Is the idea of Heaven and Earth rejoining at the end of the Biblical Story a new concept for you? Read Revelation 21-22 and discuss how it differs from popular conceptions of the end of the world. 4. Does our understanding of Heaven and Earth impact the way we live today? If so, how? 1. Pray for God to give you hope for the new Heaven and Earth in a broken and dying world. 2. Ask God to give you eyes to see how Earth currently points to what the New Heaven and New Earth will be like (laughter, Get togethers with Family, Lake Tahoe, etc.).
DANIEL PART TWO: ATTRIBUTES OF GOD Hello LS Parents! Over the next 5 weeks LS Kids will be talking about the attributes of God while referencing the last 6 chapters of Daniel. Because these chapter are full of dreams, visions and abstract thought we will be taking one of God s attributes from each chapter and talking about it with our kids. It s important as we talk about God and the end of the world that our kids get to talk about the very reasons that Christians are optimistic about Jesus return and what it means for those who love God: May 22nd - Because God is all-powerful, we don t have to be afraid. May 29th - Because God is all-knowing, we know that he is telling the truth about what is going to happen. June 5th - Because God hears our prayers, we know we can always run to him, and we know we can ask him to help our friends, family, city, and world. June 12th - Because God loves his children, we know that all things are working together for good for those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8 June 19th - And because God is all of these things, we know that he will come back one day, that he will win, and that he will bring peace. Starting June 26th, we will be starting a series on the parables and teachings of Jesus. This fun and interactive series will carry use through the rest of the summer. If there are any questions i can answer for you, or anything I can do for you, please let me know by contacting me at church, calling me at 775-622-9772 or emailing gavin@lschurches.com, Sincerely, Gavin
CHAPTER SEVEN The Power of God BIG IDEA: God is all powerful. MEMORY VERSE: Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. - Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV) FULL SCRIPTURE: Daniel 7 LESSON SUMMARY: This week in LS Kids we will be talking about the power of God. The big takeaway for us this week is that God is ALL powerful. This means nothing is more powerful than God weather it s the biggest monster truck or the President of the United States. We know this is true because nothing came before God. All power comes from God and can be taken away by God. We see this in John 1:1-3 when it says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. QUESTIONS FOR KIDS: 1. Take some time to discuss different kinds of power. The power found in a monster truck is different than the kind power the President has. If God is ALL powerful what kind of power does God have? 2. Think back on past bible stories and name some times where we have seen God s power. What are some things God has done that no man could do? Our memory verse this week reminds us that nothing is too hard for God. Let s practice praying like Jeremiah did in chapter 32. Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. - Jeremiah 32:17
CHAPTER EIGHT The All-seeing God BIG IDEA: God is all-knowing. MEMORY VERSE: I am God. There is no other God. I am God. There is no one like me. Before something even happens, I announce how it will end. In fact, from times long ago I announced what was still to come. - Isaiah 46:9b-10a FULL SCRIPTURE: Daniel 8:15-17, Psalm 139:1-4 LESSON SUMMARY: This week in LS Kids we will be talking about how God is all-seeing. You guessed it, this means God sees everything. This also means nothing is a mystery to God, nothing can be hidden from God and nothing is a surprise to God. In Daniel Chapter 8 we see that God reveals many crazy and mysterious things to Daniel. In verse 27 Daniel said he was appalled and did not understand. However, we can find comfort and confidence in knowing that God sees all and understands all. QUESTIONS FOR KIDS: 1. What if you could know and see everything? What would you see if you saw everything? 2. If God knows everything we think about or do, what does that mean? 3. Is it fun to talk about our sin? Probably not. However, if we know that God has already seen all our sin how should this affect the way we talk about and confess our sin? 4. There are many things we don t understand even after we see them. Take some time to discuss why it s good news that God sees all and understand all. Father, you made, know and see all things. Jesus, thank you for accounting for our sin. Holy Spirit, give us great trust in you knowing that you see and know all things.
CHAPTER NINE The God Who Listens BIG IDEA: God listens to us. MEMORY VERSE: Here is what we can be sure of when we come to God in prayer. If we ask anything in keeping with what he wants, he hears us. - 1 John 5:14 FULL SCRIPTURE: Daniel 9:20-23, 1 John 5:13-15 LESSON SUMMARY: This week in LS Kids we will be talking about how God is a God who listens. 1 John 5:14-15 says, This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. This verse shows us that God not only listens but he answers us as well. This is great news! 1 John 5:15 also tells us that we should have confidence approaching God. We will discuss what it means to have confidence when we talk to God. QUESTIONS FOR KIDS: 1. Read 1 John 4:15. If we know God hears us and we ask according to his will what should happen? 2. What does it mean for us to have confidence when we talk to God? Read 1 John 5:13. What or who should our confidence be rooted in? Father, thank you for listening to us. Jesus, in you we have life. Holy Spirit, help us to pray. Remind us that you listen.
CHAPTER TEN The God Who Loves BIG IDEA: God Loves us. MEMORY VERSE: No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:37-39 FULL SCRIPTURE: Daniel 10 LESSON SUMMARY: This week in LS Kids we will be talking about how God loves. Romans 8:37-39 tells us there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God. This shows us that God s love is great and powerful and capable of many things. In Daniel 10:19 it says, And he said, O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage. And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me. In this verse we see that Daniel is reminded that God loves him and he is then given strength. As we talk about God s love for us we will look back at bible stories where God s love is demonstrated. QUESTIONS FOR KIDS: 1. In our lesson we looked back at bible stories where God demonstrated his love for his people. Take some time to discuss how God has showed his love for you. Father, thank you for loving us enough to sacrifice your only son. Jesus, thank you for loving us so much that you gave us your life. Holy Spirit, remind us how powerful the love of God is.
CHAPTER ELEVEN AND TWELVE The God Who Wins BIG IDEA: God wins. MEMORY VERSE: I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. - John 16:33 FULL SCRIPTURE: Daniel 12:1-4 LESSON SUMMARY: This week in LS Kids we will learn that God is a God who wins. In Daniel 12:4 we hear about the end of the world and lots of destruction. However, we see that God faithfully delivers his people. At the end of the world there is nobody who out-smarts God. John 16:33 should remind us that Jesus has overcome the world. QUESTIONS FOR KIDS: 1. In life we might win in games or competitions but this week we learned about how God wins. When God wins why is it more important than a game or competition? 2. When God wins, what will our world be like? How can God make our world better? 3. What will it be like when Jesus lives with us? Father, thank you for winning when you knew we could not win. Jesus, thank you for defeating death. Holy Spirit, remind us that we have ultimate victory in Jesus.