Cheat Sheet: Daniel

Summer 2012 Bible Study: Daniel, part 1 6/22/2012 Introduction to the Bible Study: Last year we started a summer Bible study series looking at different characters in Scripture. They were real people with real struggles living in real times. o This Summer: Well be looking at the lives of a few different prophets and asking the question: what does it look like when God calls you? Introduction to the Bible: The Bible is like a love story between God and his people; its made up of a bunch of different genres from poetry to history. Its also a book of struggles, walking away from God and Gods relentless pursuit, sometimes using the wrong people. Throughout the summer we will unpack more, but for now we just want you to know how to use the Bible. o How to use the Bible: dont be afraid to use the index at the front of your Bible. o Chapter: verses helps us to find out spot. o Get a journal. $5. Scripture has Characters: Daniel. (Throughout Gods story there are special characters that we focus on, does this mean that they are the only ones? no. But they are significant figures) o Characters in Hebrew stories doesnt just say what they do, and Jews dont look at this story and say, oh that happened to those people somewhere, sometime, out there, but when they read these stories they say, its our story through faith they become, our story. o Old Testament Themes: Certain things we see crop up over and over again. Why? Because they dont just tell the story of Israel they tell our story. We are constantly getting lost. This book is made up of two parts: stories and prophecy. o Exile: Living in occupied territory. If you worship other gods they will become your masters. Israel was easily lured so God just gave them over to their desires. Jews are tied to their land: physically and spiritually. Something to note: In the ancient world if you were conquered it wasnt because of military strength, but what it said was, our god is bigger than your god. They took the best of: riches, minds, etc (1:2-4) Diving in: lets read 1+2. o Exile in Babylon: present day Iraq. (1:1-2) o Draw a timeline or two columns Daniels past Gods Future. Timeline: 1:4-7: A man without a home. No home. No Story. o What are some key words that stand out to you? Royal and then loses everything. o How would you feel about leaving everything and having to learn something new? Learning a new culture? New names? For a people tied to their land and history, they taught to forget everything theyve come from. land, language, names (identity) o Does this story remind you of another story in the Scripture? o Something from Nothing. Timeline: 1:8-17: Temptation to compromise, but God always makes a way with little graces. o Have you ever felt alone in your faith? (i.e. Parties, whats accepted, etc) 1:11-15. Following Gods plan for your life can be difficult and sometimes, his plan is contrary to what everyone else is saying, but he creates a way. My family story. o You dont have to have all the answers. Following Gods calling sometimes, is a lot of waiting. When you follow Gods plan, you never regret it later. (1:17)

Cheat Sheet: Daniel

Timeline: 1:18-2:49 Messy situations require patience and faith. o Have you ever been in a situation where every solution was wrong? o Sometimes its out of your hands, all you can do is surrender, and when you do that, God takes the wheel.

Lessons from the Life of Daniel, Part 1 1. When God calls you, he wants to use all of you, and that includes your history, mistakes made, and difficult circumstances. (1:1-8) 2. Your past, Gods future. Your skills, Gods tools because God never lets anything go to waste. (1:17) 3. God calling is difficult, but He always provides (2:1-49). This is a major theme in the life of the prophets. o Surrender is everything. Notice 2:14-16; 24-: Daniel had plenty of chances to fear, but when he realizes that this whole situation is out of his hands, he speaks with boldness because there is nothing to lose. Its about learning how to surrender. Let the boat pull you. o Godly friends, go a long way. (2:17-18)

4. Its not necessarily about what you can do, but what God can do through you. (2:27-49) o o Daniel was bold with a difficult message, but look at the response of the king. (2:46-47) From here, it doesnt get any easier, and learning to surrender is a lesson that needs to be learned over and over again (chapter 3, next week). 5. So what does this look like for you? o Our God is the God who from the very beginning made everything out of nothing, so He can definitely do that with you. This is the fundamental plan of Gods redemption. Is there anything in your life or your story that you question whether or not God can use? Think about this question this week and lets talk about next week. God wants to use all of your life. When you ask, even that? God says, yes, even that.

Is there a situation youre in in which God might be telling you, go in the other direction? Maybe its contrary to what everyone else or even what society says/thinks.

Reflect on this: Gods calling is never easy, but He always makes a way.