LIVING BOLDLY WHEN FACING ADVERSITY

ILLUSTRATION: Show some of the various ways the book of Daniel is taught to children — Veggie-tale, coloring sheets, crafts, etc.

If you were to ask children's church teachers some of their favorite stories to tell, I'm sure you'd hear examples like Jonah and the Whale, Noah's Ark, and Jesus Feeding the Five Thousand. They're all classics in the church classroom.

If asking for a top-five list, I'm sure most teachers would also include a story or two from the life of Daniel -- a prophet who lived through the dark days of Israel's exile. From the lion's den to the friends in the fiery furnace to the refusal to bow down to the golden idol, this prophetic book contains some of the most famous Bible stories told to kids.

— TRANSITION —

• Daniel, a well-known prophet, shines as an example of being fearless when everything seems hopeless.

• On every page of Daniel's story, we meet a man who lived a life in conflict.

• He was challenged, sabotaged, and interrogated every step of his journey.

• Regardless of what was thrown at him, he stood his ground like a lighthouse in a storm.

• This book is not just for children. It’s packed full of action, drama, and powerful lessons about living a life of boldness.

• His story shows us what it looks like to live boldly when facing adversity.

• The book of Daniel tells the story of a charismatic seventeen-year-old leader from the lineage of King David named Daniel.

• He and his friends were forced to live in Babylon because his city of Jerusalem was seized and enslaved.

• The people of Israel were forced into exile under the harsh dictatorship of Babylon.

• This kingdom was completely opposed to belief in the true God.

• As a nation, they sought vengeance and ignored mercy. They loved war and hated peace. They worshipped idols and disgraced the God of Israel.

• In the first chapter, Daniel was recruited to work for the government of King Nebuchadnezzar because of his strength, knowledge, and handsome looks.

• Seriously, look at verse five.

• During his orientation ceremony, he was offered a buffet of junk food with an open bar.

• After being enslaved, I am sure the spread made their mouths water.

• "Look at all this food," I imagine they thought. Upon close examination of the buffet, the attitude started to shift. Daniel realized that the food was completely contrary to the Kosher commandments in Jewish scripture. Eating this food would break the promise he made to God.

• Thus, he politely asked not to partake. Daniel 1:8 elaborates, "Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king.”

—TRANSITION —

• If you, like Daniel, want to be strong in the face of adversity, then you will need to foster some of the character traits of Daniel in Babylon.

• If you were to flip forward a few pages, you will see that his story is packed full of miracles.

• However, the first chapter doesn't share anything supernatural. It's all about a young man's willpower.

• Do you want to be like Daniel?

• Then you need to be disciplined.

• This story gives us two powerful principles to help us live a life of discipline despite challenges.

1. Say no to the wrong things.

• Just like Daniel, we must set ourselves up for success in a culture that demands excess.

• We are not talking about a buffet of snacks blessed by a Babylonian goddess.

• However, our culture is constantly trying to trick you into Babylonian behavior.

• The entrees include dishonesty, lust, greed, hatred, and arrogance.

• You walk by a buffet of vices every single day.

• The spread is full of delightful-looking confections, but they all have dangerous consequences.

• Gossip is just a group chat away.

• Vile videos are easily accessible. Selfishness is most people's default setting.

• Culture is constantly encouraging you to "defile yourself" with addictive substances, the pursuit of prosperity, selfish ambitions, and finding purpose in all the wrong places.

• Victory is on the other side of discipline.

• Just like Daniel, decline anything that can come between you and God. Say no, then go away.

• Resistance is the first and hardest step of cultivating a life of discipline. It doesn't stop there, though.

2. Say yes to the right things.

• How did Daniel stand strong against the culture's temptations?

• He focused on the positive results that came from his refusal. Daniel knew that rejecting the food was only half the battle.

• He needed to remain disciplined in what he allowed into his body. Daniel asked the guards, "Please test your servants... Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink" (Daniel 1:12).

• Daniel opted for green veggies over protein-packed meats and calorie-dense beverages.

• This completely countered everything they believed about health.

• How can these men grow muscles without animal protein?

• How can they work without carbohydrates?

• It just didn't make sense to them.

• Vegan warriors didn't exist. The king's court inevitably scoffed at their plan, assuming that they would be begging for meat in no time.

• God came through for them. While eating vegetables and clean foods, they grew stronger every day.

• Their skin seemed to glow.

• Their health was near perfect.

• Through their strict God-honoring diet, they saw their health flourish like never before.

• They weren't just saying no to unclean food; they were saying yes to their overall well-being.

• This story isn’t just about healthy eating though. The cultural context is significant.

• We should follow Daniel’s example.

• Commit to staying culturally clean.

• Swim against the current.

• Respectfully reject anything that can damage your relationship with Jesus.

• Short-term sacrifice makes way for long-term success.

• It's a lot easier to say no to something when you're also saying yes to something else.

• Don't strictly think of obedience as restrictive.

• Whenever God wants you to say no to something, it's because He has something better in mind.

• When you say no to addictive substances, you are saying yes to health.

• When you say no to hatred, you are saying yes to love.

• When you say no to gossip, you say yes to respect.

• When you say no to vengeance, you are saying yes to grace.

LANDING:

• Live life like Daniel. Live a life of discipline.

• Don't defile yourself with culture's temptations.

• Learn to adamantly say yes to what's best for you and firmly say no to what's bad for you.

• Like walking past a decadent buffet, there are thousands of distractions designed to get you off the route God charted for you.

• When confronted with culture's temptations, respectfully reject them.

• Keep walking forward with focus.

• God's path may be harder, but it's always heading someplace better.

• Stay steady and stay strong.

TALK IT OUT  Go through these questions with your circle. Be honest. Be open. Talk through the tough stuff.

Ice Breaker: Go around your circle and share this week’s highs and lows. What was the best part of your week and what was the lowest part of your week?

What’s one thing that sticks out to you about Daniel?

Daniel’s environment and the Babylonian culture made it easier to betray God than follow Him. Have you ever felt this way?

Daniel’s environment and the Babylonian culture made it easier to betray God than follow Him. Have you ever felt this way?

What motivated Daniel to refuse the king’s food that went against his faith?

What are common temptations in the world around us that lead us away from God? How can we withstand those temptations and choose to glorify God instead?

Application: What’s one temptation surrounding you that you’d like to stand against this week? How can you be bold like Daniel? What will you choose to do instead?

READING PLAN

READ THESE PASSAGES IN ORDER EVERY DAY

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 

Ephesians 2:8-10  1

Corinthians 15:10 

Romans 6:11-14 

John 1:16-17 

Titus 2:11-14

Romans 5:6-20 

Psalm 131

Do the following with each passage: 

ASK– God to connect with you here. In prayer, start by slowing down and inviting God to be present. Begin with focus and openness to see what God has for you today.

READ– the selected section of Scripture slowly. Take note of the words and phrases that intrigue you, reading them a second time if necessary.

REFLECT– on what grabs you. How does this passage personally relate to your own life and experiences?

RESPOND– to the Scripture. Speak directly to God about what’s on your mind and heart. Look for ways to live out what you’ve uncovered.