Facing the Lions - You Don't Have To Swallow Everything (Daniel 1)

Daniel faced huge pressure to conform. But he refused to swallow everything. How about you?

Digging Deeper:

Read Daniel 1:1-2

What do these verses tell us about the recent experiences of the nation and what the Israelites were going through?

Read Daniel 1:3-6

What are these young men being trained for? How were they selected? What does this tell us about the values of their culture? How are youth, beauty, and intelligence given preference today?

Read Daniel 1:7-16

What was Daniel’s resolve? What did he request? What was the test? How did they pass it?

How does our culture seek to “defile” us today?

Read Daniel 1:17-21

What reputation did Daniel and the others begin building?

Applying God’s Word to Our Lives:

What are some of the challenges and struggles that come as the result of affluence?

How does our culture today compromise or corrupt Christian values through affluence?

What indulgence might God be calling you to say “no” to in order to deepen your faith?

Optional Challenge:

What, if anything, are you going to give up for the next 6 weeks in order to focus more on God?

Deliver Us From Evil - How do We Resist the Enemy?

The armor of God.

A Biblical Overview of Spiritual Warfare

Principle #1. We must be aware of the invisible war.
There is an invisible spiritual war being waged around us.
Key verses: 2 Kings 6:15-19. Daniel 10. Ephesians 6:10-18

We have a defeated, yet still powerful enemy. He slanders, lies, tempts, confuses and divides in order to tear down God’s work and God’s people.
Key verses: Matthew 4:1-11. John 10:10. Luke 11:15.

Our enemy’s names reveal his tactics.
Satan (Adversary) Job 1:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 2:18. Devil (Slanderer) 1 Peter 5:8. Lucifer (Son of the morning) Isaiah 14:12. Beelzebub (lord of the flies) Matthew 12:24. Belial (a false god) 2 Corinthians 6:15. Evil One 1 John 5:19.

Principle #2. We must learn to use God’s protection for daily living.

Key Verses: Ephesians 6:13-17

Am I putting on God’s armor daily? Truth? Righteousness? Readiness to share? Faith? Remembering my salvation through Christ?

Principle #3. We must learn to engage the enemy with supernatural weapons.

Key Verses: Ephesians 6:16-17, James 4:7, Matthew 4:1-11.

God’s Word is our weapon. Where is it written?

God’s truth is always more powerful than our enemy’s lies.

Remember:

We do not fight alone.
We do not fight for victory; we fight from victory.

Recommended Series Resources:
The Invisible War by Chip Ingram

Deliver Us From Evil - Who is the Devil? What Does He Do?

The second part of a series about the invisible battle around us.

A Biblical Overview of Spiritual Warfare

Principle #1. We must be aware of the invisible war.
There is an invisible spiritual war being waged around us.
Key verses: 2 Kings 6:15-19. Daniel 10. Ephesians 6:10-18

We have a defeated, yet still powerful enemy. He slanders, lies, tempts, confuses and divides in order to tear down God’s work and God’s people.
Key verses: Matthew 4:1-11. John 10:10. Luke 11:15.

Our enemy’s names reveal his tactics.
Satan (Adversary) Job 1:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 2:18. Devil (Slanderer) 1 Peter 5:8. Lucifer (Son of the morning) Isaiah 14:12. Beelzebub (lord of the flies) Matthew 12:24. Belial (a false god) 2 Corinthians 6:15. Evil One 1 John 5:19.

Principle #2. We must learn to use God’s protection for daily living.

Key Verses: Ephesians 6:13-17

Am I putting on God’s armor daily? Truth? Righteousness? Readiness to share? Faith? Remembering my salvation through Christ?

Principle #3. We must learn to engage the enemy with supernatural weapons.

Key Verses: Ephesians 6:16-17, James 4:7, Matthew 4:1-11.

God’s Word is our weapon. Where is it written?

God’s truth is always more powerful than our enemy’s lies.

Remember:

• We do not fight alone. 
• We do not fight for victory; we fight from victory.

Recommended Series Resources:
The Invisible War by Chip Ingram

Deliver Us From Evil - What is "Spiritual Warfare?"

An introduction to the invisible battle around us and how it affects us.

A Biblical Overview of Spiritual Warfare

Principle #1. We must be aware of the invisible war.

There is an invisible spiritual war being waged around us.

Key verses: 2 Kings 6:15-19. Daniel 10. Ephesians 6:10-18

We have a defeated, yet still powerful enemy. He slanders, lies, tempts, confuses and divides in order to tear down God’s work and God’s people.

Key verses: Matthew 4:1-11. John 10:10. Luke 11:15.

Our enemy’s names reveal his tactics.

Satan (Adversary) Job 1:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 2:18. Devil (Slanderer) 1 Peter 5:8. Lucifer (Son of the morning) Isaiah 14:12. Beelzebub (lord of the flies) Matthew 12:24. Belial (a false god) 2 Corinthians 6:15. Evil One 1 John 5:19.

Principle #2. We must learn to appropriate God’s protection for daily living.

Key Verses: Ephesians 6:13-17

Am I putting on God’s armor daily? Truth? Righteousness? Readiness to share? Faith? Remembering my salvation through Christ?

Principle #3. We must learn to engage the enemy with supernatural weapons.

Key Verses: Ephesians 6:16-17, James 4:7, Matthew 4:1-11.

God’s Word is our weapon. Where is it written?

God’s truth is always more powerful than our enemy’s lies.

Remember:

We do not fight alone.

We do not fight for victory; we fight from victory.

Recommended Series Resources:

The Invisible War by Chip Ingram