Sermons – St Bart's Anglican Church

This is the seventh of seven sermons in our series on Daniel. This sermon is ‘In the Lion's Den’. Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: Daniel 6

Show Notes

Sermon & Small Group Resources

This is the seventh of seven sermons in our series on Daniel. This sermon is ‘In the Lion's Den’. Preacher: The Rev’d Adam Lowe. Bible Reading: Daniel 6

DOWNLOAD the Small Group Questions, Going Deeper, and Sermon Transcript (PDF).

Next Steps this Week

BIBLE READING: Daniel 6

It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of whom was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent. Finally these men said, “We will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God.”

So these administrators and satraps went as a group to the king and said: “May King Darius live forever! The royal administrators, prefects, satraps, advisers and governors have all agreed that the king should issue an edict and enforce the decree that anyone who prays to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown into the lions’ den. Now, Your Majesty, issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” So King Darius put the decree in writing.

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?”

The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him.

Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!

“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

“For he is the living God
    and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
    his dominion will never end.
He rescues and he saves;
    he performs signs and wonders
    in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
    from the power of the lions.”

So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Download in PDF format.

CONNECT: Is there a particular area in your life that your pride is trying to get in the way of God’s rule?

WARM-UP

  1. What have been the key events in the book Daniel so far? What has stood out for you?

  2. When did you first hear about Daniel in the Lion’s Den? Why is this is such a popular story?

Read Daniel 6:1-15

  1. What did Darius plan to do with Daniel? What (does it seem) were the ‘exceptional qualities’ of Daniel that had seemed to set him apart and impress the king?

  2. If Daniel was there for over 60 years, how is his consistency of character and competence impressive?

  3. One one of your frontlines, how can you demonstrate a distinctiveness in your integrity?

  4. What’t the longest workplace (or other frontline) in which you have served? How challenging do you

    think it is to be a faithful witness over time? What helps you with this?

  5. How is it evident that Daniel would keep going to God? How did he keep seeking to glorify God?

  6. What helps you to remember that God is your ultimate boss?

  7. How does Daniel stand firm in the face of this test of loyalty?

  8. How is it evident that standing firm includes both the critical moments and continual day-to-day?

  9. In what ways can following God be costly? Should this surprise us?

  10. What were the rhythms that helped Daniel stand firm? What does this look like for you?

  11. Is there any situation at work (or somewhere else) in which you’re challenged to stand firm?

Read Daniel 6:16-24

  1. Whilst worshipped as a god, how powerful is Darius in reality? How does he know this to be true?

  2. How is it evident that salvation belong to the Lord? How has this been evident in Daniel?

  3. Do you notice a parallel between Daniel (in the Lion’s den) and Jesus? How is it evident that God’s purposes culminate in the Lord Jesus?

Apply On one of your frontlines this week, how can you be fortified in: remembering who’s boss, standing firm, and trusting that salvation belongs to the Lord?

PRAYER

Almighty Lord, thank you that you are the King of Kings, that you are working out your purposes, which culminate in your Son. Please help us to be faithful witnesses wherever you have placed us. Amen.


GOING DEEPER

On Your Frontline This Week: How is your reliance on God, above everything else, visible on your frontline?


Listen, Watch, and Read:

Series Resources:

Some helpful resources for our Series:

Grow as Families

Each week St Bart’s Kids and CHARGE Youth provides resources for you to use at home. Join the livestream and then spend 30 minutes to work through these together.

Families: Read, Chat, Do, and Pray

High School: CHARGE Discussion Questions

Kids’ Talk: Watch the Kids’ Talk

eBook: Watch the eBook

What is Sermons – St Bart's Anglican Church?

Listen to the latest sermons and talks from St Bart's Anglican Church located in Toowoomba, Australia. Visit www.stbarts.com.au for the latest news and information.