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Sep 27, 2020

Faith and Fury - Click for Resources

Passage: Daniel 3:1-30

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: Daniel

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: worship, faith, pride, testing, trials, temptation, rescue

We perpetually face a fork in the righteousness road, forcing us to decide in real and practical ways between the faithful and fearful path of obedience and the easier and enticing path of self. The self-path tells us “it doesn’t really matter”, “God will forgive you”, “nobody will get hurt.” By all appearances the Path of Righteousness can be scary as we forsake the world’s “riches” in our decision to obey in faith, trusting in God and his sovereign riches. In real life, sometimes we choose wisely, and sometimes we don’t. But in both instances we need God’s to personally show up and rescue us. Thankfully, as He proved by going through the fire of death on the cross, we can rest in the truth that He always comes through in a personalized way, either by keeping us from the fire, or by being with us in the fire.

 

GBV Livestream 9/27/20 from Grace Brevard on Vimeo.

Sermon Discussion Questions HERE

Order of Worship

WELCOME  / ANNOUNCEMENTS / PRELUDE / PRAYER

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 29:1-4,7,10-11

MUSIC: 

ANCIENT PRAYER

We ask you, Master, be our helper and defender. Rescue those of our number in distress; raise up the fallen; assist the needy; heal the sick; turn back those of your people who stray; feed the hungry; release our captives; revive the weak; encourage those who lose heart. Let all the nations realize that you are the only God, that Jesus Christ is your Child, and that we are your people and the sheep of your pasture. (1 Clement c. 96)

MESSAGE TITLE: Faith and Fury

CENTRAL TEXT: Daniel 3

ILLUSTRATION: The Office - No Respect

CONFESSION & ASSURANCE:

ILLUSTRATION: Montage - Faith & Rescue

BENEDICTION: 1 Timothy 1:17

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES:

  • Psalm 1
  • John 10:10

ILLUSTRATIONS:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Their Story:

This is one of the most famous and beloved biblical events. What first crosses your mind when you hear the story of  “The Fiery Furnace”?

What part of this chapter sticks out to you the most?

Talk about the choice Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to make.

Why didn’t (couldn’t) they just outwardly bow down to the statue but in their hearts still love the Lord?

Why was Nebuchadnezzar so angry?

Discuss their response  in 3:16-18.

The “fourth man” is most likely a Christophany (an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament).

What were the (miraculous) results God produced in this?

How would you summarize the main message of Daniel 3?

Our Story:

Here are two main threads in this passage that are extremely relevant and practical for us:

1) The Call to Follow

Like Shad/Mesh/Abed - how do we continually face real-life choices of who we are going to worship and follow?

    Vocation   Relationships

    Finances   Sexuality

    Media/Art   Conversations / Words

How might we make rationalizations and compromises like that in our lives?

This chapter gives us great insight into what it means to be a Jesus-follower. What are some of these insights?

Talk about how the Call to Follow Christ can easily be hijacked in two different ways:

  1. a) Easy-Believism - Just believe; behavior doesn’t matter
  2. b) Legalism - Obey, or else.

How is Jesus’ calling to follow different from those?

2) The Promise to Followers

How can it be scary (and risky) to follow Christ?

What keeps us from going “all in” with following Jesus?

Talk about these two categories of following Jesus:

    “I’ll follow, if....”

    “I’ll follow, because...”

We all hold back parts of ourselves and our lives from Jesus, not willing to trust him with...what? What do you hold back?

How is it that our only and true hope is that Jesus himself held NOTHING BACK in obeying the father?

How is the motivation and empowerment rather than guilt and legalism?

As you see in 3:16-18 - what is God’s promise?

How is his presence and our Living Hope better than the thing we are holding onto (earthly hope)?