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Sep 20, 2020

Revealer of Mysteries (Click Here for Resources)

Passage: Daniel 2:1-49

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: Daniel

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: arrogance, humility, king of kings

In this unpredictable and mysterious age we easily find ourselves lying awake at night afraid of what will happen next. To ease our fears we tend to put our hopes (“build monuments”) in worldly powers and ourselves. In His grace, God mercifully reveals the greatest mystery of all time: that he topples all of our self-statues, personally and politically, as he elevates His Son, the True King of Kings, who will reign forever and ever.

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

HERE are the sermon discussion questions.

Order of Worship

WELCOME  / ANNOUNCEMENTS / OPENING PRAYER

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 24:7-10

MUSIC: 

PRAYER: Book of Common Prayer (Revelation 4:11; 5:9-10, 13)

Splendor and honor and kingly power

are yours by right, O Lord our God,

For you created everything that is,

and by your will they were created and have their being;

And yours by right, O Lamb that was slain,

for with your blood you have redeemed for God,

From every family, language, people, and nation,

a kingdom of priests to serve our God.

And so, to him who sits upon the throne,

and to Christ the Lamb,

Be worship and praise, dominion and splendor,

for ever and for evermore.

MISSIONAL LIVING: Rise & Shine (Caroline Graham helping them)

MESSAGE TITLE:  Revealer of Mysteries

CENTRAL TEXT: Daniel 2:1-49

BENEDICTION: 1 Timothy 1:17 

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES:

  • Psalm 118
  • Luke 20:17-18
  • John 1:14
  • Isaiah 44:12,17-18
  • Isaiah 57:15
  • Job 28:20-28
  • Ephesians 1:7-10
  • Mark 1:15
  • Jeremiah 29:5-9 

ILLUSTRATIONS:

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

The “wise men” were asked to do something humanly impossible - not just to interpret a dream (which they could fake) but to even tell Nebu what the dream was....or be killed.

    How did Daniel respond to this impossible task?

    Talk about how this shows the importance of:

    1) Authentic andCommunity    

When have you turned quickly to your closest relationships for prayer when you are faced with what seems impossible?

    2) Prayer

Is prayer your first response? Last? In the middle?

Do you expect God to give miraculous answers?

God answered Daniel in a miraculous way...read through Daniel’s prayer of worship and gratitude in 2:20-23.

Does God still reveal great mysteries to us? Talk about that.

Talk about the dream, and what it says about earthly kingdoms.

Talk about the 2 ways we typically react:

1) “Being so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good”

    What might this look like?

    How can this be seen in an “under-emphasis” on politics?

2) Having “eternity amnesia” as I (functionally) put my hope and trust in this earthly kingdom.

    What might this look like?

    How can this be seen in an  “over-emphasis” on politics?

How can being “heavenly minded” lead us to love, serve and engage with more freedom, courage and humility?

It is easy to think about others as setting themselves up as kings and rulers, and how futile and fragile that reign is. BUT...this applies to us as well. How do we set OURSELVES up as ruler and king (or queen).

    How do we do that on a daily basis?

    Why do we do it?

How can we find ourselves in Nebuchadnezzar, both in his arrogance as well as in his humility?

This chapter has 2 very overt references to Jesus.

1) 2:11 “The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

How does God himself coming in the flesh impact the way God has and does know and speak with us? (John 1:14)

Read Ephesians 1:7-10 to see a glorious summary of Jesus revealing the great mystery of the secrets of life.

2) 2:34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces... 35b But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

How is Jesus this miraculous stone (asteroid?)?

How does Jesus not only break down, but build back up?

How is it that this exact thing that happened TO Jesus on the cross (break down and resurrect) reveals a far greater King that not only conquers all other kings (including me) as well as the great Uniting King?