Daniel Series Study Sheet Week 4âMarch 12 Text: Daniel ch.3 ...
Daniel Series Study Sheet Week 4—March 12 Text: Daniel ch.3 Message Title: Images of Gold
Read Daniel ch3. Have you heard this story before? What stands out to you about it? What one word would you use to describe the following characters in the story: -
God Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego King Nebuchadnezzar
The central issue in this story is idolatry. Read Exodus 20:1-6. Why is idolatry such a serious issue to God? Come up with a definition of an idol that is relevant both to the experience of Israel in the OT and to us today. Read and discuss this quote by Tim Keller from his book Counterfeit Gods: “We think that idols are bad things, but that is almost never the case. The greater the good, the more likely we are to expect that it can satisfy our deepest needs and hopes. Anything can serve as a counterfeit god, especially the very best things in life.” Reuben mentioned some things that can become idols in our culture, including materialism, consumerism and technology. What else can you add to the list? What does it look like to worship these idols? Share an experience from your own life if you’re willing. What practical steps can we take to destroy our idols? Talk about this in relation to particular things that may become idols in your life (including things that are good in themselves and cannot simply be removed from our lives). What steps can we take to prevent our hearts from cultivating idols in the first place? What practices help keep our hearts from drifting away from God? Spend some time praying for one another, that our hearts would turn away from idols and turn back toward the living God.
Read Daniel ch3. Have you heard this story before? What stands out to you about it? What one word would you use to describe the following characters in the story: -
God Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego King Nebuchadnezzar
The central issue in this story is idolatry. Read Exodus 20:1-6. Why is idolatry such a serious issue to God? Come up with a definition of an idol that is relevant both to the experience of Israel in the OT and to us today. Read and discuss this quote by Tim Keller from his book Counterfeit Gods: “We think that idols are bad things, but that is almost never the case. The greater the good, the more likely we are to expect that it can satisfy our deepest needs and hopes. Anything can serve as a counterfeit god, especially the very best things in life.” Reuben mentioned some things that can become idols in our culture, including materialism, consumerism and technology. What else can you add to the list? What does it look like to worship these idols? Share an experience from your own life if you’re willing. What practical steps can we take to destroy our idols? Talk about this in relation to particular things that may become idols in your life (including things that are good in themselves and cannot simply be removed from our lives). What steps can we take to prevent our hearts from cultivating idols in the first place? What practices help keep our hearts from drifting away from God? Spend some time praying for one another, that our hearts would turn away from idols and turn back toward the living God.
