Grow Group Questions • Citizen Exile • Part 3, Daniel 3
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Helpful Tip:
Leaders, if you will read through the entire document first and then go back and select your questions, this will make you an even greater lead facilitator…if that were possible! Thank you so much for your incredible and valuable ministry on behalf of Christ!
Conversation Starter/Questions (10-15 minutes)
Option 1: Who do you think is the most positive role model in the world todayand why (leaders, give your thoughtful answer first so that your group can have time to think)?
Option 2: What is the most creative or effective prank you have ever pulled on someone?
Sermon Based Questions (15-20 minutes)
Paraphrase Daniel 3. What jumps out to you in regards to Daniel chapter three from your own study or from the sermon this last Sunday? Are there any points of application or takeaways that immediately jump out to you (perhaps you wrote some down as you took notes during the sermon) that are needed in your life?
Keeping Daniel 3 in mind, read Romans 12:1. In all honesty, if you were to look at your life, have you made decisions or even said things more based more on external pressure or internal principles? Share examples of this. This can be about money, sexual activities, or social status to name a few examples of areas where we may struggle.
What are some ways you think you could improve on this?
Do you have any personal examples (or contemporary examples) of being publicly forced to choose between honoring God with your life or not honoring Him? Whether you failed or succeeded in your story, share your story and what you’ve learned from it so that others can learn from you.
In the sermon, Pastor Thad spoke about the heritage and future of Babylon. This heritage is filled with idolatry, arrogance and rebellion. In your life, is there a “Plain of Dura” or a “Babylon”? If so, what is it and how can we pray and help you overcome your Babylon?
Read Daniel 3: 26-29. When we walk through the fire like the 3 men in the story, the world watches how we will burn or how we will act. What fires or challenges are you walking through right now? Is Jesus walking with you through the fire or are you feeling all alone? Why do you feel that way? Have you asked Jesus to walk with you? Are you walking in the fire and you are getting burned or clothes smell like smoke? Why?
Share what fire you are in, if you’re in one, so that the group can pray for you and help you walk through it as we want the best for you and we want our lives to be a positive testimony to the world.
Digging Deeper (15-20 minutes)
Pastor Thad spoke about the “meta-narrative” in the book of Daniel. Had you seen this in this book or thought about this before, about God being on trial? If your life were a book in the Bible, how is God’s meta-narrative playing out right now? Is God winning?
In all honesty, what would it take for God to begin wining if He is not? What are the dangerous areas where God’s rightful place in your life might be challenged? What needs to happen to guard those weak areas?
Read Daniel 3: 23-25. God did a miracle in keeping Daniel’s friends safe in the fire. Do you believe that God is still in the miracle business? If so, why do you believe that? Do you have any examples?
If we believe that God still works miracles, how does that impact our lives here as Citizen Exiles? Are there any miracles in your life or, where do you need one?
Challenge and Prayer
After a considerable time in prayer this next week, take time this week to contemplate or write the outline of your life as a meta-narrative with God. Spend time in God’s Word and listening to God about what He might want for your life. Have fun in imagining what God might do with you should you be sold out to Him. Prepare your mind and soul to be obedient to Him every step of the way. Devote yourself to allowing God to make you a witness of His glory in history. Write an outline of your life from birth until now with spiritual markers and then continue until death or Jesus’ return. Let this outline inspire you and perhaps give you a different perspective on life.
Side note from Pastor Thad: I realized when I did this I have only about 25 to 30 years left of “professional” ministry to give to the Lord as an average. I want them to count! I had better be serious about making my life count!
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