There’s no question that Daniel 7-12 are difficult chapters to understand and apply rightly. Less so with Daniel 7:1-28 in which Daniel saw a terrifying vision of kingdoms and beasts, but also a comforting vision of the rule of the Ancient of Days with the heavenly figure of the ‘Son of Man’. In the last in this series, this message seeks to explore these things and bring them to a place where they can be understood and applied to us, the readers who need to be assured that ‘Jesus will reign where’er the sun does his successive journeys run’.

Message

Radio Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: O Christ in Thee
00:20 Introduction
00:37 Prayer
02:29 Bible reading: Daniel 7:1-14
Song: Grace Unmeasured
06:13 Shorter Catechism Introduction
07:41 Catechism Questions 103-106
11:43 Bible reading: Daniel 7:15-28
Song: Never Alone
Sermon: Daniel 7:1-28
Song: At the Name of Jesus
15:20 Closing

Outline

• Daniel in the twilight of his life
• Back to Belshazzar as the King
• Visions revealed for Daniel’s sake and ours…
• See how the text speaks of…

1. Visions of human authority (v.1-8, 15-28)
2. Visions of divine authority (v.9-14)

Where you will find …security …salvation …hope!

In the flow of the stores recorded in the book of Daniel, the story of Daniel in the den of lions (Daniel 6:1-28) is perhaps the most well known and one every Sunday School student would have heard. But it’s far from a children’s story and is a wonderful story of courage, bravery, loyalty and faith – especially so when it brings us to the One who wasn’t saved from the ‘lion’s mouth’ but was willing to go there for our sake!

Message

Radio Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Rejoice the Lord is King
00:17 Introduction
00:32 Prayer
05:47 Bible reading: Hebrews 11:32-40
Song: We Are His People
07:03 Shorter Catechism Introduction
08:30 Catechism Questions 100-102
10:13 Bible reading: Daniel 6:1-28
Song: Jesus Strong and Kind
Sermon: Daniel 6:1-28
Song: Jesus Paid It All
16:20 Closing

Outline

• Now to chapter 6!
• The pattern that’s developed…
• Not quite just a Sunday School story!!
• See how the text speaks of…

1. How Daniel’s life was scrutinized (v.1-18)
2. How Daniel’s faith was characterized (v.1-18)
3. How Daniel’s God was glorified (v.19-28)

See Daniel… but better yet, see Jesus!

There is no doubt that all through the first four chapters of the book of Daniel, God was dealing with King Nebuchadnezzar – and why wouldn’t He? Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful ruler in the world. In fact you could say, the ruler of the world. So it was no surprise that God should engage with him. And that is just what he did! In Daniel 4:1-37 we find the story of how God brought this king down. Humbled him. Brought him to nothing. It is a salutary tale. One that we should take full note of!

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: Marvellous Grace
00:17 Introduction
00:38 Prayer
04:02 Bible reading: Daniel 4:1-18
Song: Behold the Lamb of God
07:31 Shorter Catechism Introduction
08:59 Catechism Questions 88-90
11:00 Bible reading: Daniel 4:19-37
Song: Before the Throne
Sermon: Daniel 4:1-37
Song: Jesus Shall Reign
15:29 Closing

Outline

• Where we are in this book
• The King humbles a king
• Recurring themes of Daniel 1-3
• See how the text speaks of…

1. What the King dreamed (v.1-18)
2. What the King learned (v.19-27)
3. What the King became (v.28-37)

Warnings must be heeded…
God’s mercy triumphs!
Jesus who humbled himself…

The story of Daniel’s three friends being thrown into the fiery furnace in Daniel 3:1-30 is far, far from being a cute Sunday School story. What a testimony these men had! What courage they displayed! What determination to not give in to the threats of the most powerful King! What faith they had that the true King would be given their full obedience regardless of the outcome! The story is powerful and challenging, reminding us of the full cost that many make in following the Lord Jesus even now.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: What a Friend We Have In Jesus
00:18 Introduction
00:40 Prayer
05:28 Bible reading: Daniel 3:1-15
Song: My Heart Is Filled
08:20 Shorter Catechism Introduction
09:48 Catechism Questions 83-87
13:14 Bible reading: Daniel 3:16-30
Song: My Worth Is Not In What I Own
Sermon: Daniel 3:1-30
Song: O Jesus I Have Promised
16:48 Closing

Outline

• This new series
• A repeat crisis!
• ‘Easy to stand with the crowd….’
• See how the text speaks of…

1. The size of the challenge they faced (v.1-7)
2. The depths of the courage they shared (v.8-23)
3. The truths of the principles they proved (v.24-30)

‘A line in the sand’
Faithful until the very end!

While far away in exile in Babylon, Daniel 2:1-49 tells us how Daniel and his friends soon faced another test – one not of their own making, but one that the Lord was certainly in. When King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream troubled him and he sought answers about it, Daniel and friends were about to lose their heads. But through earnest prayer and the grace of God, these young men were able to see God come to their aid and actually do more for the advancement of His Kingdom than they might ever have expected!

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: O Worship the King
00:17 Introduction
00:37 Prayer
03:50 Bible reading: Daniel 2:1-24
Song: O Great God
07:46 Shorter Catechism Introduction
09:14 Catechism Questions 78-82
12:10 Bible reading: Daniel 2:25-49
Song: My Hope Rests Firm
Sermon: Daniel 2:1-49
Song: The Lord Is King
18:00 Closing

Outline

• This new series
• Cool in a crisis
• The king’s grave threats
• See how the text speaks of…

1. A troubling dream and a stubborn king (v.1-11)
2. Crisis praying and welcome answers (v.12-45)
3. Humble worship and fitting reward (v.46-49)

What God gives
What God values
What God can do
What God foreshadowed…

The book of Daniel is a wonderful encouragement to God’s people because it tells the story of Daniel and his friends, living faithfully before God in the most difficult of circumstances. The exile of these young men of Judah into Babylon was no small test. To be a young man and far from home and the regular worship of God and the means of grace can never be underestimated. And then also, to be placed within the King’s court and palace with new Babylonian names! This would not have been easy. But Daniel 1:1-21, tells us that Daniel and his friends passed the test and in doing so proved that ‘the Lord honours those who honour Him’.

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
00:19 Introduction
00:42 Prayer
05:18 Bible reading: Daniel 1
Song: See Him Coming
08:49 Shorter Catechism Introduction
10:17 Catechism Questions 73-77
13:42 Bible reading: 2 Timothy 3
Song: By Faith
Sermon: Daniel 1:1-21
Song: O Jesus I Have Promised
17:04 Closing

Outline

• A new series
• Exile into Babylon
• Young men far from home
• See how the text speaks of…

1. The strategies employed to change their mindset (v.1-7).
2. The counter strategies employed to continue their mindset (v.8-16)
3. God honoured their resolution to keep that mindset (v.17-21).

Perseverance, faithfulness and honour
What really matters…

The story of the three Hebrew men standing firm in the face of the fury of the King Nebuchadnezzar and his infamously hot furnace, has long been a Sunday School favourite. Yet the story is far from one that belongs to the children alone. Daniel 3:1-30 tells of courage, bravery and obedience – all in the face of great trial and remains something that urges God’s people along today on our walk with the Lord in this world.

Full service

00:00 Introduction
Song: O Worship the King
00:41 Prayer
05:01 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #48)
Song: The One and Only God
10:09 Greetings from Ryan Smith at CU Bendigo
13:26 Bible reading: Daniel 3:1-15
Song: Behold Our God
16:13 Bible reading: Daniel 3:16-30
19:50 Sermon: Daniel 3
Song: He Will Hold Me Fast
42:20 Closing

You can be sure that the story of Daniel in the lion’s den found in Daniel 6:1-28 will make it to just about every children’s Bible that has ever been or will be published. Funny The funny thing about that is this – the story is not really just a children’s story. Instead it is one of the great stories of the Bible that forces us to examine our own loyalty and faithfulness to God. It might have been an extreme test that God allowed Daniel to endure – and while he proved to be faithful, how would you go at being in Daniel’s position?

Full service

00:00 Introduction & Prayer
Song: Come Praise and Glorify
03:21 ANZAC Remembrance
Song: Eternal Father
09:45 Children’s talk (with thanks to Kidswise; see also Big Picture Bible Crafts #51)
Song: Stop What You’re Doing and Pray to Jesus
15:13 Bible reading: Hebrews 11:32-40
16:28 Bible reading: Daniel 6
22:34 Sermon: Daniel 6
Song: O Great God
44:39 Benediction