9.8.24 Huddle
Opening Discussion: What was an event that changed the way you thought about something? (This can be humorous, like the time you learned Buffalo wings were actually made with chicken, or something more serious
Shortened Version
Read and Discuss
Daniel 1:3-7
3 The king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the Israelites from the royal family and from the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, good-looking, suitable for instruction in all wisdom, knowledgeable, perceptive, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the Chaldean language and literature. 5 The king assigned them daily provisions from the royal food and from the wine that he drank. They were to be trained for three years, and at the end of that time they were to attend the king. 6 Among them, from the Judahites, were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The chief eunuch gave them names; he gave the name Belteshazzar to Daniel, Shadrach to Hananiah, Meshach to Mishael, and Abednego to Azariah.
- What were some tactics the Babylonians used to change the culture of the Israelite captives?
- Why did they change the names of the Israelites?
- What are some names or labels that the world tries to put on people?
- How can you remember what God calls you when you’re bogged down by the world? Hint: See Ephesians 5:1-2- 1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, 2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
Daniel 1:8-20
8 Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief eunuch not to defile himself. 9 God had granted Daniel kindness and compassion from the chief eunuch, 10 yet he said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and drink. What if he sees your faces looking thinner than the other young men your age? You would endanger my life with the king.”
11 So Daniel said to the guard whom the chief eunuch had assigned to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then examine our appearance and the appearance of the young men who are eating the king’s food, and deal with your servants based on what you see.” 14 He agreed with them about this and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king’s food. 16 So the guard continued to remove their food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables.
17 God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind. 18 At the end of the time that the king had said to present them, the chief eunuch presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king interviewed them, and among all of them, no one was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they began to attend the king. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king consulted them about, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and mediums in his entire kingdom.
- How did Daniel remain in the culture but still stay faithful to God’s Kingdom?
- What happened as a result of Daniel’s faithfulness?
- In the places you’re in, school, work, home, social settings, how can you stay steady in God’s kingdom even when people are living for the world?
Discipleship Questions
- Who are the people around you that help you stay grounded in a Biblical Worldview?
- What excuses do you (or other people) give for not reading the Bible?
- What are some ways you can learn the Bible more this week?
Extended Edition
Read and Discuss
Daniel 1:3-7
3 The king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the Israelites from the royal family and from the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, good-looking, suitable for instruction in all wisdom, knowledgeable, perceptive, and capable of serving in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the Chaldean language and literature. 5 The king assigned them daily provisions from the royal food and from the wine that he drank. They were to be trained for three years, and at the end of that time they were to attend the king. 6 Among them, from the Judahites, were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The chief eunuch gave them names; he gave the name Belteshazzar to Daniel, Shadrach to Hananiah, Meshach to Mishael, and Abednego to Azariah.
- What were some tactics the Babylonians used to change the culture of the Israelite captives?
- Why did they change the names of the Israelites?
- What are some ways that we allow the culture to change our worldview if we aren’t careful? (constant scrolling on social media, watching whatever without filtering anything, taking what the world says is good as fact, etc)
- What are some names or labels that the world tries to put on people?
- Why doesn’t the enemy want you to remember who you are?
- How can you remember what God calls you when you’re bogged down by the world? Hint: See Ephesians 5:1-2- 1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, 2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
Daniel 1:8-20
8 Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank. So he asked permission from the chief eunuch not to defile himself. 9 God had granted Daniel kindness and compassion from the chief eunuch, 10 yet he said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and drink. What if he sees your faces looking thinner than the other young men your age? You would endanger my life with the king.”
11 So Daniel said to the guard whom the chief eunuch had assigned to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then examine our appearance and the appearance of the young men who are eating the king’s food, and deal with your servants based on what you see.” 14 He agreed with them about this and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king’s food. 16 So the guard continued to remove their food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables.
17 God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind. 18 At the end of the time that the king had said to present them, the chief eunuch presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king interviewed them, and among all of them, no one was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they began to attend the king. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding that the king consulted them about, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and mediums in his entire kingdom.
- How did Daniel remain in the culture but still stay faithful to God’s Kingdom?
- What happened as a result of Daniel’s faithfulness?
- In the places you’re in, school, work, home, social settings, how can you stay steady in God’s kingdom even when people are living for the world?
- Who is someone you meet with regularly to hold you accountable? If you don’t meet with anyone regularly, who can you start meeting with?
- What position are you in right now that you could help show others the love of Christ by how you treat them?
- How have you seen God use you when you have remained faithful to Him?
Discipleship Questions
- Who are the people around you that help you stay grounded in a Biblical Worldview?
- What excuses do you (or other people) give for not reading the Bible?
- What are some ways you can learn the Bible more this week?
Prayer TACOS
Thanksgiving- Thank the Lord for giving us the Bible
Adoration- Worship the Lord for His faithfulness
Confess to the times you’ve allowed the culture around you to determine your beliefs instead of the Bible
Others- Pray for someone who needs to follow Jesus. Ask the Lord for an opportunity to talk with them this week.
Self- Ask the Lord for boldness in finding someone to hold you accountable. Or thank the Lord for those who do hold you accountable.