WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY? - - WEEK 2

Welcome.                  

If you had to describe yourself as a tree – what sort of tree would you be and why?

Worship.                    

Psalm 1:1-3a + read Daniel 4:37 missing out the name Nebuchadnezzar and either sing or say the words to…..

“Ascribe Greatness to our God, the rock. His work is perfect and all his ways are just. {x2} A God of faithfulness and without injustice; good and upright is he. {x2}”

Word.    Daniel chapter 4 – A dream of a tree

Read Vv 1-18 silently.

1. Who wrote this chapter of Daniel?

2. In Verse 4, the king said he was contented and prosperous. When things are going well in your own life, does this make you more or less vulnerable to various problems?

3. Thinking of yourself as a tree, have you ever been cut down to size? What were the circumstances? Do you think that God was involved? How did you feel afterward?

 

Read Vv 19-23

4. In Verse 19, Daniel is dismayed that he must give the king the bad news about his dream. Have you ever delayed discussing something painful? Did you regret it later? What were the results? How did you feel?

5. If you were in Daniel’s sandals and had to give the bad news to a tyrant with great power, what approach would you take? What other prophet had to give a pointed message to a powerful king? (2 Samuel 12:7-9)

Read Vv 24-27

6. What was the primary message of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream? (Proverbs 16:18-19)

7. After Daniel explains Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he tactfully offers the king some advice in Verse 27. Does this suggest that God’s plans may not be set in concrete and may be partially contingent upon our actions?

 

8. Re V 27, should Daniel have appealed to the King’s wallet in this way, {talking of his prosperity continuing} or should he instead have looked to the fundamentals of doing something because it’s right?

Read Vv 28-33

Any comments?

Read vv 34-37

9. After seven “ages” {possibly years} Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity is restored and he testifies about the Supreme God. How does this testimony strike you: (a) sincerely penitent, (b) coaxed or coached by Daniel, (c) sanely rational, (d)

 miraculous turnabout?

 

10. You’ll hopefully agree wholeheartedly with most of the King’s praise - - but what do you make of verse 35?

Witness.

Thinking of someone for whom you are praying or for whom you’ll start praying - If you were to have to give them advice as Daniel did to Nebuchadnezzar in Verse 27, what might it be?

Pray for the Gus Eyre weekend coming up in February.