Sermon Central
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Daniel: Standing Strong In A Chaotic World
Contributed by Vic Folkert on Sep 3, 2020 (message contributor)
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1. Daniel 1: Living In A Strange Land
Contributed on Sep 3, 2020
How can we thrive in an ungodly environment? 1) Stand up for who we are, 2) Excel in what we do. In exile, Daniel was excelled, without losing his identity.
LIVING IN A STRANGE LAND—Daniel 1, 1 Peter 2:9-12 Read Daniel 1:1-20. ***My first days in a college dorm were a rude awakening, for a guy who had led a pretty sheltered life. Bob Dylan was blasting out, “Lay, Lady, Lay” on the stereo down the hall. (Yes, I am ancient!) The Beatles were singing ...read more
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2. Daniel 2: When Life Seems Out Of Control
Contributed on Sep 3, 2020
God is in control, even when the world seems chaotic. Daniel handles a situation beyond his control with WISDOM and FAITH.
WHEN LIFE SEEMS OUT OF CONTROL—Daniel 2 Does it sometimes seem like your life is out of control? Coronavirus. The national debt. Politics. Natural disasters. As a parent committed to your kids, you try to protect them and control their environment, but you can’t control all the people and ...read more
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3. Daniel 3: Conquering Insecurity
Contributed on Sep 3, 2020
1) Play to the right audience (God), 2) Trust God for lasting security, 3) Commit to what is right. Neb is insecure, while Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are secure in God!
CONQUERING INSECURITY—Daniel 3 I wonder how many of us here this morning struggle with insecurity. Maybe you don’t feel good enough—attractive, competent, successful enough. Maybe you don’t feel that your opinions are valued—you are not respected, or you don’t have a lot of influence. Maybe you ...read more
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4. Daniel 4: Overcoming Pride
Contributed on Sep 3, 2020
Self-focused pride 1) causes anxiety, 2) leads to a fall, 3) can be redeemed through God-focused humility. We can humble ourselves by 1) recognizing God as sovereign, 2) crediting God for our abilities, and 3) directing our gifts to the good of others.
PUTTING PRIDE IN ITS PLACE—Daniel 4 PRIDE. One of the “Seven Deadly Sins,” along with greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony, and sloth. But is it always bad? There is a kind of healthy pride, which values one’s abilities, celebrates achievement, and motivates positive behavior. Paul refers to ...read more
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5. Daniel 5: Being A Person Of Substance
Contributed on Sep 3, 2020
Belshazzar is "weighed in the balance and found wanting," while Daniel is strong in his faith in God. Our substance is found in the kingdom of God, as described in the Beatitudes and Sermon on the Mount.
BEING A PERSON OF SUBSTANCE—Daniel 5 ***A few years ago, a best-selling book was titled, “The Worst Case Scenario Survival Handbook.” It gave advice from experts in a variety of fields, all telling “How to”: How to…fend off a shark, deliver a baby in a taxicab, jump from a moving car, survive if a ...read more
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6. Daniel 6: Handling Change
Contributed on Sep 3, 2020
Change comes to us all. Daniel handles change with 1) character, 2) commitment, and 3) faith.
HANDLING CHANGE—Daniel 6 Look around at some of our senior citizens (Aren’t they great?), and imagine the changes they have seen in their lifetime: from life in the iconic 1950’s, through the turbulent 60’s, the 70’s and the Vietnam war, leisure suits in the 80’s, and ________ (you fill in the ...read more
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7. Daniel 7: Taming The Monsters
Contributed on Sep 3, 2020
God has a plan for taking the monsters we face in the world and our personal lives. The SON OF MAN finds fulfillment in Jesus, who overcomes by the cross, resurrection, ascension, and return.
TAMING THE MONSTERS—Daniel 7 ***When our son was about six, we asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. His answer surprised us: He wanted to be monster-handler. I can only imagine the monsters he imagined in his room or under his bed, but he thought grownups would have use for a ...read more
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8. Daniel 8: He's Got This
Contributed on Sep 3, 2020
Nothing is a surprise to God. God is in control.
HE’S GOT THIS—Daniel 8 Do you sometimes feel like the world is spinning out of control? The safe and secure life some of us remember seems more chaotic, less innocent, and somewhat scary. Family and cultural values are changing—not always for the better. Religious freedom is under attack in many ...read more
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9. Daniel 9: This May Take A While
Contributed on Sep 3, 2020
When hopes are delayed, turn to the Bible, pray, and look to the future. The final fulfillment is in Christ, (Daniel 9:24) "...to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness..."
THIS MAY TAKE A WHILE—Daniel 9 The family is on a road trip, when one of the kids starts the incessant refrain, “Are we almost there?” The parent replies, “Not yet; we have a ways to go.” Ten minutes later, the question and answer are the same. “Are we almost there? Are we at least making ...read more
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10. Daniel: The Wise Will Be All Right
Contributed on Sep 3, 2020
God knows the future. Even if we don't know the future, we can be wise about how we live. At the end of God's future, we will be all right--ALL right--righteous in glory.
THE WISE WILL BE ALL RIGHT—Daniel 10-12 ***The 2010 movie, “The Kids Are All Right,” was about two women who married, with each having children by the same sperm donor. They raised their kids together. The plot takes crazy twists and turns, as one of the women has an affair with the sperm donor, ...read more