CCF Sunday Messages

If you are like me, I assume you are trying to make good decisions in a complex and complicated time. To make good decisions about life, we need information, and we are certainly inundated with information, right? There are “authoritative” voices on both sides of the election and on both sides of pandemic management, to name a few! The confusing thing is that both voices speak with authority and suggest a clear—although opposing—direction. Who should we believe? This may be more complicated than meets the eye.

Spiritual life is no different. There are authoritative voices that can say opposing things about God’s plan and purposes. If you were hopeful spiritual things would be more clear, I’m sorry to disappoint you! There are prophets and there are false prophets. There are teachers and there are false teachers. There are sheep and there are also wolves dressed up as sheep. There are spiritual experiences and dreams and visions, and, well..let’s turn our attention to Daniel 9.

Daniel chapter 9 opens a window for us to sit and listen and watch a man of God pray. This is the content of our passage today. But how does Daniel know what to pray for? How does he know how to pray and to what end? What informs his prayers? What if your prayer is motivated by the wrong information? What if the sermon you heard was exciting—but wrong? God’s will does not always fit neatly into our own plans or opinions.

Listen in as we learn via a godly man’s prayer via Daniel chapter 9. If you haven’t already, read a companion passage that we refer to: Jeremiah chapters 25-29. Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles will give some additional background to what we look at in our message from Daniel 9. Listen in and see!

If you are like me, I assume you are trying to make good decisions in a complex and complicated time. To make good decisions about life, we need information, and we are certainly inundated with information, right? There are “authoritative” voices on both sides of the election and on both sides of pandemic management, to name a few! The confusing thing is that both voices speak with authority and suggest a clear—although opposing—direction. Who should we believe? This may be more complicated than meets the eye.

Spiritual life is no different. There are authoritative voices that can say opposing things about God’s plan and purposes. If you were hopeful spiritual things would be more clear, I’m sorry to disappoint you! There are prophets and there are false prophets. There are teachers and there are false teachers. There are sheep and there are also wolves dressed up as sheep. There are spiritual experiences and dreams and visions, and, well..let’s turn our attention to Daniel 9.

Daniel chapter 9 opens a window for us to sit and listen and watch a man of God pray. This is the content of our passage today. But how does Daniel know what to pray for? How does he know how to pray and to what end? What informs his prayers? What if your prayer is motivated by the wrong information? What if the sermon you heard was exciting—but wrong? God’s will does not always fit neatly into our own plans or opinions.

Listen in as we learn via a godly man’s prayer via Daniel chapter 9. If you haven’t already, read a companion passage that we refer to: Jeremiah chapters 25-29. Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles will give some additional background to what we look at in our message from Daniel 9. Listen in and see!

I am not sure if I feel more like a sports commentator or a Bible preacher! Why? Daniel has another vivid and descriptive vision. This time it’s the Bucks against the Rams with a surprise ending!

This chapter, like Daniel chapter 7, is full of action. The ram seems unstoppable, but wait—out of nowhere comes a male goat (otherwise known as a “buck”)! He is moving at lightning speed and charging right at the unstoppable ram. The tension is high as the raging buck attacks the stronger ram! Who will survive the colossal collision? Who will be victorious?

Now that you are on the edge of your seat, I can ask the more important questions. Who do the ram and the goat represent? What is the vision about? Why is this chapter so important, and why should you care?

If you listen in, you will learn why so many doubt that Daniel was really written in the 6th century BC. I’ll give you a hint. The information in chapter 8 is so detailed and accurate that it is hard to believe he wrote it; and maybe more importantly: that he wrote it over 200 years before it happened. You will also learn the identity of the Bucks’ MVP (most vicious prince).

Listen in and learn why you should have hope in dark times!

I am not sure if I feel more like a sports commentator or a Bible preacher! Why? Daniel has another vivid and descriptive vision. This time it’s the Bucks against the Rams with a surprise ending!

This chapter, like Daniel chapter 7, is full of action. The ram seems unstoppable, but wait—out of nowhere comes a male goat (otherwise known as a “buck”)! He is moving at lightning speed and charging right at the unstoppable ram. The tension is high as the raging buck attacks the stronger ram! Who will survive the colossal collision? Who will be victorious?

Now that you are on the edge of your seat, I can ask the more important questions. Who do the ram and the goat represent? What is the vision about? Why is this chapter so important, and why should you care?

If you listen in, you will learn why so many doubt that Daniel was really written in the 6th century BC. I’ll give you a hint. The information in chapter 8 is so detailed and accurate that it is hard to believe he wrote it; and maybe more importantly: that he wrote it over 200 years before it happened. You will also learn the identity of the Bucks’ MVP (most vicious prince).

Listen in and learn why you should have hope in dark times!

If you could know the future, would you want to? Before you answer, think about it. Maybe you would want to clarify your answer based on whether it’s a good or bad future! “Yes, if such and such is true…“—or “no, unless…” You get the idea. Now hash that out in your mind!

If you could know the future of America, would you want to? What would you do with the information? Would it be comforting or would it be troubling? Would you tell people what you knew?

Coming back to our context in the book of Daniel, our Jewish friend has just such a dilemma, and after tomorrow so will you. After we walk through Daniel chapter seven, you too will know what Daniel knew in the 6th century BC! This chapter outlines an overview of world power using very visually dramatic and descriptive language. You’ll notice as we move through the chapter that is basically parallels Daniel chapter 2.

How does this information effect Daniel? What is the emotional response to the information God gives him? Listen in and find out! You can bet that Daniel’s vision is as relevant today as it was when God first opened his mind to see it.

If you could know the future, would you want to? Before you answer, think about it. Maybe you would want to clarify your answer based on whether it’s a good or bad future! “Yes, if such and such is true…“—or “no, unless…” You get the idea. Now hash that out in your mind!

If you could know the future of America, would you want to? What would you do with the information? Would it be comforting or would it be troubling? Would you tell people what you knew?

Coming back to our context in the book of Daniel, our Jewish friend has just such a dilemma, and after tomorrow so will you. After we walk through Daniel chapter seven, you too will know what Daniel knew in the 6th century BC! This chapter outlines an overview of world power using very visually dramatic and descriptive language. You’ll notice as we move through the chapter that is basically parallels Daniel chapter 2.

How does this information effect Daniel? What is the emotional response to the information God gives him? Listen in and find out! You can bet that Daniel’s vision is as relevant today as it was when God first opened his mind to see it.

If you play a little “word association” and say the word “Daniel“, the immediate response for many would be “lion’s den“. Chapter 6 is that well known Bible chapter that holds this famous story. People have heard of the story but many of them don’t really know the details. They don’t know about the new transitional government of the Medes and Persians or the new leadership structure. They don’t know about Daniel’s promotion or the political enemies he is making.

Hey, so why did he get thrown in that lion’s den anyway? Why didn’t the lion’s eat him alive? For me, one of the coolest aspects was the real fondness the king had for Daniel. You know, if you have integrity, are trustworthy, and really seem to care about people, you find God’s blessing in your work and relationships. When you live a Spirit filled life of loyalty to God, mouths get miraculously shut!

Listen in and see this miraculous story of God’s protection over His faithful servant Daniel!

If you play a little “word association” and say the word “Daniel“, the immediate response for many would be “lion’s den“. Chapter 6 is that well known Bible chapter that holds this famous story. People have heard of the story but many of them don’t really know the details. They don’t know about the new transitional government of the Medes and Persians or the new leadership structure. They don’t know about Daniel’s promotion or the political enemies he is making.

Hey, so why did he get thrown in that lion’s den anyway? Why didn’t the lion’s eat him alive? For me, one of the coolest aspects was the real fondness the king had for Daniel. You know, if you have integrity, are trustworthy, and really seem to care about people, you find God’s blessing in your work and relationships. When you live a Spirit filled life of loyalty to God, mouths get miraculously shut!

Listen in and see this miraculous story of God’s protection over His faithful servant Daniel!

Daniel 4 closed with Nebuchadnezzar recovering his mental health, being restored to his throne, and the reality of the Most High God who is sovereign over every earthly empire. Daniel 5 opens with a king named Belshazzar reigning over Babylon.

What we know is that the saying, “The handwriting on the wall, has made its way into our modern culture as an idiom for “impending and unavoidable doom.” Maybe you didn’t know that saying comes directly from Daniel 5!

In the midst of a Babylonian government drinking party and feast, Belshazzar expressed his pride and defiance toward the God who humbled Nebuchadnezzar. When a hand appeared and wrote a cryptic message on the wall, the party came to screeching halt! The DJ stopped the music and everyone froze in fear and astonishment. Is this really happening? What does it mean?

Daniel, whose wisdom seems to have been forgotten or ignored, is called from the dugout to help. Here are some things to consider:

If, according to history, the last King of Babylon is a guy named Nabonidus, then who is Belshazzar? Is the Bible wrong?

What was the message on the wall? What did it mean?

For answers to these questions and more, listen in to this study of Daniel chapter five. By the end of the chapter, the impenetrable Babylonian Empire, that head of Gold (ref: chapter 2), will have been replaced by the Medo-Persian Empire without even the smallest battle! Wow. Are you curious? I hope so!

Daniel 4 closed with Nebuchadnezzar recovering his mental health, being restored to his throne, and the reality of the Most High God who is sovereign over every earthly empire. Daniel 5 opens with a king named Belshazzar reigning over Babylon.

What we know is that the saying, “The handwriting on the wall, has made its way into our modern culture as an idiom for “impending and unavoidable doom.” Maybe you didn’t know that saying comes directly from Daniel 5!

In the midst of a Babylonian government drinking party and feast, Belshazzar expressed his pride and defiance toward the God who humbled Nebuchadnezzar. When a hand appeared and wrote a cryptic message on the wall, the party came to screeching halt! The DJ stopped the music and everyone froze in fear and astonishment. Is this really happening? What does it mean?

Daniel, whose wisdom seems to have been forgotten or ignored, is called from the dugout to help. Here are some things to consider:

If, according to history, the last King of Babylon is a guy named Nabonidus, then who is Belshazzar? Is the Bible wrong?

What was the message on the wall? What did it mean?

For answers to these questions and more, listen in to this study of Daniel chapter five. By the end of the chapter, the impenetrable Babylonian Empire, that head of Gold (ref: chapter 2), will have been replaced by the Medo-Persian Empire without even the smallest battle! Wow. Are you curious? I hope so!