**Special Guests: Craig & Taryn Herbert from Citadel Church (Kew Gardens | Queens)**

Happy 4th Birthday, City Beautiful Church!

We're clear that we belong to Jesus and our lives are now lived to follow Him...so now what? Every single thing changes...and we will look quite different from the rest of the world, the rest of our culture.  We're filled with His indescribable joy and our immeasurable devotion, and our faith in Jesus allows Him to lead our lives.

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In the last episode of our study of Daniel, we see something as clearly as we ever have: God has a train of thought.  So why does the book of Daniel take such a shift-- from narrative story in chapters 1-6 to prophecy in chapters 7-12? The answer makes more sense than you may realize...

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By now in our Daniel series, we have our eye on certain things...like how God thinks.  And how our ways can be in harmony with Him or not.  Or in harmony with the world around us or not.   And what that can cost us.  In this familiar "Sunday School" story, we notice some familiar things...all while recognizing that reading the Bible is something anyone can do.  After all: God has a train of thought, and it's for everyone.

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Different king, same Daniel.  This new king learns the same lesson his forefathers did-- about just who is ultimately sovereign, holy, merciful and good.  Failure to acknowledge God in all our ways leads to pride...and God will stop at nothing to get our attention.

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Would you ever believe that the Bible has a whole chapter dedicated to the prideful heart of a pagan king...who conquered and exiled God's people? It does. Why? The answer lies in the fact that no one is disqualified from the love, pursuit, justice and mercy of God-- because only He has full sovereignty over everything.  Don't believe us? Take Nebuchadnezzar's word for it...

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By now, it's clear: more often than not, we humans set our ways against the ways of God.  But for followers of God, what does it mean to have so much assurance of His goodness, love and eternal salvation that we would give our lives for it.  Meet 3 men who were willing to do exactly that...and watch God show His glory.

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We, like ancient people, can experience what it's like when our worldview fails...and all our tables seem to get turned on us.  How does the Bible teach us to respond? And what is the answer it gives to the deep human question, "Can God come near?"

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Our series through the book of Daniel begins, and there's plenty of things to be excited for...and nervous about!  Can a 2500-year-old ancient narrative of exile, cunning, human brokenness and God's mercy and glory be relevant for us today? No doubt. The table is set...

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Does it feel strange or self-seeking to ask God for increase? Not if we know how increase works in His character and Kingdom. We can full-heartedly ask God to add to us...and He will do it in His ways.  What do we do when God brings increase? We go right back to intimacy with Him.

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We know that God wants us to ask Him for certain things.  How do we know? Jesus teaches us. Next up: God, give us impact! As we ask Him to use us for His glory, we'll soon see that God's idea of impact is different ("higher"!) than ours...

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