Sermon Notes

What HAS changed…
1. We are more connected and less connected
2. We are more united and less united
3. We are more busy and less busy


What DOESN’T change….



What is God’s vision?
To bring us home and make us new again


Problem?
1. Sin has cut us off from God and others
2. Sin has mis-aligned our purpose


The gospel is the good news that Jesus came to bring you home and make you new (“From ME to He”)

Our mission is an extension of Jesus’ mission


How will we help people move from Me to He?
1. Spiritual growth is intentional

2. Spiritual growth is relational

sermon notes

Reimagine Our Mission
Scripture: Acts 1:8, 23:11; 28:30-31
Pastor Tim Day


Our world is transforming before our eyes!
• Connected like never before.
• Changing faster than ever before.
• Crises spreading like never before: Pandemic, protests, and politics


And there is more…
• Colliding ideologies and cancel culture
• Complex issues of inequality, systemic injustice and poverty, and crime
• Chaotic economics and the inability to predict what will happen next


God is doing a new thing - Isaiah 43:19

In a world of rapid change, focus on what will not change.


Be filled with the Spirit as you go to your city, nation, and the world - Acts 1:8


Have courage as you move into your city - Acts 23:11


Understanding Rome in the 1st Century
• Advanced, multi-cultural
• Oppressive, unjust
• Highly addicted, incredibly violent

How did God impact Rome?
• New ways of talking about Jesus (Romans 1)
• New levels of working together between the different cultures (Romans 14-15)
• New leadership - Priscilla and Aquilla (Romans 16)
• New approaches – homes and workplaces (Romans 16)

Be bold. Nothing can stop God - Acts 28:30-31

Sermon Notes

Key Question: At the end of the day, what gives me hope?

Recap:
• Daniel is at the end of his life now
• Lived and thrived under 3 emperors
• Sought to be faithful, not to be famous
• The key message of chapters 7-11? Kingdoms will rise and fall. In the end, God will rescue his world once and for all!
• He’s given on one final vision in chapter 12…


5 Things That Give Us Hope


1. God will rescue (v. 1)


2. God will raise (v. 2-3)


3. God will rule (v. 4-8)


4. God will refine (v. 10-12)


5. God will reward (v. 13)


Small Group Discussion Questions:

1. One of the most practical ways to Gain understanding of God and His purposes is to read His Word. Knowing His Truths will help us to expose the lies of this world. What are some Truths that God has shown you recently?


2. Daniel, who was a “highly esteemed” servant of God, humbled himself when he received God’s vision. Reflecting on our own recent attitudes and behaviours can you see symptoms of pride in some areas of your life? Lift these areas up to God in prayer

3. In verses 17-18, Daniel tells the angel that he is weakened and has no strength to even speak. There are times in our lives where we feel overwhelmed, completely at a loss perhaps because of our circumstances. But just as the spiritual being gave Daniel strength to face the vision, so the Holy Spirit also gives us strength to face the challenges in our lives.

Are there things in your life now that you need God’s strength to uphold you or of to overcome? If you are comfortable, share with your group then pray for one another.

Sermon Notes

Key Question: How do we fight our spiritual battles?

1. Set your Mind to gain understanding.

2. Set your Heart to humble yourself.

3. Set your Will to persist in prayer.

Small Group Discussion Questions:

1. One of the most practical ways to Gain understanding of God and His purposes is to read His Word. Knowing His Truths will help us to expose the lies of this world. What are some Truths that God has shown you recently?

2. Daniel, who was a “highly esteemed” servant of God, humbled himself when he received God’s vision. Reflecting on our own recent attitudes and behaviours can you see symptoms of pride in some areas of your life? Lift these areas up to God in prayer

3. In verses 17-18, Daniel tells the angel that he is weakened and has no strength to even speak. There are times in our lives where we feel overwhelmed, completely at a loss perhaps because of our circumstances. But just as the spiritual being gave Daniel strength to face the vision, so the Holy Spirit also gives us strength to face the challenges in our lives.

Are there things in your life now that you need God’s strength to uphold you or of to overcome? If you are comfortable, share with your group then pray for one another.

Sermon Notes

Key Question: How can we get through to God when we pray?

1. Let God get through to you first.

In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the books according to the word of the Lord to the prophet Jeremiah that the number of years for the desolation of Jerusalem would be seventy.
—Daniel 9:2

2. Respond with the right posture of prayer.

So I turned my attention to the Lord God to seek him by prayer and petitions, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.
—Daniel 9:3

3. Expect to receive an answer.

At the beginning of your petitions an answer went out, and I have come to give it, for you are treasured by God.
—Daniel 9:23

Small Group Discussion Questions:

1. Daniel mentions that the desolation of Jerusalem would last 70 years (9:2). What is this desolation of Jerusalem about according to Jeremiah 25:7-14?

2. What prompted Daniel to pray intensely and plead with the Lord concerning the desolation of Jerusalem (cf. Jeremiah 29:10-14)?

3. Leviticus 25:1-7 speaks about the day of rest that God instituted for Israel to obey. Even the institution of rest for the land was not obeyed by the people. God’s instruction was that they can sow, plant, and harvest but on the 7th year, the land is to have a Sabbath of rest, a Sabbath to the Lord. The disobedience to this command for 490 years made God collect a year for every seven years of Israel’s disobedience (2 Chronicles 36:20-21). Thus, Israel’s exile is for a total of seventy years.

God calculates and keeps track of our compliance with his regulations. Have you experienced facing the consequences of your past sinful actions? Share with your group, if you are comfortable, how God dealt with your past sin.

4. Read Daniel’s prayer in verses 4-19. What principles on prayer can we learn from Daniel that will teach us how to pray effectively? Share one with your group that impressed you the most.

5. Read Daniel 9:18. What does this tell us about how God answers our prayers?

6. How would you describe God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer (Daniel 9:20-27)?

7. Share with your group how God answered a prayer you made in the past. Spend time praising and thanking God for his faithfulness.

Sermon Notes
Key Question: What changes do you need to make knowing God’s Word is true?

The Dream (v.1-14)

The Interpretation (v.15-25)

God has a word for us today…
1. We know the One who knows the future (v.26)
2. We have a word from the One who has the final word (v.27a)
3. Live in light of your divine destiny (v.27b)

Small Group Discussion Questions:

1. The prophecy of Daniel 8 must be understood in the context of the reign of Belshazzar, particularly the events described in chapter 5, and in relationship with the prophecy of chapter 7 (v.1). Review chapters 5 and 7.

2. Describe Daniel’s vision in verses 3-8 and Gabriel’s interpretation in verses 20-21. Do the same with verses 9-14 and verses 22-26. Which vision/interpretation do you think is most emphasized?

3. Verses 23-26 speak of a ruthless king, the little horn of verses 9-12, who will cause so much destruction especially against God’s holy people. Though his victory is temporary, why do you think God will allow this (v. 23)?

4. In your own opinion, why do you think God revealed to Daniel the vision in chapter 8 which he could not understand even with the help of an angel, which caused him physical and emotional distress, and which he was not allowed to tell anyone (vv. 26-27)?

5. If prophecies are not meant to be fully understood (though they provide us information of things to come), what truth do they point us to (cf. John 14:6; I Timothy 6:15-16)?

6. Most Christians today, if not all, do not want to hear a word from God like one found in Daniel chapter 8. We prefer messages that are easy to understand, relevant, affirming, amusing, fulfilling, and practical. But the prophets of God, like Daniel, had to tell the truth even if it is inconvenient. They prophesied what we “needed” to hear, not what we “wanted” to hear.

What is your attitude when you are listening to a sermon/message? Has God revealed to you an “inconvenient truth” lately? How did you respond? Share your answers with your group and pray for each other.

Sermon Notes

Key Question: How do we live in such uncertain times?

The Dream (v.1-14)

The Interpretation (v.15-28)
1. We know the One who knows the future
2. We have a word from the One who has the final word

Conclusion: Jesus came the first time, so we can be ready for the second time

No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man
—John 3:13

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many
—Mark 10:45

The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life
—Matthew 17:22-23

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
—Matthew 24:44

Are you ready for that day?
Are others round you - those you love - ready?

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Small Group Discussion Questions:

1. Describe the four beasts in Daniel’s vision (7:1-14). How are they similar? In what ways do they differ (esp. how they dominate their prey)?

2. According to Daniel 7:17, what do these mighty beasts represent? Who do you think each beast represent in mankind’s history? You may refer to link below for more information. https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/archives/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Dan/Dan_7.cfm)

3. Daniel was distressed and terrified by the vision he received (vv. 15 & 28). What do you feel when you read about the four beasts especially when you read verse 25 where the holy ones will be oppressed (see also Matthew 24:9-28)?

4. Which verses in Daniel chapter 7 provide comfort and encouragement to us in light of the prophesied persecution (see also Matthew 24:29-31)? What do these verses tell us about the God we serve?

5. In what ways are the “holy ones of the Most High” oppressed in our society today? How should we respond to these oppressions?

6. Daniel chapter 7 reminds us to be ready for the coming of our King. If Jesus comes again today, would you confidently say to him, “Lord, I have glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4)? Share your answer with your group then pray for each other.

Sermon Notes

Big Idea: Our prayers should focus on who Jesus is, what He has done and how He impacts our life.

1. The Righteous Reason (1:15)

2. The The Righteous Responsibility (1:16-19a)

3. The Righteous Resume (1:19b-23)

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Small Group Discussion Questions:

1. When you pray for your children, how do you pray? What do you pray for?

2. Why do you think it is so hard to give our children fully to the Lord?

3. Knowing who Jesus is and how much he loves our children (and us), does it give us more confidence?

4. Share one area in your family’s life where you really struggle surrendering to the Lord? (please take time to pray for each other after each one shares)

5. Finally, consider…praise God, he loves our kids and us so much more then we ever could!!!

Sermon Notes

Key Question: Who or what reigns in your life?

1. The peace of knowing God reigns

What is robbing you of peace in your life right now?

2. The joy of knowing God reigns

How long will you pretend to be in control of your life?

3. Danger of denying God reigns


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Small Group Discussion Questions:

1. What can we learn from Daniel about how to live faithfully in the midst of a culture that does not honour God?

2. What characteristics make Daniel stand out and allow him to ascend to high leadership positions in the kingdom?

3. Why should Christians who are serving God faithfully expect opposition? How does Daniel handle this opposition?

4. How can you prepare now for when opposition will come? What instruction does Jesus give about persecution?

5. In what sense is this a missional text? How does it point us outwardly to the nations?

6. How do Daniel’s situation and character remind you of Jesus?

Sermon Notes

Key Question: Can you see “the writing on the wall”?

1. The world is not the way God wants it to be…

2. But God does eventually show up!

3. No one knows how much time they have…so don’t waste your life!


Conclusion:

Small Group Discussion Questions:

1. Compare the end of Daniel 4 (Daniel 4:34-38) with the beginning of Daniel 5 (Daniel 5:1-4). What do they have in common? What’s different about them? What conclusions might be drawn from these differences and similarities?

2. God could have captured Belshazzar’s attention in lots of different ways. He chose to capture it by the sudden and mysterious appearance of “the fingers of a human hand” which “wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace.” Why this?

3. What is one goal (main goal) you’d like to accomplish during your lifetime that you believe God would encourage?

4. God again demonstrates His control over kings and kingdoms and that His plan will not be thwarted. How does this encourage you? How does this challenge you?

5. In light of this narrative, we should respond with humility and submission to God in contrast to Belshazzar. But beyond that, how should the reality of God’s control over history challenge our actions and attitudes, priorities and personal contacts—this week?