Sermons

Sermon Description

There are few subjects in the Christian faith that generate as much controversy as “the antichrist.” And Daniel ch. 11 is one of the main biblical passages that contributes to the discussion. But as Christians, our call is to be wise about evil, but spend more time focusing on the perfect Messiah who has defeated the forces of evil.

Discussion Questions

1. How does Daniel 11 help you have confidence in the trustworthiness of the Scripture? How do these historical events increase your trust in God and his Word?

2. Read Romans 16:17-20. Are you someone who is wise about good and innocent of evil? Where might you be cavalier in your interactions with evil and darkness?

3. Where does the antichrist show up in your own heart? How is Jesus calling you to put these desires to death by the power of his Spirit?

4. How does God want you to focus on the real enemy and less on the enemies that capture your attention and imagination?

Prayer Points

1. Pray against the forces of evil that are alive and well in our world. Pray that God would give us wisdom to stand firm against the schemes of the enemy.

2. Pray for those in your life who have been captured by the “spirit of antichrist.” Pray that God would use you to break through their objections so they could come to know the love of the Messiah.

Sermon Description

Apocalyptic literature gives us a peek behind the curtain, a look at the spiritual realities that are happening all around us at all times—realities that we are largely unaware of. In Daniel 10, we are made aware of spiritual battles that are always raging. But in Christ, the victory has been won.

Discussion Questions

1. Read Genesis 11:1-9, Deuteronomy 32:8, and Psalm 82. How are “the nations” and the “gods” of this world connected? How does this perspective help you view the world differently?

2. Why should we take the realities of spiritual warfare seriously? Conversely, where could we go wrong with a focus on spirits and spiritual warfare.

3. How is Jesus our only hope against the forces of darkness? How can we live in the tension of his “already” defeat of evil but the “not yet” of his final victory?

4. How do passages like Ephesians 6:12 and 2 Timothy 2:26 help us to view our non-Christian friends and neighbors? How do these truths help us to have grace and love for them even when we disagree?

Prayer Points

1. Pray against the forces of spiritual darkness in your own life, your family, our church community, our neighborhoods, cities, nation, and world.

2. Pray for those non-Christian friends and neighbors in your life, that Jesus would deliver them from the kingdom of darkness and bring them into the kingdom of light.

3. Pray for Jesus to return soon and bring his victory to its final culmination.

The “seventy sevens” passage in Daniel 9 is considered by most scholars to be the single most difficult section of Scripture to understand and interpret. With its complex series of dates and cryptic language, it leaves most people scratching their heads. But when considered in light of Torah instruction regarding Sabbath and the explanation of 2 Chronicles 36, the point becomes much more clear: God cares deeply that we obey his command and invitation to rest.

Discussion Questions

1. How do you deal with the tension that God discloses divine secrets to us, yet also leaves us with mystery in the details of life?

2. Why do so many of us find it so hard to rest?

3. Share with your group your regular practices of rest: daily, weekly, and beyond. Where do you need to make changes to have rest that is intentional, regular, and Christ-focused?

4. Do you truly believe that, like Daniel, you are “greatly loved” by God? If not, what wrong beliefs or hurtful experiences may be affecting your ability to accept that reality?

Prayer Points

1. Take time on your own this week to practice silent, restful prayer. Start with 5 or 10 minutes, and simply meditate on one particular aspect of God’s character or the gospel. Don’t be discouraged when you find that your mind will wander all over the place. Simply come back to that thought and ask God to help you focus on his presence.

2. Pray for people in your life who don’t know Jesus and are running from one thing to another seeking fulfillment and meaning, when they could have it in Jesus.

Sermon Description

As Daniel reads the Word of the Lord given through the prophet Jeremiah, he is moved to prayer and repentance. Repentance is considered by many in our culture to be a dirty word. But when correctly understood, it is a gift from God to draw us closer to him and to free us from our burdens.

Discussion Questions

1. How healthy is your prayer life? What aspects of prayer are strengths for you? What aspects need to grow?

2. How does Scripture help us in our prayer? Is it possible that you struggle in prayer because of a lack of engagement in God’s Word?

3. Do you sit over culture as a “judge” or a “servant”? How is prayer connected to this proper perspective?

4. How does God use prayer to transform us to be more like Jesus? How is Jesus’ prayer our greatest hope?

Prayer Points

1. Spend more time than usual in group this week praying. Take time for repentance, and pray for the needs of each other. Pray for our cities, state, and nation, that we would turn to Jesus for grace. Pray for people in your life who have yet to meet Jesus.

In chapter 8, Daniel receives another vision of the future regarding hardships that the people of Israel will endure. And while he receives an explanation from the angel Gabriel, the explanation is only partial, leaving other questions unanswered. When we suffer, we want answers, and yet what we most often receive is the gracious offer of God’s presence with us.

Discussion Questions

1. Who in your life have you watched endure hardship in a really good way? What was it about their example that was inspiring?

2. Why do we want answers—information, dates, results—when we are suffering? Why do we think it will always help? What if it doesn’t?

3. Where are you currently facing hardship? How does Jesus’ suffering bring you peace?

4. Of the non-Christians that you know, who is currently suffering? Is there something specific God wants you to do for them to show them God’s love and presence?

Prayer Points

1. Pray for those in your group, your family, your neighborhood, our church community, who are currently going through a period of suffering. Pray for relief from their hardship, and pray for them to know that God is near as they endure.

2. Pray that we would be the kind of disciple who would trust God even when we don’t have all the answers.