Sunday Sermons

On this holiday weekend, many will take time to celebrate the freedom that we have in our country having been set free from the tyranny of an unjust king. While this is certainly part of our identity as Americans, it runs counter to our identity as followers of Christ. The portrait painted in this psalm introduces us to the LORD’s king that will bring forth salvation to all God’s people and will also usher in judgment to all his enemies. Clearly, the LORD is for this king. If the LORD is for his king, shouldn’t we also be for his king?

All too often, people stop reading the book of Daniel after chapter six because the book takes a dramatic turn. Gone are the stories of how the exiles remained faithful despite the great challenges posed to them by the various kings. Instead, we now read about visions, beasts, and an everlasting kingdom. Because Daniel saw fit to include these visions in his book, we can be confident that the visions are recorded for our benefit and encouragement. Therefore, we must strive to make sense of graphic and terrifying dreams to rightly understand God’s purposes for his people as we strive to live faithfully in this world.

Where does the story of Daniel and the lion’s den rank as one of the Bible’s most popular stories? This chapter of Daniel is recounted in virtually every children’s Bible, yet when we get down to the nitty-gritty, this isn’t a very kid-friendly story. Once again Daniel finds himself in the crosshairs of those who do not worship and honor the most high God of Israel. Does Daniel take the easy way out and follow the crowd? Or does he maintain his resolved posture and honor the LORD, regardless of great personal cost to himself?

King Nebuchadnezzar made sure everyone in his kingdom heard that the Most High God—the God of Israel—was who was truly in control over all creation and that he could give this rule to whomever he wishes. However, not all who sat upon that throne kept the same convictions. Belshazzar, who reigned sometime after Nebuchadnezzar, turned away from the faith that his ancestor once proclaimed to all peoples, nations, and languages. His unrepentant heart would lead to his judgment. Let us not make the same mistake.

How easily we forget that each and every conversion—the transformation from life to death through faith in Christ—is truly a miracle. While we know this is true, there are those stories of conversion that seem more obviously miraculous. When we hear of someone who seemed so far from God coming to faith, we cannot help to give credit to anyone but God. For the first three chapters of Daniel we have seen God work through the exiles to direct the king’s attention towards the Most High God. How does God finally reach the most unlikely of converts? The same way all are saved: by knowing the Most High truly rules this world.

The reign of Nebuchadnezzar was marked by great demonstrations of power and superiority. Further, Daniel 3 displays that it was marked by an expectation to worship and serve him as the leader of the world’s superpower. How would the Israelite exiles respond? Would they hold fast in their resolve to not defile themselves? Would they keep the LORD’s command to have no other gods, not bending their knee or serving anyone demanding worship? How would we respond if we faced the same expectation, knowing that noncompliance would mean certain death? Would we trust the LORD to deliver us?

What keeps you up at night? The weight of the world? The stresses of life? If so, you’re not alone. This was King Nebuchadnezzar’s situation. After a troubling dream, he needed answers, but couldn’t find them anywhere resulting in a deadly decree for all the wise men—even Daniel and his committed companions. How does their precarious situation get resolved? And does Nebuchadnezzar get the answers he needed? Both come from the same source— the God of heaven who is the “revealer of mysteries” (2:47). Realizing the extent of God’s rule and reign over all things—both then and now—should allow us to rest assured.

The opening verses of Daniel paint a grim picture for the people of God. Having their country besieged by the world’s ruling superpower and vessels taken from the temple, many Israelites found themselves living in a foreign land with foreign people worshiping foreign gods in a foreign culture. Their situation certainly seemed bleak. Where is God in all this, and what in the world is he doing? Ultimately, it is God who is the giver of all things in Daniel 1 as he builds his kingdom that is and will forever be unshakeable. Through Daniel we will hopefully see how we can remain faithful despite living our lives as exiles.

Our vision as a church is To Know Christ and To Make Christ Known. But how does this happen? What is our strategy for helping someone move from not knowing Christ to becoming someone actively engaged in making Christ known to others? This four-week series will focus the four primary stages of the disciple-making process: Engage, Explore, Establish, and Equip. Each week will focus on each step’s importance to the process and explain what it looks like to be a disciple-making church—and disciple-making disciples.

Our vision as a church is To Know Christ and To Make Christ Known. But how does this happen? What is our strategy for helping someone move from not knowing Christ to becoming someone actively engaged in making Christ known to others? This four-week series will focus the four primary stages of the disciple-making process: Engage, Explore, Establish, and Equip. Each week will focus on each step’s importance to the process and explain what it looks like to be a disciple-making church—and disciple-making disciples.