Stand Tall - Standing Firm

 

Objective - Students will understand that doing right is always the best choice, even when the circumstances are difficult, and they will be compelled to trust that God will empower them for life’s difficulties.

 

Scripture - Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.”

 

Key Thought - God’s purposes are greater than our problems.

 

Lesson Summary -

Today's lesson was the first lesson of a four-part series entitled, Stand Tall: Staying Strong Through Adversity. It is actually a study from the first half of the biblical Book of Daniel. In it, we are discovering how Daniel and his friends stood tall for God, as God’s purposes were worked out in their lives.

In this lesson, your student learned about the experiences of Daniel and his three companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, as they were taken from their homeland and relocated to Babylon. This lesson focused on how, even in their difficult circumstances, they chose to pursue, trust, and serve God.

Your student was encouraged to think of a specific struggle they have had recently, such as struggles with schoolwork, relationship problems, rejection, identity, etc. During their small group time, they were given the opportunity to share that struggle with their small group and to pray for one another to stay faithful to God’s purposes even in the middle of their problems.

Sometime this week, set a time to sit down with your student and pray for them to trust God during their struggles. As a way to be transparent, share with your student a struggle that you have and ask them to pray for you to trust God’s purposes even in the midst of your struggle. If possible, read the first chapter of Daniel with your student and talk about the incredible trust in God that was displayed by Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.