Beyond Sunday Good In Tension - Week 5
Beyond Sunday, Week of November 10, 2024
“Good in Tension” Week 5 Daniel 6
Daniel 6
Thoughts: Many years ago, we were selling a house in KC. With an open house scheduled for the weekend, we were surprised to receive an offer mid-week. We accepted that offer but still held the open house, just in case. Then we got a second, higher offer.
There was a minor technical issue with the first, lower offer that would have allowed us to back out of that signed contract and pocket more money. I called my spiritual mentor, a retired real estate agent. I explained the situation to him and he quoted to me Psalm 15. Then he asked me a simple question. “How much is your integrity worth?”
• I believe one of the key verses in the entire book of Daniel is in chapter one, “But Daniel RESOLVED…” Daniel chose in advance what kind of person he wanted to be, and he never deviated from that path. He was able to remain true to that choice because He was fully submitted to and guided by his Heavenly Father.
Read: Deuteronomy 30:19-20, Joshua 24:14-15, Psalm 15, Proverbs 3:5-6, John 16:13
o Moses and his successor Joshua faithfully served God and lead Israel for many years. Each addressed all of Israel near the end of his life and offered them a choice. Israel declared their choice to follow God, but their history reveals that they often failed to maintain that resolve. What challenges your resolve to follow and obey God? What helps you maintain your resolve?
o That Psalm reveals many of God’s desires for us, the kind of people He wants us to be. What character traits of our Heavenly Father are revealed in that Psalm for us to imitate?
o How should having the Holy Spirit give us an advantage over Daniel in following and obeying God?
• If you think about it, we are all faced with many, many choices every day. Most are inconsequential, but some are more significant. In those moments, it is good to remember that every time we say “yes” to something, we are saying “no” to something else.
Read: Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, Matthew 5:33-37
o In the passage from Matthew, Jesus was not forbidding us to enter into any kind of contract or make any kind of promise or commitment. What do you think He meant by telling us to simply say “Yes” or “No”?
o When faced with wanting or needing to back out of a commitment, how do you think God wants you to make your choice?
• In Daniel 6, the other administrators and the satraps obviously coveted Daniel’s high position and authority. Their envy blinded them to Daniel’s “exceptional qualities” and their own imperfections. Instead of admiring and emulating Daniel, they sought to tear him down.
Read: Genesis 4:3-7, Deuteronomy 5:21, Matthew 5:11-12, 1 Peter 3:13-18
o Just in case you are not familiar with the story of Cain and Abel, Cain allowed his anger to fester and turn into resentment toward his brother, Abel. He went on to murder Abel. In that story and Daniel’s, we see that coveting goes beyond material things to things like reputation, position, and achievements. How would you explain why coveting (a.k.a. envy or jealousy) is harmful to us?
o Our doing the right thing for the right reasons doesn’t always result in others admiring and respecting us. What helps you do the right thing, the thing pleasing to God, despite the potential cost to yourself?
• Daniel did not keep a low profile during his captivity in Babylon. In fact, “Daniel so distinguished himself…” that he rose to the second highest position in all the land. And yet, he never lost his humility. He always gave credit to God so that He alone received the glory.
Read: Matthew 5:13-16, Philippians 2:12-17, Colossians 3:23-24 (Message version)
o Salt had two purposes in the Middle East of the first century. Because of the lack of refrigeration, salt was used to preserve food, especially meat, which would quickly spoil in the desert environment. Second, salt was used then, as now, as a flavor enhancer. How should your living a life of excellence, obediently following Jesus, act as a preservative to the world and enhance the flavor of life?
Pray: Ask God what kind of person He wants you to be. Resolve to be that person, and invite the Holy Spirit into your life and ask Him for the wisdom and strength to maintain that resolve. In Romans, the Apostle Paul writes, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Confess your sins to God and ask Him for forgiveness.
Next Steps:
• We are better together, and healing comes when we gather in a community of others who want to think and act like Jesus. If you are not already in a RHC Small Group, join one today by going to the website or the RHC App.
• One way to “get out of the salt shaker” is to serve. If you have not yet completed Rock Hills’ Growth Track, learn more and sign up here. If you have completed Growth Track and are ready to serve, reach out to the church by calling (785)775-0012, or email to info@myrockhillschurch.com, and you will be put in touch with the right people.
“Good in Tension” Week 5 Daniel 6
Daniel 6
Thoughts: Many years ago, we were selling a house in KC. With an open house scheduled for the weekend, we were surprised to receive an offer mid-week. We accepted that offer but still held the open house, just in case. Then we got a second, higher offer.
There was a minor technical issue with the first, lower offer that would have allowed us to back out of that signed contract and pocket more money. I called my spiritual mentor, a retired real estate agent. I explained the situation to him and he quoted to me Psalm 15. Then he asked me a simple question. “How much is your integrity worth?”
• I believe one of the key verses in the entire book of Daniel is in chapter one, “But Daniel RESOLVED…” Daniel chose in advance what kind of person he wanted to be, and he never deviated from that path. He was able to remain true to that choice because He was fully submitted to and guided by his Heavenly Father.
Read: Deuteronomy 30:19-20, Joshua 24:14-15, Psalm 15, Proverbs 3:5-6, John 16:13
o Moses and his successor Joshua faithfully served God and lead Israel for many years. Each addressed all of Israel near the end of his life and offered them a choice. Israel declared their choice to follow God, but their history reveals that they often failed to maintain that resolve. What challenges your resolve to follow and obey God? What helps you maintain your resolve?
o That Psalm reveals many of God’s desires for us, the kind of people He wants us to be. What character traits of our Heavenly Father are revealed in that Psalm for us to imitate?
o How should having the Holy Spirit give us an advantage over Daniel in following and obeying God?
• If you think about it, we are all faced with many, many choices every day. Most are inconsequential, but some are more significant. In those moments, it is good to remember that every time we say “yes” to something, we are saying “no” to something else.
Read: Ecclesiastes 5:4-6, Matthew 5:33-37
o In the passage from Matthew, Jesus was not forbidding us to enter into any kind of contract or make any kind of promise or commitment. What do you think He meant by telling us to simply say “Yes” or “No”?
o When faced with wanting or needing to back out of a commitment, how do you think God wants you to make your choice?
• In Daniel 6, the other administrators and the satraps obviously coveted Daniel’s high position and authority. Their envy blinded them to Daniel’s “exceptional qualities” and their own imperfections. Instead of admiring and emulating Daniel, they sought to tear him down.
Read: Genesis 4:3-7, Deuteronomy 5:21, Matthew 5:11-12, 1 Peter 3:13-18
o Just in case you are not familiar with the story of Cain and Abel, Cain allowed his anger to fester and turn into resentment toward his brother, Abel. He went on to murder Abel. In that story and Daniel’s, we see that coveting goes beyond material things to things like reputation, position, and achievements. How would you explain why coveting (a.k.a. envy or jealousy) is harmful to us?
o Our doing the right thing for the right reasons doesn’t always result in others admiring and respecting us. What helps you do the right thing, the thing pleasing to God, despite the potential cost to yourself?
• Daniel did not keep a low profile during his captivity in Babylon. In fact, “Daniel so distinguished himself…” that he rose to the second highest position in all the land. And yet, he never lost his humility. He always gave credit to God so that He alone received the glory.
Read: Matthew 5:13-16, Philippians 2:12-17, Colossians 3:23-24 (Message version)
o Salt had two purposes in the Middle East of the first century. Because of the lack of refrigeration, salt was used to preserve food, especially meat, which would quickly spoil in the desert environment. Second, salt was used then, as now, as a flavor enhancer. How should your living a life of excellence, obediently following Jesus, act as a preservative to the world and enhance the flavor of life?
Pray: Ask God what kind of person He wants you to be. Resolve to be that person, and invite the Holy Spirit into your life and ask Him for the wisdom and strength to maintain that resolve. In Romans, the Apostle Paul writes, “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Confess your sins to God and ask Him for forgiveness.
Next Steps:
• We are better together, and healing comes when we gather in a community of others who want to think and act like Jesus. If you are not already in a RHC Small Group, join one today by going to the website or the RHC App.
• One way to “get out of the salt shaker” is to serve. If you have not yet completed Rock Hills’ Growth Track, learn more and sign up here. If you have completed Growth Track and are ready to serve, reach out to the church by calling (785)775-0012, or email to info@myrockhillschurch.com, and you will be put in touch with the right people.
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