March 17-23, 2019

Take about 45 minutes during your missional community gathering to discuss what God is teaching you and how he is leading you in light of the weekend sermon.

Connecting: If you have read Daniel before, was there anything specific that stuck out to you during the sermon this week? What are things that you do to help you stay connected or aware of what is going on in modern-day culture? Are there some outlets you have found to be more helpful or harmful than others? Do you notice any topical trends that tend to dominate conversations around our culture?

Application: [God is greater than culture] Are there certain aspects of culture that you feel more easily influenced by? What are some of the effects this has on the way you see yourself and others? What message does culture send about the presence of God and the place a person’s relationship with God has in the public? Read Psalm 115:2-8. At its core, what is the hope of those who place their trust in idols? How does this contrast to the hope Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stated in Daniel 3:16-18?

Application: [God is with us and is for us even in the present culture]. What are some of the biggest fears we face as Christians living in the present culture? How do those fears relate to what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego experienced? Read Mark 13:8-11. What perspective, or what truth should we reflect on, when facing those fears? What are some of the biggest aids you have found to help maintain the right Christian mindset (community, bible reading, prayer, etc.) How has God used you for his glory in trials of persecution like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego experienced?