Bible Reading
1. Daniel 3:14-27 (ESV) — > 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up?
15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.
20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace.
22 Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.
27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.
2. Ephesians 4:26-27, 31-32 (ESV) — > 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
3. Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV) — > 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
Observation Questions
- In Daniel 3, what was the specific command that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to obey, and what was the consequence threatened by King Nebuchadnezzar? ([01:14:37])
- According to Ephesians 4:26-27, what are we told to do with our anger, and why? ([01:29:18])
- What was remarkable about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego after they came out of the furnace? ([01:16:18])
- In Psalm 139:23-24, what does the psalmist ask God to do, and why might this be a challenging prayer? ([01:39:34])
Interpretation Questions
- Why do you think Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were able to stand firm in their faith even when threatened with death? What does this reveal about their view of God? ([01:16:18])
- The sermon talks about coming out of trials “without even the smell of smoke.” What does this metaphor mean in terms of our emotional and spiritual lives? ([01:22:33])
- According to Ephesians 4, what is the danger of holding onto anger and bitterness? How might this affect our relationships and our witness as Christians? ([01:29:18])
- Why is it important to regularly ask God to search our hearts, as in Psalm 139? What might happen if we neglect this kind of self-examination? ([01:39:34])
Application Questions
- The sermon says every breath is a gift and a responsibility. This week, how can you be more intentional with your words and actions, knowing that your breath is a gift from God? ([01:11:12])
- Think of a recent situation where you felt pressured to “bow down” to something that didn’t honor God. How did you respond? What would it look like to stand firm like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego next time? ([01:16:18])
- Is there a past hurt or offense that still “clings” to you, like the smell of smoke? What steps could you take to let God heal you so you don’t carry bitterness or anger into new situations? ([01:22:33])
- The sermon describes holding onto offense as carrying a stone, ready to throw it back at someone who hurt you. Is there someone you need to forgive or something you need to let go of? What would it look like to “drop the stone” this week? ([01:35:44])
- Ephesians 4 says to forgive as Christ forgave you. Is there a relationship in your life where you need to take the first step toward forgiveness, even if you feel justified in your anger? What’s one practical thing you can do to move toward reconciliation? ([01:30:00])
- The sermon challenges us to ask God to search our hearts for hidden anger or bitterness. Are you willing to pray Psalm 139:23-24 honestly this week? What fears or hesitations do you have about what God might reveal? ([01:39:34])
- Transformation is not just about attending church or doing religious things. What is one area of your life where you sense God wants to bring real change? How can your small group support you in this? ([01:25:59])
