Life Group Questions 9/15/19
Sunday’s Sermon Text
Daniel 2:31–49
Daniel Interprets the Dream
[31] “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. [32] The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, [33] its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. [34] As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. [35] Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
[36] “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. [37] You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, [38] and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. [39] Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. [40] And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. [41] And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. [42] And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. [43] As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. [44] And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, [45] just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”
Daniel Is Promoted
[46] Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. [47] The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” [48] Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. [49] Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court. (ESV)
Summary: We follow a king who leads us in a subversive and everlasting kingdom rather than inhabitants of a coercive and temporal one.
Observing the Text: Read Daniel 2:31-39.
What are the poetic elements in this passage?
[repetition, emotional language in V.31, symbolic nature of the dream, phrases such as “power, might, and glory” (V.37), flowery language (V.38), and epic in scope]Have each person draw a picture of the image Daniel describes.
Interpreting the Text:
Based on traditional schools of interpretation, what are the four kingdoms represented by the gold head, silver arms and chest, bronze midsection and thighs, and legs and feet of iron/clay?
[Empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome]
How is each of these kingdoms distinct? What do all these kingdoms have in common?
What are the characteristics of the stone and its kingdom in V.44-45?
How do V.44-45 predict the advent of Jesus and the first-century church? How might a Jew be disappointed in how this prediction was fulfilled?
What’s an example of the supernatural breaking through in your life?
Applying the Text:
How is God calling you to multiply life in this 8th year of the church?
What is God saying to you? What’s your next step?
To Announce:
Women’s Hike or Coffee Break this Sat 9/21 @ 9:30 - 11:30 AM: We want to foster deep, meaningful friendships among the women of the church. Leave distractions behind for a couple hours and share experiences through hiking or coffee. Women can RSVP here and details will be emailed.
College Mentorship Program: Mentoring is one way we grow disciples. College is a pivotal season of growth and we want to help in the journey of formation for young adults. This is a monthly 1-hour commitment to meet in-person with a college students. Meet & Greet Mentoring Kick-Off on Sun 9/8 (no Meet & Greet this Sun 9/1). For more details about becoming a mentor or if you’re a college student interested in being mentored, go here.
All-Church Retreat on Oct. 25-27, 2019 Registration is hereand Talent Show Sign-Up: Come make memories with your church family as you are refreshed and renewed in your love for Jesus! See registration page for more details. Interested in performing for the talent show on Fri 10/25, email: retreat@gardencitysv.com and helping one session with Kid Min, email cindy@gardencitysv.com.