We started singing a new song a few weeks ago at church called “More than Conquerors” by Rend Collective. Usually when I listen to songs, I tend to focus more on harmony than anything else, unless it’s a song we are to sing in corporate worship. As an elder of our church, I have the responsibility, along with four other men, to oversee the songs we sing as a congregation. We look for a lot of things in a song when approving it for worship, but the most important thing we look at are the words. And the most important thing we ask when evaluating a song is: Is it true?

Since starting this process of overseeing worship, I have grown to focus more on the words of songs. We’ve evaluated a lot of songs as an elder body, songs that are solid lyrically, and songs that can be labeled as fluff, meaning there’s really no substance to it, nothing that will really nourish our body. I’ve heard lines I can do without, lines that have knocked me over, and lines that have made me do a double-take. I love when that happens. “Did he say what I think he just said?” A particular line of this song I am thinking of, and one that was brought to my mind through this sixth chapter of Daniel is:

We will not bow to sin or to shame;
We are defiant in your name;

“We are defiant in your name.” That is a line that made me stop and think, a line that made me question defiance. We’re born to defy, and it gets us in trouble. I mean, the defiance of our parents, Adam and Eve, actually made us objects of wrath to God. Defiance can harm us and bring about devastating effects. Because of this, we were taught and we teach our children at an early age to not be defiant because defiance is bad.

But can defiance also be good? Yes. In this week’s study of Daniel 6, we see a man openly defiant (notice where he prays in this story). Daniel’s defiance did indeed threaten harm, but nonetheless, his defiance brought glory to God. There exists a defiance that is not of ourselves. There exists a defiance that is not for ourselves. There exists a defiance that is an allegiance to God and, therefore, a defiance that is good. Join us this week as we read about a man who was openly “defiant in His name.” And as times get harder for our house to live for Christ in this world, may the excellent Spirit in us cause us to always be allegiant to Him.

John Rogers attends Connection Community Church (C3) in Rowlett. John serves as the Children's and Family Pastor and as an elder. John and his wife Chassidy are passionate about teaching good doctrine and stumbling along side parents to make disciples of children. They have two children: Sophia and Josiah.

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Day 1: Daniel 6:1-9

Weekly Catechism:

Q33: Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else?
A: No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior. (bolded texts are for younger children)

READ:

[1] It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; [2] and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. [3] Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. [4] Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. [5] Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”
[6] Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! [7] All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. [8] Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” [9] Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction.
-Daniel 6:1-9 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

Suggested Question: Verse 4 and 5 really show us what kind of man Daniel was. What are some characteristics of Daniel? Did they have any dirt on him?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

Suggested Prayer: Father may we be found blameless, where outsiders can see no fault in us other than our allegiance to you.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 2: Daniel 6:10-15

Weekly Catechism:

Q33: Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else?
A: No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior. (bolded text is for younger children)

READ:

[10] When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. [11] Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. [12] Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” [13] Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
[14] Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. [15] Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”
-Daniel 6:10-15 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

Suggested Question: What was Daniel’s reaction to the new rule made by the king? Did Daniel rebel in secret or do you think he more visibly rebelled against this new rule? What makes you believe that?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

Suggested Prayer: Father, may we be bold, staying true to our faith and convictions. May we not follow any rule that would cause us to dishonor your name.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

DAY 3: Daniel 6:16-18

Weekly Catechism:

Q33: Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else?
A: No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior. (bolded text is for younger children)

READ:

[16] Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” [17] And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. [18] Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.
-Daniel 6:16-18 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

Suggested Question: Do you think the king really wanted to punish Daniel for breaking this rule? Was he facing pressure from other people to throw Daniel into the lion’s den?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

Suggested Prayer: Father, may we not buckle under the pressure of mere men. Let us seek your approval and not men’s.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 4: Daniel 6:19-24

Weekly Catechism:

Q33: Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else?
A: No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior. (bolded text is for younger children)

READ:

[19] Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. [20] As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” [21] Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! [22] My God sent his angel and shut the lions' mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” [23] Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. [24] And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
-Daniel 6:19-24 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

Suggested Question: Did Darius sleep much that night? Was he concerned about Daniel? Was Daniel ok? What happened to Daniel? What happened to the men who made the king do a bad thing?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

Suggested Prayer: Lord, thank you for your deliverance. You are stronger than many lions and anything else that may come up against us to destroy us. You save us from danger.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 5: Daniel 6:25-28

Weekly Catechism:

Q33: Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else?
A: No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior. (bolded text is for younger children)

READ:

[25] Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. [26] I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,
   for he is the living God,
   enduring forever;
   his kingdom shall never be destroyed,
   and his dominion shall be to the end.
   [27] He delivers and rescues;
   he works signs and wonders
   in heaven and on earth,
   he who has saved Daniel
   from the power of the lions.”
[28] So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
-Daniel 6:25-28 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

Suggested Question: What did this amazing story result in? Is Daniel or God the hero of this story? Who is praised by the king?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

Suggested Prayer: You are worthy of all glory, Lord. This story shows how amazing you are. Thank you for the bible and that it teaches us who you are.