Christian Responsibility in a Crumbling Culture
Daniel 6:1-28
Summary
The book of Daniel shows how God’s people ought to live in a pagan culture devoted to the praise of man and man’s achievements. Daniel lived through the transition of power between two great empires: the Babylonians and the Medes. As a young man, Daniel served the most powerful kings in the Babylonian empire, but this story comes at the end of his life, when he served the ruler Darius who conquered the Babylonians. In this far away land, the culture was completely different, the gods and religion were completely different, and the ethics were different, but Daniel never forgot his identity as an exile. We will examine the clash of values that Daniel faced in the workplace, in politics, and finally, in the home, and seek to apply it our lives as exiles desiring a better country, a heavenly one.
Discussion Questions
Summary
The book of Daniel shows how God’s people ought to live in a pagan culture devoted to the praise of man and man’s achievements. Daniel lived through the transition of power between two great empires: the Babylonians and the Medes. As a young man, Daniel served the most powerful kings in the Babylonian empire, but this story comes at the end of his life, when he served the ruler Darius who conquered the Babylonians. In this far away land, the culture was completely different, the gods and religion were completely different, and the ethics were different, but Daniel never forgot his identity as an exile. We will examine the clash of values that Daniel faced in the workplace, in politics, and finally, in the home, and seek to apply it our lives as exiles desiring a better country, a heavenly one.
Discussion Questions
- Read Hebrews 11:15-16. Do you think of yourself as an exile? Why or why not? How would taking the view that you are an exile on earth change your attitude and behavior?
- Do you agree that “…the city of man will always be man’s city, hostile to God and thus filled with every vice and wickedness” (James Boice, Two Cities, Two Loves)? Why are we surprised when there is a clash of values in the workplace?
- Do you spend more time seeking happiness by spending your time in prayer, Scripture reading, and service to others, or indulging in comfort and leisure? Why?
- Read Jeremiah 29:7. What is the importance of ensuring that your boss “suffers no loss”?
- How have national laws posed ethical challenges to Christians in recent times?
- Is Christian responsibility crumbling in your living room? How are you modeling and teaching the next generation the values of the kingdom of God versus the kingdom of man?
- How are Daniel and Jesus alike? How are they different?
- What teaching from the sermon do you want to ask God to help you apply this week?
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