Daniel Week 7: There’s no place like Home
1.Ice Breaker: Where’s your favorite place to vacation? and/or Why do you think there’s no place like home?
2.If your group needs a refresher on this week's passage, read Daniel 7 together. 3. In the first half of the chapter, Daniel records his dream then seeks an interpretation. What does he seem to focus on? What elements of the dream worry Daniel? Why?
3.What does Daniel 7 tell you about Empires (v.1-6? What does it tell you about God and Jesus?
4.Dan. 7:8 more than likely speaks about the Antichrist. His coming is mentioned in the N.T. two examples are 2. Thess. 2:3,8 and 1 John 4:1-6. Now, it’s easy to get lost in discussion about the Antichrist and End Times at this point, but let’s focus in on our lives as Exiles today...Where do you see the Spirit of the Antichrist (see 1 John) at work in the United States today and how does this spirit of the Antichrist effect media, culture, and spirituality in our world? How do you think it’s affecting you?
5.The message mentioned that Empires are generally 1. Powerfully Militaristic 2. Economically wealthy 3. Group people by Political Platforms and 4. Ideologically driven (a system of ideas and ideals, drives the decisions of the culture). In what ways does living in an Empire cause difficulties for Christians that living somewhere else would not?
6.Dan mentioned that the question for every Christian living in Exile within an Empire is “In what ways have I been assimilated in my host culture?” How would you answer that question today?
7.Dan shared that Jesus’ Kingdom is a place where He has rule and reign over everyone and everything. It means peace and human flourishing with people living under Jesus’ Word and his Way of Love. It is a Kingdom;
NOT of Economic Wealth - but generosity to the poor.
NOT of Political Platforms - but aligning to His Ways and Works
NOT of Ideology - but shaped by His Words (see the Sermon on the Mount.)
NOT of Power - but of Sacrificial love
If you were to choose Jesus’ Kingdom as your home rather than Empire, what is one thing you would do differently this week rather than last week. (Or this year rather than last)?
State your answer “I will...” or “I will not...”
Final Thought
There’s no place like home - which are you choosing?
