Facing the Fire - Junior PowerPoints

7 Facing the FireKey References: Daniel 3; Prophets and Kings, chap. 41, pp. 503-513; The Bible Story (1994), vol. 6, pp. 16-19; 33-43; Our Beliefs nos. 10, 22, 21

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DO Do the activity on p. 60.

LEARN Begin learning the power text.

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power text“Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and de� ed the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God’ ” (Daniel 3:28).

We praise God, trusting that

He is with us in every situation.

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Have you ever felt pressured into doing something that you did not want to do? Then you will understand how Daniel’s three friends felt when the king and all the lead-ers bowed down to a golden image and they refused.

Daniel caught King Nebuchad nezzar’s attention soon after he arrived in Babylon. Within a year the king had a

dream about a strange image, and he desperately wanted someone to interpret it for him. Daniel asked God for help, and was able to explain to Nebuchadnezzar the image, the prophecy it represented, and the kingdoms that would follow Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian Empire. Daniel was rewarded with a high position. He asked that his three friends, now known by their Babylonian names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, be given important government jobs.

Nebuchadnezzar recognized the power of Daniel’s God after the dream was interpreted. But as time went on he became unwilling to accept the prophecy that his kingdom would not last forever. All he could remember from Daniel’s interpretation were the words “You are the head of gold.” He decided to create an image like the one he had seen in his dream, but make it of solid gold to represent an eternal, indestructible kingdom.

The Babylonians were enthusiastic idol worshipers. They had created splendid statues of their various gods. But never had they seen an image like this one. As tall as a nine-story building and made of solid gold, the statue on the plain outside of the city was a sight to behold. The dedication ceremony for the image was meant to be an act of worship and a pledge of allegiance to Babylon. All the govern-ment offi cials were expected to attend.

No doubt Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew what was coming. The construction of the image must have taken quite some time. They were important government offi cials. They knew they would be expected to attend the dedication ceremony and worship the statue. They must have had plenty of time to think about the consequences of not obeying an order from the king.

They went to the ceremony as commanded, but when the order

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day READ READ READ READ Read Daniel 3:4-7.

DISCOVER DISCOVER DISCOVER DISCOVER Discover how tall the statue was by compar- Discover how tall the statue was by compar- Discover how tall the statue was by compar-ing it to a tall building in your town or a nearby city.ing it to a tall building in your town or a nearby city.ing it to a tall building in your town or a nearby city.

SHARE SHARE SHARE Be a positive infl uence. Share some good . Share some good . Share some good advice, a positive thought, or simply your good example, advice, a positive thought, or simply your good example, advice, a positive thought, or simply your good example, allowing God’s love to fl ow to those around you.allowing God’s love to fl ow to those around you.allowing God’s love to fl ow to those around you.

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW Review the power text.

PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY Pray for people in government to honor or grant Pray for people in government to honor or grant Pray for people in government to honor or grant religious freedom.

7Su

nd

aySu

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ay READ READ READ READ READ READ Read Daniel 3:1-3 and this week’s story, “Facing Read Daniel 3:1-3 and this week’s story, “Facing Read Daniel 3:1-3 and this week’s story, “Facing the Fire.”

MAKE MAKE MAKE MAKE Write the power text on a paper fl ame. Write the power text on a paper fl ame.

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW Review the power text, Daniel 3:28.

PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY Ask God for courage to worship Him in every Ask God for courage to worship Him in every Ask God for courage to worship Him in every situation, regardless of the risks involved.

77Tu

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ay READ READ READ READ Read Daniel 3:8-12.

THINK THINK THINK THINK Who plotted against the Hebrew young men? Who plotted against the Hebrew young men? Who plotted against the Hebrew young men? Why did those men seek to kill the faithful youth?Why did those men seek to kill the faithful youth?Why did those men seek to kill the faithful youth?


PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY Pray that you will worship God in everything you Pray that you will worship God in everything you Pray that you will worship God in everything you do today.

came to bow down and worship the statue at the sound of the music, they stood tall and fi rm. They would bow down and worship only the God of heaven.

The rapid rise of these captives to high positions had created jealousy in more than a few of the Babylonians. They now ran to Nebuchadnezzar with the news that three of the Jews refused to serve his gods or worship his image. The king was furious. He called for the three, off ered them another chance, and threatened them with the fi ery furnace if they disobeyed again.

If they were afraid, their words didn’t show it. “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand” (Daniel 3:16, 17).

These young men were confi dent in what their God could do for them. But that was not the reason they refused to worship an idol. They went on: “But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” (verse 18).


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day READ READ READ READ Read Daniel 3:19-25.

WRITE WRITE WRITE WRITE In your Bible study journal, write an imaginary In your Bible study journal, write an imaginary In your Bible study journal, write an imaginary In your Bible study journal, write an imaginary In your Bible study journal, write an imaginary interview with the three young men after their experi-interview with the three young men after their experi-interview with the three young men after their experi-ence in the fi ery furnace.


PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY Pray for people facing diffi cult situations. Pray for people facing diffi cult situations. Pray for people facing diffi cult situations.

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ayW

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ay READ READ READ READ READ READ Read Daniel 3:13-18.

MEET MEET MEET MEET Meet with a friend and praise God together. Meet with a friend and praise God together. Meet with a friend and praise God together.

WRITE WRITE WRITE WRITE Write the three friends’ response in your own Write the three friends’ response in your own Write the three friends’ response in your own words. Use a response like this when you are tempted.words. Use a response like this when you are tempted.words. Use a response like this when you are tempted.


PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY Ask God to help you speak to others about Him Ask God to help you speak to others about Him Ask God to help you speak to others about Him today.

77Fr

iday READ READ READ READ Read Daniel 3:26-30.

LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT LIGHT Light a candle for worship. Hold your hand near Light a candle for worship. Hold your hand near Light a candle for worship. Hold your hand near the candle and feel the heat. Now think about how the candle and feel the heat. Now think about how the candle and feel the heat. Now think about how much greater was the heat from the furnace. How would much greater was the heat from the furnace. How would much greater was the heat from the furnace. How would you have felt if you were sentenced to be thrown into the you have felt if you were sentenced to be thrown into the you have felt if you were sentenced to be thrown into the fi ery furnace?

DISCUSS DISCUSS DISCUSS DISCUSS Discuss with your family ways to improve Discuss with your family ways to improve Discuss with your family ways to improve your family worship and commit to be faithful to God no your family worship and commit to be faithful to God no your family worship and commit to be faithful to God no matter the circumstances or the trials involved.matter the circumstances or the trials involved.

REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT REPEAT Say the power text aloud by memory. Say the power text aloud by memory. Say the power text aloud by memory.

PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY Ask God for your family to be faithful and to trust Ask God for your family to be faithful and to trust Ask God for your family to be faithful and to trust and worship Him.

Daniel and these three friends had already shown their allegiance to God by refusing to eat the king’s food. They did not allow circumstances to dictate their behavior. They had vowed to worship God. They knew that God could save them. But whether or not He would did not matter.


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So into the flames they went, and God did deliver them. However, many people have not been delivered from their own personal fiery furnaces.

Do we worship God because of what He can do for us? No. We worship God

because of what He has already done for us. Our worship is in response to His saving grace, and nothing can change that. No circumstances on the earth can shake our devotion to our Savior, and His peaceful presence with us.


THE CALL

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REJOICE!

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Instructions: The letters in each vertical column go into the squares directly below them, but not necessarily in the order they appear. A black square indicates the end of a word. When you have placed all the letters in their correct squares, you will be able to read the quotation across the diagram left to right.

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Documents

Facing the Fire - Junior PowerPoints