Sermon Notes

John 8 & Galatians 5

Freedom always has .

Freedom in Christ not only sets you free from sin’s , but also from sin’s .

Identity activity.

Spiritual bondage can be experienced through:

Your standing before God is not shaped or defined by what you . Your standing before God is shaped by what Christ has .

Christ-like love is a of the freedom we have experienced through Jesus.

Sermon Talks

Read John 8 and Galatians 5 as you prepare to work through the sermon talks.
What does the word “freedom” mean to you?
Do you know anyone who fought for the freedom we have in America? Have you ever had the opportunity to talk to them about their service?
What is meant by the statement, “Freedom is not free, it has fences.”
Read John 8:31-36. What does Jesus mean when He says in verse 34, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin?” What instruction does Jesus give to be freed from the bondage of sin?
In Galatians 5, Paul is giving his readers specific instructions of how to live in the freedom of Jesus. How do you respond to the fact that Jesus not only frees you from the consequences of sin, but also from the power of sin?
How do you respond to the statement “Identity drives activity?” What if the opposite were true? What would that lead to?
Go back and review the four areas of spiritual bondage we discussed. Which ones are you struggling with?
What are ways that we act, or things that we do, that play to the false narrative our standing before God is shaped or defined by what we do?
Who is the Lord leading you to share His love with?
Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in a time of prayer. Begin by praising God for who He is and what He has done in your life. Praise Him for your salvation.

Daniel 11:36-45, 12:1-13

Lessons from the life of Daniel

God is consistently in His providential for us.
, , and prayer should be a constant in our lives.
There are times where God will choose to in the fire with us rather than us from the fire.
Our faith in God should not be tied to , but to the belief in His promises about .

Reasons for the Tribulation

unbelievers.
the nation of Israel.
the Kingdom of God.

John 14:6
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Acts 4:12
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Acts 3:19
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…”

Sermon Talks

Read Daniel 11:36-45 and 12:1-13 as you prepare to work through the sermon talks.
Imagine being Daniel and getting hundreds of years of prophecy from the Lord’s angel. How do you think you would have responded?
There was a lot that Daniel did not understand. How do you handle situations when God does not give you the clarity you want right away?
What has been the most helpful insight into end times prophecy for you?
Deception will be a critical mark of the Antichrist. How are Christians deceived today? Share some examples.
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18. What do these verses say about the rapture of Christians? Do you believe we will be rapture with Christ before the Tribulation begins?
Why do you think God will allow an event like the Tribulation to take place?
What is your response to people who believe there are many ways to Heaven? What do verses like John 14:6 and Acts 4:12 say about that?
As a believer in Jesus as Savior and Lord, you have the assurance of an eternal inheritance with God. How does this assurance affect the way you live today?
Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in a time of prayer. Begin by praising God for who He is and what He has done in your life. Praise Him for your salvation.
Pray for courage, for your children to have Biblical convictions about cultural issues, for joy, and for strength. Also pray for perseverance, that in difficult times of stress, pain and suffering, God will sustain you.

Do you have the assurance of salvation? 1 John 5:13 says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” If you do not, would you humble yourself before almighty God and pray to receive His Son, Jesus. Ask Him to come into your life and forgive your sins. Jesus is the only one who can save you of your sins and give you eternal life. Invite Him in to be your Savior and Lord. It will be the best decision you ever make.

Daniel 11:1-35

Daniel 9:20-27 – Most detailed prophecy in all the Bible

Daniel 11:1-35 – Most concentrated section of prophecy in all the Bible

Any that isn’t the of Jesus Christ is a in futility.

God’s people cannot stand when what is sacred to God is desecrated by man.

God uses to refine and purify His people.

Questions to consider:

Are you standing or standing on the ?
- We need to stop caving to culture and start leading out in culture
Are you letting the prophecies of God’s Word your faith in God’s Word?
- “Every tomorrow has two handles, the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher
Are you seeing that the of the Jewish people is evidence of God’s ?
- You can trust God and His Word

Sermon Talks

Read Daniel 11:1-35 as you prepare to work through the sermon talks.
What was most interesting about this study today? Were there aspects of this study that, at one time, you would have not cared about but now do?
Do you agree with the statement, “Any pursuit that isn’t the pursuit of Jesus Christ is a pursuit in futility?” What pursuits have you gone after, or are currently engaged in, that are not honoring Jesus? Do you have plans to pivot?
Why is it so easy, and common, for Christians to stand idly by when others are pushing agendas that go against God’s Word?
Read Proverbs 17:3 and 1 Peter 1:6-7. What do these verses say about the purpose of trials? Consider Romans 5:3-5 and James 1:2-4 as well.
Read 2 Corinthians 4:17. What does this verse say about what our trials produce?
Are you standing firm or standing on the sidelines?
What are some ways that we cave to culture? Can you think of a time where you stood up against something that went against God’s Word?
Are you letting the fulfilled prophecies of God’s Word inspire your faith in God’s Word? If so, how?
What is your response to Henry Ward Beecher’s quote, “Every tomorrow has two handles, the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith?” Do you struggle with grabbing the handle of anxiety more than the handle of faith?
Read the following verses: Joshua 1:9, Psalm 56:3, Psalm 94:19, Isaiah 41:10, and 1 Peter 5:7. Claim these verses when anxiety comes or when you fear a certain outcome. God always keeps His Word.
What was your reaction to the amount of Jew killed over the centuries? Were you aware of that? How does their existence speak to God’s sovereignty?
Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in a time of prayer. Begin by praising God for who He is and what He has done in your life. Praise Him for your salvation.

Daniel 10

Prayer: In its simplest form – “Communing and communicating with God that can be about a list and a listen” ~ Gary Hamrick (Phil 4:6-7, Psalm 46:10, John 10:27)

Fasting is designed to the human side of us in order to strengthen the side.

We have become more concerned about time than time

Prayer . It is not just a therapeutic exercise.

Do not from the Holy Spirit. 3 workings:

enoikeo: in, indwelling (John 14:16-17, Galatians 5:22-23)
par: beside, alongside (John 14:26-27)
epi : upon, over (Acts 1:8)

Persistent prayer is necessary to us.

Prayer is not prayer

What can hinder our prayers?

(Psalm 66:18, Isaiah 59:2, Psalm 32:5)
(James 4:3, 1 John 5:14-15)
(Mark 6:5-6)
(Matthew 6:14-15, Mark 11:25)
(1 Peter 3:7)

Sermon Talks

Read Daniel 10 as you prepare to work through the sermon talks.
How would you describe the reason for prayer? How can it bring understanding?
Have you ever fasted in order to earnestly seek the Lord? If so, explain.
In verse 7, those who were with Daniel ran and hid because of what Daniel had seen. Why were they so terrified? What are reasons that people run from God?
What are the 3 workings of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer? Why do people resist the work of the Holy Spirit?
One of our key points this morning is that persistent prayer is necessary to train us. How so? Why do you think Daniel was so persistent in his prayer life?
Just because our prayer is not answered immediately or as we wish it to be does not mean God has not heard or will not answer. How does this encourage you? What lesson(s) can we learn from Daniel with regards to this truth?
Read Ephesians 6:12. Has there been a time or experience when you recognized the reality of spiritual warfare? Explain.
Go back and study the list of 5 things that hinder our prayers. Read each of the verses associated with the list. Are any of these things true of you currently?
Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in a time of prayer. Begin by praising God for who He is and what He has done in your life. Praise Him for your salvation.

Daniel 9:20-27

Understanding can come through

There is always a need for confession – Proverbs 20:9

When prayers are not answered immediately – there is a

Praying like Daniel

Prophecy given to Daniel (vv. 24-27)

70 ‘sevens’ – each ‘seven’ is a year (70 x 7 = 490 years)

7 ‘sevens’ (v. 25) + 62 ‘sevens’ (v. 25) + 1 ‘seven’ (v. 27)

7 x 7 = 49 → years to rebuild Jerusalem
62 x 7 = 434 → additional years until Messiah comes
1 x 7 = 7 → years of Tribulation

Artaxerxes made a decree allowing Nehemiah to r estore & rebuild Jerusalem (Neh 2:1-8)

Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday (Matt 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, John 12:12-19)

Sermon Talks

Read Daniel 9:20-27 as you prepare to work through the sermon talks.
How can prayer bring understanding?
Read and discuss the following verses about the importance of prayer. Jeremiah 29:12, Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Thes 5:16-18, James 5:16, 1 John 5:14-15.
How did God view Daniel according to verse 23? How would it change your daily prayer life to approach God with the firm belief that you are deeply loved and “highly esteemed” by Him?
List some reasons why God might choose not to answer our prayers the way we want or in the time we want.
What was most interesting to you as we broke down the meaning of the 70 sevens?
We live in the tension between Christ’s first coming (death & resurrection) and His second coming. How can we maintain hope and live righteously in a world that is often marked by turmoil and spiritual conflict?
Gabriel was sent to give Daniel “insight and understanding” (v. 22). How can we balance relying on the Holy Spirit for spiritual wisdom with the hard work of studying scripture in our daily lives?
In the end, God wins! This was true for Daniel and the Jewish people. It is also true for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. As born-again believers in Jesus, we win and get the joy of spending eternity in His heaven. Praise God!
Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in a time of prayer. Begin by praising God for who He is and what He has done in your life. Praise Him for your salvation.

Daniel 9:1-19

When we are of our sin, it should lead to .

Religion can us from God, but a relationship us to Him.

God is

Anger mercy

God is

Sermon Talks

Read Daniel 9:1-19 as you prepare to work through the sermon talks.
Can you think of a time when you were broken and humbled by personal sin?
Why were the Holy Scriptures so important to Daniel? Why should the Bible be an important book for us?
Read Jeremiah 25:1-14 and 29:10-14. How did these verses help Daniel, not only remember what was prophesied about his captivity, but also be reminded of what led to that captivity and how God would deliver His people from it?
How did Daniel view God? How did he view himself? Answer the same questions replacing Daniel with yourself.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Although this verse had not been yet written in Daniel’s day, how important was the truth of this verse for him? Why do you think Daniel could put so much faith in God for what he had not seen yet?
Why was fasting, sackcloth, and ashes an important part of repentance? What lessons can we learn from this practice?
Read Lamentations 3:22-23. Why are these verses so important when it comes to confession? Take some time and research verses in the Bible that speak of God’s love (mercy), compassion, and faithfulness.
What has this story taught you about the character of God? What has it taught you about confession?
Why is confession so difficult? Why is it so important?
What unconfessed sin are you carrying with you today? Will you humble yourself and come to a place of confession? 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in a time of prayer. Begin by praising God for who He is and what He has done in your life. Praise Him for your salvation.

Daniel 7

Daniel 1-6: A historical narrative of Daniel & his ministry

Daniel 7-12: A prophetic description of things to come

The Antichrist is coming

The Antichrist’s intention

The Antichrist will be defeated

Sermon Talks

Read Daniel 7 as you prepare to work through the sermon talks.
What excites you about the future? What concerns you about the future?
Notice the descriptions of God and His throne in verses 9-10. What is emphasized?
Notice the descriptions of Christ in verses 13-14. What is emphasized here?
Who is the Antichrist and what does his coming entail?
Considering the Antichrist’s coming and Jesus’ ultimate reign, what type of urgency should we have in sharing the gospel?
How does knowing that God will accomplish His plan in the end encourage you?
What should our current attitude be and what should our current motivation and actions be, if we are on the winning side?
Read Matthew 28:16-20, The Great Commission. How can the truths we learned from Daniel 7 help us fulfill our calling laid out in Matthew 28?
How can we be better prepared to communicate the truth of God’ s word to hurt and lost people?
Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in a time of prayer. Begin by praising God for who He is and what He has done in your life.

Daniel 6

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

There are times when God will choose to walk through the fire with us rather than keep it from us.

Sermon Talks

Read Daniel 6 as you prepare to work through the sermon talks.
How can the story of Daniel 6 be misinterpreted?
What does this story teach us about God’s protection? How do you react to the fact that sometimes God chooses to walk through the trial with us rather than keep us from it?
How can we expect to be persecuted for our faith? Is there an example in your life?
Read John 15:20, 2 Timothy 3:12, and 1 Peter 4:12. What do these verses say about the reality of persecution?
Read Matthew 5:44, Romans 12:14, and 1 Peter 4:19. What direction do these verses give us in responding to persecution?
How does Daniel’s story encourage you to stay faithful when your faith is costly or risky?
How can prayer influence us when it comes to trusting God?
What are ways that Daniel maintained his integrity no matter what was going on around him? What are steps we can take to do the same?
How did Darius show his loyalty to Daniel? Have you been blessed with a loyal friend in times of difficulty? Explain.
Daniel continually gave the credit for his success and his victories to God. What does “giving all the credit to God” actually look like in your daily work or home life?
Reread Daniel 6:26-28. In what way do we see God’s sovereignty through this story?
Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in a time of prayer. Begin by praising God for who He is and what He has done in your life.

God Weighs the Heart

God will bring and
The importance of
God is over the nations
belongs to the Lord
There is an urgency to

Sermon Talks

Read Daniel 5 as you prepare to work through the sermon talks.
How do you deal with the unknown, the future? What is one goal (a main goal) that you would like to accomplish in your lifetime?
In what ways do we not pay enough attention to the holiness of God?
In what ways can Christians be lacking in demonstrating reverence towards God?
When God provides a warning for you making it clear you need to change your ways, how do you respond?
Who are the people in your life who will hold you accountable and do you trust them enough to listen?
What does it mean when we say that God is sovereign? How should God’s sovereignty affect the Christian? List some examples.
Daniel challenged Belshazzar with worshipping things that could not see, hear, or understand. He went on to say, “But you did not honor God who holds in His hand your life and all your ways (v. 23).” Why is it so important that we understand the fact that God holds our life in His hand and that He allows every breath we have?
Why is it important that we ask the Lord for forgiveness? Consider the following verses: Psalm 86:5, Proverbs 28:13, Isaiah 1:18, Acts 3:19.
Read Psalm 103:12, Isaiah 43:25, 1 John 1:9. What do these verses say about God’s mercy and grace with regards to forgiveness?
There should be an urgency towards repentance of our sins. What sins are you needing to repent of today?
As you pray, focus on pride. Ask the Lord to reveal to areas of your life where pride is evident. Confess them to Him and receive His forgiveness.

A Place of Surrender

You can have and yet lack .
will keep you from the Lord.
You cannot expect God to wear a if you are wearing one .
There is no – with God.
God have His way.

C.S. Lewis
“The first demand any work of art makes upon us is to surrender. Look. Listen. Receive. Get yourself out of the way.”

Sermon Talks

Read Daniel 4 as you prepare to work through the sermon talks.
In what ways is King Nebuchadnezzar’s story a lot like our story?
How is it possible to have it all yet lack everything? Other than King Nebuchadnezzar’s story, can you think of another example of this?
What specific sins does Daniel advise the king to repent of in verse 27? How does that compare to what you struggle with?
In verse 29, we see that God allowed a year to pass before the interpretation of the dream became reality. What does this show us about God’s timing and His desire to show mercy?
Read 1 John 2:16 and notice the three ways the character of the world expresses itself. Do you struggle in any of these areas? What does Daniel 4 teach us about “the pride of life,” particularly when we are successful or feel we have built our own “Babylon” (v. 30)?
Read and discuss Proverbs 11:2, Proverbs 16:18, Matthew 23:12, and James 4:6.
Read Romans 2:23, Romans 6:23, and 1 John 1:9. What do these verses say about our nature and sin? What does God desire of us regarding our sin and how will He respond (1 John 1:9)?
Have you come to a place of complete surrender? If not, what must you do to get there?
Take some time to think about your journey to Jesus. How did the Lord pursue you? If you are in a group, have people share their stories of coming to Jesus.
Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in a time of prayer. Begin by praising God for who He is and what He has done in your life.
As you pray, focus on pride. Ask the Lord to reveal to areas of your life where pride is evident. Confess them to Him and receive His forgiveness.