
Daniel 3
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:7
A tested faith is a trusted faith.
3 Pictures of Stand-Up Faith
- Faith
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. Daniel 3:16
- Faith
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1
Don’t doubt in the dark what God showed you in the light.
If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. Daniel 3:17
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. James 2:19
- Faith
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.” Daniel 3:18
You don’t have faith in the size of your faith, you have faith in the size of your God!
Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:24-25
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 defied 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
Talk It Out - Connection Group Discussion Questions
Jump In. Ask a question to get your group started.
- What’s your favorite thing to cook over a fire? Steaks? S’mores? Let’s share some good campfire stories.
- Have you had a bad day recently? How can something as ordinary as a bad day challenge your faith?
- What was something that tested your faith this week? It can be anything from serious to silly—just share a bit about what you’ve been facing since we last met.
Dive In. Ask questions to get your group thinking.
- What hard times are you in the middle of right now? Include ones you’ve just walked out of or ones you’ll walk into soon.
- Life or death religious persecution is happening in many parts of the world. What kinds of lower-risk, everyday pressures or persecution have you faced before? How did you handle it?
- 1 Peter 1:7 says that when your faith stays strong in trials, it honors God and helps reveal Jesus to the world. How have you seen that in someone’s life? How has someone else’s faith revealed Jesus to you?
Open Up. Choose questions that create openness.
- Would you ask God to test your faith? Why or why not?
- What would have happened if Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would have bowed or compromised their faith?
- How have you seen compromise affect your faith?
Dig In. Read what the Bible says about Courage.
- John 16:31-331
- Peter 1:6-9
- Ephesians 3:20-21
- Hebrews 11:1-40
Live It Out. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
- Is there a trial you need to show your faith through? What specifically will you do differently from before?
- Is there something you know God wants you to do that you need to obey? What steps will you take this week?
Pray It Up. Be bold and pray specifically.
- God, give me faith to believe even when I can’t see. Help me focus my faith in on you and not the outcome. Thank you that I can trust you to bring me through whatever fire I am facing and make me stronger through it. In Jesus; name, Amen.