Sermon Series: Daniel
Title: Faithful

Scripture: Daniel 1: 8-17

Focus: Daniel honors God with his diet and daily choices. Small choices to follow God help us to stand firm in a world that is striving to shift our focus.

How can we be faithful to God?

“Change is the only constant.” – Heraclitus

“When emotions like sorrow, loss, or anger are swallowed or suppressed to 'stay strong,' the nervous system holds onto them. This can surface later as unexplained physical aches, fatigue, irritability, or panic.” – Bessel van der Kolk

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.” – Daniel 1:8

“Please test your servants for ten days; Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food…” – Daniel 1:12

“The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar;” – Daniel 1:7

Daniel = God is my judge

Belteshazzar = Lady, protect the king

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” – Jeremiah 1:5

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15

Questions to consider

• What is a change you have experienced recently, and how are you adapting to this change?
• How have you seen grief stuffed or ignored? What were the results?
• How were you named? How does your name mean something in your life?
• How are you pushed away from your faith by the pressures of life today?
• How is God calling you to renewed faithfulness in your life?