City of Rebels Jan 10, 2021 - His homeland was conquered, his dreams were shattered, his name was changed. Life as he knew it was over. Forced to live in a godless and morally decaying society Daniel faced the fear of an uncertain future, constantly dealt with concern for his life and safety and the world around him seemed to fall apart at warp speed. Yet, he faced all of these challenges with hope, humility and wisdom. He didn’t just face these challenges, he thrived in the midst of them and in doing so changed an empire. Daniel knew that even in “Sin City”, God is in control. In This Series The Power of WisdomFeb 07, 2021 | Chad Moore Have you ever noticed that when news reporters go and ask “a Christian” what they think about something they usually go and ask the dumbest one they can find? That drives me crazy. We do not have a blind faith, but a reasonable one. Jesus taught that we are to be “wise as serpents” and “gentle as doves”. He once told a seemingly off-color story about a “shrewd manager” who lies and manipulates his way out of a tough situation and Jesus then praises his ingenuity. Daniel and his friends are shrewd in how they go about things. They live out their faith and are strategic about it. God calls us to do the same. The Credibility of HumilityJan 31, 2021 | Robert Watson Daniel was humble. Contrary to popular belief there are no “jerks for Jesus”. God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5), which means humility is the chief virtue of the Christian life. Humility is not weakness or a lack of bravery. It’s quite the opposite. It’s a strength that embraces the sovereignty of God, the reality of who we are and who we aren’t, and submits itself to the care of God with nothing to prove. Humility is a great strength. It releases the favor of God and gives us influence with others. The Courage of HopeJan 24, 2021 | Megan Fate Marshman How did Daniel and his friends thrive even in Babylon? They had great hope. They knew that God is sovereign, which means HE is in control of who is in control. Daniel had great faith in the fact that even though things weren’t the way he wanted them to be, God was still working, and he was still part of God’s plan. We do not have to fret or fear because even if it seems like we’re losing, we know how the big game ends. God wins. Knowing the ending gives us confidence, courage and hope. Hope brings a calm assurance, even in Babylon. A Test of FaithJan 17, 2021 | Chad Moore & Robert Watson A faith that has never been tested cannot really be trusted. The Bible teaches that the testing of our faith is a good thing that produces growth and endurance. How should we handle the testing of our faith? Should we fight a culture that is godless? Should we flee a culture that is godless? No, the Bible teaches that we should engage. We don’t curse the darkness, nor do we run from it. We live and proclaim the light. The Story of DanielJan 10, 2021 | Chad Moore People familiar with the Book of Daniel tend to think of it as an adventure book where the good guys always win, or as a detailed prophetic account of the future. Neither one is totally accurate. It includes adventure and some prophecy, but that’s not the main lesson. The Book of Daniel is about how to follow God in a culture that is Godless. His faith, hope, humility and wisdom are what set him apart. Bad things happen to good people all the time. It’s what we choose to do in those moments that makes the difference.