The Compass

A Daily Personal Reflection & Small Group Discussion Guide

by John Hay, Jr.
Senior Pastor, West Morris Street Free Methodist Church

Series: 10 Bible Stories that Build Outgoing Disciples
Daniel - Speaking Truth to Power

Daniel 4:19-37

TRACKING THE WORD
Consider the life and witness of Daniel as a person who honored God and whom God strategically placed to speak truth to worldly power.

1. Being apprehended by Grace and thoroughly embracing the way of Life precedes any redemptive influence our lives may have.

Daniel 1:1-20

A. How did Daniel and his friends both remain faithful to God and distinguish themselves in Babylon?

Daniel 1:8--"Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…"
Daniel 1:19--"…to these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding."

B. Instead of seeking FIRST to be influential, what will it mean for you to "put first things first" in your life and faith?

2. Power needs truth spoken to it if wisdom, justice, and grace is to be witnessed and realized in the world.

Daniel 2:1-12

A. What irrational, erratic, rash, and unfair demands did Nebuchadnezzar make of his advisors?

B. What are some of the irrational, corrupting or oppressive directives, policies, or accepted norms in our nation and world that cry out for truth to be spoken?

3. The God of truth is greater than any earthly power or persons with power over people or outcomes.

Daniel 2:18-23, 27-28, 46-47

A. What did Daniel and his friends do when their lives were threatened by the powerful ruler? PRAY!

B. Because of the truth and wisdom God have Daniel to speak to the ruler, what did the ruler acknowledge?

C. Confident that God's truth and reality is greater and more gracious, consider five ways are we free to speak grace into relationships, institutions, and dominions:

1. Response to offense: forgiveness > revenge
2. Response to misdeeds: redemption > punishment
3. Response to discord: reconciliation > estrangement
4. Response to vulnerable: compassion > "live and let die"
5. Response to threat: creative wisdom > brute force

4. When you are given opportunity to speak truth to power, do so with awe, creativity, and in the very Spirit of Christ.

Daniel 4:4-9, 19

A. How did Daniel respond to the king's request that he interpret the king's dream?

B. What similarities do you see in Daniel's response to corrupt power in his time and Jesus' response to it in his day?

C. When given the opportunity to speak truth to power, how will you respond?

MARKINGS FOR THE JOURNEY

"In a world where there is a common lament that there are no more heroes, too often cynicism and despair are perceived as evidence of the death of moral courage. That perception is wrong. People of great valor and heart, committed to noble purpose, with long records of personal sacrifice, walk among us in every country of the world." - Kerry Kennedy

"The urgent need is not to preach religious truth, but to show how it is possible and why it is reasonable to give practical expression to it in the great conflicts that now divide the world." - Stephen C. Carey

"There is such an enormous gap between our words and deeds! Everyone talks about freedom, democracy, justice, human rights, and peace; but at the same time, everyone, more or less, consciously or unconsciously, serves those values and ideals only to the extent necessary to defend and serve his own interests, and those of his group or his state. Who should break this vicious circle? Responsibility cannot be preached: it can only be borne, and the only possible place to begin is with oneself." - Vaclav Havel

RESPONSES & OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE
Want to explore The Compass with others? Have questions?

If you'd like to connect with others who are working weekly with The Compass, e-mail me or call the church office (317.632.8311)

If you have questions about Scriptures or some of the questions, or just want to share what your are discovering through The Compass, you are welcome to e-mail me.

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