AFTER THE SERMON-Bridges In Babylon
We hope today’s message was encouraging and helpful. Take a moment to process and discuss what God may be trying to say to everyone in your home or in your community group. If no one is with you, have a personal conversation with God, He is with you.
SERIES: Building Bridges
Sermon Title: Bridges In Babylon
Main Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28
Other scripture mentioned: Isaiah 5:20; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; John 14:6; Hebrews 12:14
(If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read or paraphrase through some of the provided scripture to catch everyone up!)
Overview:
Pastor Ryan took us to the Old Testament in our latest sermon in the Building Bridges series. We heard about the story of Daniel and the lion’s den. Daniel was a light and bridge in a pagan society known at that time as Babylon. Daniel faced immense pressure throughout the book to conform to the culture he was taken to as a captive. No matter how hard they tried to change Daniel or try to get him to compromise his faith, he wouldn’t. Daniel’s integrity and loyalty to God were unwavering in the face of death. The result is…God raised him out of that lion’s den unharmed. We too will overcome death at the resurrection of all the saints who remain faithful to God in the end. This was a powerful message inspiring us to be unwavering bridges that would not fall for the lies but instead would remain standing for those who chose to walk the bridges we built to meet Jesus.
Takeaways:
Be unwavering bridges in an increasingly godless society.
There are those who would say absolute truth is arrogant, I would say it's gracious. Everyone knows you can't have equal, mutually exclusive truths, someone has to be wrong or someone is lying. Absolute truth is our way of knowing what is genuinely true.
Jesus is truth in a world full of lies claiming to be truths.
You can love someone without condoning their sin. You can also love a neighbor without shaming them for their sin.
Our world wants the blessings of God without His holy standards
Our world wants good morals and justice but we don't want God who is the author and giver of righteousness and justice.
Be loyal to God and His Word. The Bible has never failed us, but those who fail to follow it do.
We too will overcome death at the resurrection of all the saints who remain faithful to God until the end.
Discussion:
What was one big takeaway for you from this message?
What did you sense the Holy Spirit was saying to you during this message?
What does it mean to compromise your convictions?
What are some things you have seen and heard that are putting pressure on Christians to compromise their convictions?
How can we purposely and extravagantly love someone without condoning or approving their sinful lifestyles?
How do we stay strong in the face of intense hateful pressure to compromise?
Pray:
Heavenly Father, we want to be unwavering bridges for you and the lost in our own “Babylon.” Help us to remain strong in our faith and strong in your Word. Give us favor among outsiders and those who would scheme to hurt us. May the lost see our good deeds, choose Jesus and glorify you! We stand together in your grace and power as one body in this world. We love you, God, amen!
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!