Teaching Daniel 9

3-5s

Theme: Daniel says sorry to God and God hears him

Aim: That they say sorry to God, knowing that God hears and forgives

Intro:

Big picture of Daniel praying - paint, colour, stick

Teaching:

Recap - Can you remember which Bible person we've been hearing about? [remind of fiery furnace, lion's den, etc].

Daniel and his friends were living in strange place because God's people hadn't loved God. God's people had forgotten all about God and so they were taken away from their homes and had to live under a strange king. It was horrible and it may Daniel really sad.

But Daniel realised that they had been in that strange place for a long time and that maybe it was time to go home soon. So he changed his clothes. He put on a sack [put a sack on a puppet] and covered himself in ashes. He did this as a way of showing he was sorry for all the things God's people had done wrong. Can you say with me, Lord God, we are so sorry.

He began to pray: [have the puppet bow his head and mouth along]

'Lord, you are a great God. You cause fear and wonder. You keep your agreement of love with all who love you and obey your commands.'

Say with me, 'Lord God, we are so sorry'

'We have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and turned against you. We did not listen when you spoke to us.

Lord God, we are so sorry.

Daniel said sorry for all the things God's people had done wrong. He remembered that God was very good and God's people had been very bad. They hadn't listened and loved God with all their hearts. And so he said,

Lord God, we are so sorry

Daniel carried on, 'Lord God, you said you would do this if we didn't listen to you, and you've done as you said you would. All this has happened because we sinned against you.'

Lord God, we are so sorry.

'Now our God, hear my prayers. I am your servant. Listen to my prayer for help. Do this for your sake. My God, pay attention and hear me. We do not ask these things because we are good. We ask because of your mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear us and do something! For your sake, don't wait! Your city and your people are called by your name.'

Lord God we are so sorry.

Do you think God heard Daniel's prayer? Of course He did! In fact God sent the angel Gabriel to tell Daniel so. [Bring in another puppet or cut out of an angel]

'When you first started praying an answer was given. And I came to tell you, because God loves you very much.'

Gabriel then goes on to tell Daniel that King Jesus will come and make things right with God.

And sure enough, many years after Daniel, King Jesus came to die on the cross so that we could be forgiven when we come and say sorry to God. Isn't that wonderful? When we say sorry we can know that God will hear us and Jesus will forgive us!

Pray

Craft

• Daniel figure - stick on sacking and ash
• Decorate - Lord God, we are so sorry

Songs

• I can talk to Jesus (from J is for Jesus)

• We give thanks to you, O God (Psalm 75:1)

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5-11s

Theme: When Daniel said sorry to God, God heard and promised Jesus

Aim: Say sorry to God and look to Jesus

Intro:

Quick quiz on Daniel 1-8

Teaching:

Recap - pictures of chapters 1-7: we're at some point around chapter 6. Remind why they were in a foreign land.

Daniel had been reading the prophet Jeremiah, who had said that they would be in Babylon for 70 years. Daniel realised that they had been in Babylon for 70 years. Was it nearly time to go home?

This makes Daniel turn and pray to God. But first he does three things: [dress one up as Daniel while doing this]

• fasts - what is this?
• wears sackcloth - why?
• covers himself in ashes - why?

Let's listen to what Daniel prays - Daniel reads v4-6

What is Daniel saying about God? And about God's people? [mark up on a white board]

Daniel reads v9-11.

What is Daniel saying about God? And about God's people?

Daniel reads v17-19

What is Daniel saying about God? And about God's people?

Do you think God heard Daniel? Of course he does! He sends the angel Gabriel to tell Daniel this. [Have an older child read v22-23]

Gabriel also has a strange message for Daniel - Gabriel reads v24-27.

What do you think this is about? We don't understand all the details, but it seems to be promising that Jesus would come and die for the sins of God's people.

So, for Daniel, some day soon, Jesus would come and all those sins that Daniel had confessed would be forgiven.

We too should look to Jesus and His death for us. We should say sorry to God regularly. We should learn to pray like Daniel.

Table time:

Knowledge

• What did Daniel pray for?

Understanding

• Why did Daniel pray?

Application

• What do you need to say sorry for? [write down sorry prayers]