Teaching Daniel 12

3-5s

Theme: Keep trusting God

Aim: That they see the example of Daniel who kept trusting God even through difficult times.

Intro:

Colouring/painting some pictures from the earlier stories - we'll use these to teach and remind them

Teaching:

[Much of this is a recap session - but using Daniel as an example of 12:13, 'But go your way till the end.']

Do you remember we have been looking at Daniel's dreams? Can you remember what we've seen? [recap from chapter 8 and remind them, particularly of the man in linen from chapter 10]

But what was Daniel to do? Well, there's one last bit of his dream: he sees two angels on either side of a river [set out blue paper and put an angel on either side]. And they asked the man in linen (Jesus), 'How long is it going to be?'

Daniel heard the answer but didn't understand. And nor do I! So he asked, 'What's going to happen?'

He was told that it would be hard trusting God, but to keep going.

That's just what Daniel had been doing. Do you remember the story of ... [use their paintings to illustrate Daniel and his friends trusting God even when it was hard and scary. Re-tell stories they have forgotten from a children's Bible, or just their favourites.]

We, too, should listen to Jesus as Daniel did and trust that God is in charge always. We should trust Him and put God first, too.

Craft:

• Stick pictures from all the earlier stories - see if they can tell you about them
• Paint a river and stick on angels and the man in linen

Songs:

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5-11s

Theme: Keep living trusting God because He is in control and we don't know when the end is.

Aim: That they see Daniel as an example of keeping trusting God

Intro:

Action game - like Captain's coming but shouting out actions of 'Storm', 'Earthquake', etc. and give them actions of how to respond if they know that thing is coming. 'What should we do if we know that Jesus is coming back?'

Teaching:

Recap all of Daniel - particularly last week and the man in linen (Jesus)

[set out a river with blue cloth and have one dressed in linen. Set out the two angels either side and have the angel asking the question of v6]

That's a good question! When's it all going to happen, all this stuff we've heard about a terrible time and people rising from the dead to go to be with God forever? What do you think the answer will be? take suggestions

Here is the answer Jesus gives: have a child read 12v7b

Does that help you? Probably not. It didn't help Daniel. have a Daniel read v8

Again, its a fair question from Daniel. So what is Jesus going to say?

Man in linen reads v9-12. In other words, Jesus is just saying, 'Things will carry on as they are now. Some people will trust me, some people will be wicked. Normal life will carry on through all of this and so should you.'

Man in linen reads v13. Daniel is just to carry on trusting God and waiting. He is just to carry on his life as he has been.

[Bring back pictures of chapters 1-6] How did Daniel trust God through horrible times here? [Do for each story]

Daniel was just to keep faithfully serving God wherever he ended up.

And the same is true of us today. We have an amazing future ahead of us if we trust in Jesus. We have a God who is in charge of all things now. We've seen that each week. But that means we carry on trusting Jesus in the normal things we do.

So we go to school [hold up picture]. How should we behave? We should trust God [talk about what that might mean]

We go playing or swimming or scouts [hold up picture]. How should we behave? We should trust God [talk about what that might mean]

We're at home with our mums and dads [hold up picture]. How should we behave?  We should trust God [talk about what that might mean]

Etc.

Pray

Table Time:

Knowledge

• Who did Daniel see?

• What was Daniel told?

Understanding

• How was Daniel to carry on living?

• What has been your favourite story from Daniel?

• How has it shown Daniel quietly trusting God?

Application

• What does this mean for you in school/home/play?

Pray for the suffering church

Memory verse

Teaching Daniel 11

3-5s

Theme: God is in charge and gives life to those who trust Him

Aim: That they trust Him and delight in Him

Intro:

Decorate crowns

Kings Keys (steal the keys from a blindfolded King)

Teaching:

Recap using pictures from Daniel 1-7

God had given Daniel great news; it was nearly time to go home! That must have been really exciting.

But then God tells Daniel what will happen in the future to God's people. [for this you'll need lots of crowns]

There will be a 4 kings who come [swap on crowns with 1-4 on]. The fourth will be called Alexander. He will be a mighty King and will do whatever he wants (v3). [get them to show muscles]

Then there would be a king of the north and a king of the south [put crowns on two of the children]. They will be friends for a while, but then they had a bit of a fight! [get them to show fists]

Then another man with a funny name will become king, Antiochus [put on another crown]. He will be cruel and hated (v25) and will attack lots of people, including God's people. [do a cruel face]

What a lot of kings Daniel hears about. But who is in charge of every King? God. Even this king [hold up a crown]? etc.

God is in charge of all these kings, good and bad. And there were a few bad kings who were to come. Maybe going back home wasn't going to be so great after all!

But God was promising something even better: read v1b-3.

God says, "I will give you life forever. One day I will make everything perfect and wonderful. But in the meantime, I'm in charge of all these Kings!"

Crafts:

• Toilet roll kings
• Colour in world - draw round hands and stick on

Songs:

• My God is so Big
• No more tears (from A Very, Very Big God)
• Our God is a Very, Very Big God (from a Very, very Big God)
• He's got the whole world in His hands

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5-11s

Theme: Don't be disappointed - God is in charge and has an amazing future in store for those who trust Him

Aim: That they trust Him, look to Him and are satisfied in Him

Intro:

Quiz on the term - promise a great prize for correct answers, which turns out to be a bit rubbish. Are they disappointed. Promise (and give!) a great reward at the end of the session.

Teaching:

Recap - pictures of Daniel 1-7, outline of the kingdoms from previous weeks.

Remember Daniel had worked out that it was time to go home! How do you think they felt? Excited? This was it! All their problems would be solved; or would they?

So God tells them what would happen in the future. We've seen this already with strange dreams of many headed beasts and rams and goats. But God tells it again, for a different reason this time. Lets see:

First, God says there will be 4 kings - and the fourth will be Alexander the Great. Read v2-4. [put a crown on one with 'Alexander']

Then there will be two Kings, one from the North and one from the South [put crowns on two more]. That's Syria and Egypt. They will be friends for a while and then fall out and have a big fight.

Then there will be a King called Antiochus the Great (Read v10-11). [put a crown on another]

Then, and we're about 200 years before the first Christmas now, there will be another King called Antiochus. This time he's Antiochus Epiphanes. Listen to what he's like, read v21-24. [put a crown on a child and get them to act out]

Let's listen to how he treats God's people: read v31-33. Do you think that would have been nice for God's people? How do you think they would have felt, given that they thought that returning to the land would be perfect?

It must have been a real disappointment to them.

I bet you're hoping for lots of lovely things for Christmas - but if you think they're going to make your life brilliant, then you'll be disappointed. [Give examples - eg XBox, breaks or bored of it]

God tells Daniel that there is something so much better that is coming, something which will never disappoint: Read v1b-3. What will happen? New life forever with God, how amazing!

Pray

Table time [while decorating crowns for younger ones]

Knowledge

What does God tell Daniel?

Understanding

Why does God tell Daniel this?

What were the people thinking would happen when they returned to the land?

How does God know?

Application

When have you been disappointed?

What is much better about God's promise?

Why won't it disappoint?

Give reward

Pray for persecuted countries

Memory verse

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]

Teaching Daniel 8

3-5s

Theme: God is the boss over everything that will happen

Aim: That they don't stand against Him

Intro:

Guessing what will happen game - eg where will the spinning top land, flicking a large pictorial coin

Teaching:

Recap - pictures from chapters 2-7. What do they remember?

Do you remember God changed King Neb to realise He was the boss?

Do you remember that God stopped Belshazzar being the boss and put Darius in His place?

God also knows what is going to happen next. God knows what will happen tomorrow and next week. God even knows what will happen next year!

God tells Daniel what is going to happen to God's people all those years ago.

God tells Daniel that a King will come who is really strong. He will be the king of Persia. But strangely God says that this King is a ram, a male sheep [have a toy sheep with a crown on its head]. Only God knows what is going to happen next. Who knows? Only God knows [get them to repeat]

Then God tells Daniel that another King is coming after. God says that this King will be even bigger and stronger and scarier. He was from Greece. But again God says that this King is like an animal - a goat! [have a toy goat with a crown]. Our second king charges at the first king and knocks him out [act out with the animals]. Only God knows what is going to happen next. Who knows? Only God knows [repeat]

But then after that God says would come a King who is even worse. Even bigger and more powerful than these two. And this King will hate God and will pretend God isn't there. And it won't nice to be one of God's people during this time. Only God knows what is going to happen next. Who knows? Only God knows.

This King comes attacks God's people and worships his own gods in God's special places. This was horrible for God's people.

And all this happens. It all comes true just as God had said. Because God is in charge of all of this. He puts the kings in place and takes away their crowns. only God knows what is going to happen next. Who knows? Only God knows.

So there will be times for you and me, where we don't know what's going to happen next. But God knows, only God knows. So we can trust Him always. And He has sent a King far more wonderful than these Kings, King Jesus, who is always good and will be boss forever.

Craft:

• Clock with 'Only God knows' written on
• Crowns
• Toilet roll ram/goat crafts?

Song:

• My God is so Big
• Who's the King of the Jungle?
• Jesus is the Mighty, mighty King

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5-11s

Theme: God is in charge of all history and knows that there will be bad rulers

Aim: Trust their future to God, whatever it might hold

Intro:

Throwing the dice - they have to guess what number it will land on. If they're wrong they're out. Keep throwing until they're all out.

Intro chat - what do you want to be when you grow up?

Teaching:

Recap - Bible timeline. Perhaps adapt and focus in on the time between Daniel and Jesus coming.

Daniel has another weird dream where God is telling him what is going to happen in the future.

Firstly, Daniel sees a ram. Read v3-4. [Dress one up in a ram mask] What do you think is going on here? Later Daniel is told by an angel. Read v15-20. He's the King of the Medes and Persians. God tells Daniel that this King is going to come because God knows all of the future and has control of it all.

Secondly, Daniel sees another animal. Read v5-8. [dress one in a goat mask and act out]. This is strange isn't. Well we need to listen to our angel again. Read v21-22. The King of Greece, this was a man called Alexander the Great.

But then things get really nasty. Read v9-12. What is this King going to do? The angel explains a bit more to us. Read v23-25.

Do you know, all this happened as God said it would. There was a ruler called Antiochus Epiphanes. He was very angry with the Jewish people and attacked them, killing many men, women and children. He burnt their Bibles (v12 - 'threw the truth to the ground'), took over God's temple and made sacrifices to his god, Zeus, there! This was awful.

But God knew this was going to happen. He is the true God who has control over everything. So when you look at things that happened in the past, the Vikings, the Romans, the Victorians, remember that this is all the story of how God has acted in the past.

But history repeats itself, and there have been other kings have set themselves against God. And there will be one king at the end of time before Jesus returns who will set himself against God. Read 2 Thess 2:1-4.

Table time:

[have a pictures of a ram, a goat, plus some stick on crowns, then label as we go through]

Knowledge

• What happens in Daniel's vision?
• Read v27 - How does Daniel feel about this?

Understanding

• Why does God give Daniel this vision?
• What does this vision tell us about God?

Application

• What do we expect will happen in the future?
• What should we remember about the past and the future?
• What does knowing that God is in charge drive us to do?

Pray for countries with anti-Christian dictators

Memory verse

Teaching Daniel 7

3-5s

Theme: God is in charge over everything

Aim: That they trust God when they're scared

Intro:

Who's in charge - colouring / painting pictures of teachers, policemen, parents, kings

            Talk about how you know they're in charge

Teaching:

Recap - pictures of the first 6 chapters and ask simple questions

Today Daniel has a dream. And its a really scary dream. Have you ever had a scary dream? [share some scary dreams and how they felt]

Well Daniel dreams of 4 kings. But they don't look like kings in his dream. They look like scary animals!

Do you remember King Nebuchadnezzar from our stories? Well Daniel dreamt of King Neb, but instead of looking like King Neb, he looked like a lion with wings [have a picture with a crown on one side and a lion with wings on the other].

Then he dreams of another king, except this king looked like a bear chewing on some ribs! [have a crown with '2' and a bear on the reverse].

Then there was a third king, except this king looked like a leopard with 4 heads and wings! [have a crown with '3' and the picture on the reverse].

Then the 4th king we're told was just like a beast [have same picture idea]. And that King was the most scary. Daniel was told that this king would be really horrible to God's people.

Now Daniel was really scared! Wouldn't you be. Not only were these Kings scary in his dream, but also the last one would do horrible things to God's people. Daniel 'went white with fear' (v28).

BUT - I haven't told you all of Daniel's dream yet. Because if that was all he dreamt then it would be very scary. But Daniel saw more than that.

Daniel also sees something very wonderful in his dream. He sees God, and this is what he says, (read v9-10). Wow! That's someone who is very, very strong! No matter how strong these kings seemed, God was stronger. No matter how big these kings seemed, God is bigger. No matter how important these kings were, God was in control!

Here is what Daniel sees (read v26-27). God is in total charge of all the kings, no matter how powerful they seem. God is in charge of all these people we coloured in earlier (hold up pictures). God is in charge of mummies and daddies. God is in charge of teachers and of policemen, too.

[if possible do this next bit]

And God has sent an even more wonderful King, who is more powerful than all these other kings, but He is very good. And God the Father gives Him a kingdom that will last forever. Read v13-14. Who do you think this King is, from Daniel's dream?

Pray

Craft:

• Scary animal masks - could then use for a game
• Decorate memory verse (Daniel 6:26)

Songs:

• My God is so Big
• Our God is a great Big God
• Jesus is the mighty, mighty, King

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5-11s

Theme: God has control over all rulers, even bad ones, and gives a forever Kingdom to His Son

Aim: Trust, even when you are afraid

Intro:

Share dreams - what's the weirdest, scariest dream you've had?

Teaching:

Recap - use pictures to show structure of Daniel - dream; rescue; judgement; judgement; rescue; dream. Like a mountain. [particularly recap Dan 2]

Daniel has a dream, this time much scarier than King Neb's. He dreamed of 4 animals, which were really kings. [have one older child reading; give others paper, they need to guess what each animal is]

1. Read v4 and have one child in a lion mask. How might this be like King Neb?

2. Read v5 and have one child in a bear mask. We don't know who this was, maybe Darius.

3. Read v6 and have a child in a leopard mask. Again, not sure, maybe Greece, Alexander the Great.

4. Read v7-8 and have a child in a 'beast' mask. Not sure who this is again. Maybe the Roman kings.

[or could keep the suspense as the chapter does, question the children as to what the animals are, then read v15-17]

It doesn't matter too much who they are. But they are scary. Read v19-22. What are they going to do? Even scarier, read v23-25.

Game - run away from the 4 animals/kings (essentially tig/tag)

So, is that all Daniel learns; there are scary kings? No, of course not.

Daniel sees something else in his dream. Read v9-12. What does Daniel see? How is that helpful to know?

God is far more powerful than any of these scary kings, in fact He has these kings under His control! He decides how long they're on the throne for and when their time is up. God is in control of all history and everything in the world. Read v26.

And Daniel sees a better King, read v13-14. Who is this King? What will his Kingdom be like?

When Jesus rose again and ascended to be with His Father in heaven, God gave Him the kingdom; and one day Jesus will return and defeat all these bad kings once and for all. Read v27. We will rule with Jesus forever.

Table time:

Knowledge

• What four animals did Daniel see and what were they?

• What else did Daniel see in his dream?

Understanding

• Why do you think God showed Daniel these things?

• How did God reassure and encourage Daniel?

• When will/do we see Jesus' forever kingdom?

Application

• What can you remember when you are afraid?

• What can you remember when people laugh at you for being a Christian?

Pray - altogether pray in detail for some of the places in the world where they have rulers who attack Christians

Memory verse - Daniel 6:26

Spares:

• Weird animal masks
• Draw their own animal

Harvest Talk - Psalm 19v1-6

Intro:

Name that crazy fruit - very quick quiz

Autumn is a beautiful time - but what do we do with that beauty? As we walk around and see beautiful colours on the trees and fields ready to be harvested, what is our reaction?

Throughout history people have got this wrong, as they still do today. Often people have worshipped what they see. So long ago people would worship the sun, moon and stars as if they were gods. That may sound silly to us, but many people still read their horoscopes as if the stars can tell us what's going to happen in the future.

Others say, nature is all there is and we're bound to it. So atheists would often say  this: if its in your genes then that's who you are! I was born like this.

But the Bible tells us something very different about nature. Let's hear about it.

Read Psalm 19:1-6 together with the following actions:

v1 - move arm in an ark

v2 - hands from mouth like speech

v3 - hands over ears

v4 - circle with hands

v4b-5 - make a tent with hands

v6 - arm in an ark again

Do you see what this is saying? God is speaking to us through nature. Not audible words as such but He's communicating with us.

God shouts at us in everything we see, eat and touch, saying, 'I made this and gave this to you: Worship me!'

[Give a child a chocolate bar, sweet, apple, etc. Then use the megaphone to shout, 'This is God! Worship me!']

It doesn't tell us about Jesus, we need the Bible for that, but it tells us that there is a God who is much bigger and more powerful than us and therefore we should worship and acknowledge Him. We should find out more about who He is.

This was my experience. I grew up in a non-Christian home. But I remember clearly one afternoon in the beautiful Scottish hills and seeing the sun suddenly come out from behind the clouds. And I remember distinctly thinking: there is someone bigger than me and I'd better find out who He is.

Every meal we have - God is shouting at us: 'I gave you this: Worship me' [through megaphone]

Every time we go for a walk, God is shouting at us 'I gave you this: Worship me'

Every time we enjoy playing a sport, God is shouting at us 'I gave you this: Worship me'

Every time we have a cup of tea, God is shouting at us 'I gave you this: Worship me'

You get the idea!

So when we eat together, our response should be: 'We'd better worship God.' 'We'd better trust Jesus!'

But God is also shouting not just at us but at the whole world. That means when we meet Him we will have no excuse for not worshipping and acknowledging Him (Rom 1:19). Without Jesus, we all stand condemned. If at every meal God is saying, 'I'm here, worship me!' then we cannot say we never knew. Nor can the man on the desert island or in some far away country. 

That means Harvest is really about mission - we need to speak to them about Jesus, because what they've already seen leaves them without excuse.

Teaching Daniel 6

3-5s

Theme: God is a rescuing God

Aim: They trust Him by putting Him first

Intros:

• Lion masks
• Make happy/sad face sticks for the story
• Safe animals - have pictures of all sorts of animals. Ask them which ones are 'safe' and which aren't. Put lions into the 'den' (see below)

Teaching:

Recap - long time ago, God's people were in a far off land living under a King who didn't love and trust God.

[have a box with door cut out and a hole in the top. Place some lion's inside and have 'stone' to roll across the entrance. Also have a cut out of Daniel and the King]

There was a new king called Darius. Daniel became very important in Darius' kingdom. In fact, he became one of the top three leaders in the country.

But the other leaders became jealous. They didn't like that King Darius thought Daniel was so brilliant so they made a horrible plan to get rid of Daniel.

Daniel didn't do anything wrong so they couldn't tell on him to the King. So they convinced the King to pass a new rule: everyone had to pray to the King, and only to the king. Anyone who didn't would be thrown into the lion's den. What do you think? Was that good? [get them to use sticks to answer] No, we should only pray to God and no-one else.

Daniel knew this. And as soon as he heard about this new law he went into his room, opened the window and prayed. All the people who were trying to get him into trouble were watching him. Ah-hah! They've got him now. Daniel's in big trouble. Is this good news for Daniel? [use sticks to answer]

And so they return to the king and tell him, 'Daniel's praying to his God, not to you!'

King Darius tried to get Daniel out of trouble, but there was nothing he could do. A rule is a rule after all. And so Daniel is thrown into the lion's den. 'May your God rescue you.' Darius shouts as he's thrown in. Huge ferocious lions. Daniel didn't stand a chance, did he?

First thing the next morning Darius rushes to the den. 'Has your God rescued you, Daniel?' [listen]

Then a voice answers!

'My God sent an angel and he shut the mouths of lions because I have done nothing wrong!'

The king was so glad and when Daniel came out there wasn't even a scratch on him.

Well, the King made sure that all of those who got Daniel into trouble were thrown into the lion's den instead. And Darius made a new rule - everyone must fear Daniel's God, because no-one is able to rescue like Him!

And do you know, our God is a rescuing God. Just as He rescued Daniel so He has rescued us through His Son Jesus. Jesus came to die on a cross and was put in a cave and a stone was rolled over the entrance so that we might be rescued. And the next day an angel was there to say, 'He's alive!'

Pray

Thank you God for rescuing Daniel.

Thank you God for rescuing us in Jesus.

Amen

Craft:

• Various lion crafts - masks, models: do a google image search for ideas

Songs:

• My God is so Big

• Super Saviour

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

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5-11s

Theme: Our God rescues

Aim: Honour Him and pray to Him and put Him first

Intros:

Application quiz - have the lion's den in the corner. Would you be prepared to go into the lion's den if... eg your teacher says you have to draw God; your friend says you have to steal...

Show lion video

Teaching:

Recap - with pictures. Point out the pattern of chapters 6 (rescue, judgement, judgement, rescue)

[set up part of the room as the den - have a large 'stone' to roll and some lion masks]

Do you remember at the end of last week's story we had a new king, Darius the Mede? [have one dressed as Darius]

He was very fond of Daniel and made him the third highest ruler in his kingdom. But the other rulers didn't like this and plotted against Daniel. But Daniel had done nothing wrong and so they couldn't tell tales on him about anything. So they had to be a bit more devious. [have one dressed as Daniel]

They passed a rule with Darius: read v7-8.

What was wrong with that rule? What would you have done?

Here's what Daniel did: he went and prayed! Opened his window towards Jerusalem and three times a day got down on his knees. [Daniel kneels and prays]

But his enemies are watching and know they can tell tales. [silly voice] 'Daniel's been praying to his God!'

Oh-oh. Daniel's in real trouble now. Well Darius is worried and tries to do something but is totally powerless to change this new law.

What do you think Darius should have done?

So he throws Daniel into the lion's den shouting, v16.

[Put Daniel in the den with some children in lion's masks and put the 'stone' over the entrance]

Darius spends all night worrying, then at break of day runs to the den and calls out, 'Has your God delivered you.'

Amazingly Daniel answers - read v22.

So Daniel was taken out of the den and there wasn't a scratch on him. Instead the trouble makers were thrown in and that was the end of them!

Darius makes a new rule - read v26-27.

What do you think this tells us about God? What did He do? - rescue

What about Daniel? How is he an example for us? - prayed, put God first, trusted God

How does it point forward to Jesus? - point out Jesus' innocence, Pilate's uselessness, the stone rolled, the angel at the tomb, and Jesus' great rescue.

This is pointing forward to God's great rescue in Jesus. So like Daniel and Jesus, we should trust God the Father with our lives, putting Him first even if that means we get into trouble.

Pray

Table time [they get to stick a lion in the den for every good answer]

Knowledge

• What was Daniel banned from doing?

• What happened to Daniel because he broke this rule?

• What happened to Daniel in the lion's den?

Understanding

• Why was Daniel prepared to disobey the King?

• Why did God rescue Daniel?

• What did Darius learn about God?

Application

• Would you be prepared to be thrown in a lion's den because you follow God?

• How do you pray?

• How is Jesus' rescue even better?

Teaching Daniel 5

3-5s

Theme: God is much bigger and more powerful than Kings

Aim: They realise that God is much bigger than them and those in charge of them

Intros:

• Draw some pictures in white crayon/candle on white paper - they have to paint over and guess what they are
• What's the biggest quiz - have pictures of items of various sizes. They have to choose which is the biggest. Then tell them God is bigger than all this.

Teaching:

Recap - Do you remember what happened to King Neb? He thought he was the boss, in charge of everything. But God showed him that he was not as big and powerful as he thought. God was much bigger than him.

Many years later there was another king called Belshazzar. And he forgot all about Daniel and all about Daniel's God.

He thought he would throw a party [could set a party scene with balloons and plates and empty cups - but this might be too disruptive]. At this party he decided to use the special cups which King Neb had taken from God's temple in Jerusalem.

So the special cups were brought to him and he started using these cups to praise his made up gods! How horrible and awful! Do you think God liked that? Not one bit.

Suddenly a hand appeared from nowhere. Just a hand, nothing else. [have a stiff cardboard hand with a pen attached and a large piece of paper on the wall]

The hand wrote some words on the wall but King Belshazzar couldn't understand them and he became very scared. He went very pale and his knees started knocking and his teeth started chattering.

Eventually someone remembered that Daniel was good at understanding strange things like frightening dreams and so they called in Daniel.

Daniel looked at the words and immediately understood the message from God.

'The first word,' he said, 'is "Mene" which means counting. God has counted the number of days for you to be king and that's it. Finished. [drop coins]

The second word is "Tekel" which means weighing something. God has tested you and found you're not good enough! [mime weighing]

The third word is "Parsin" which means split up, divided. God is tearing up your kingdom and giving it to someone else. [tear up a crown]

And sure enough, that night God took the Kingdom away from Belshazzar and he died.

Lots of people think that they are really important and powerful. But, compared to God, they have no power at all. God is so much bigger and more powerful than any person could ever be. God is so much bigger and more powerful than we are. And so God is in charge of us. We're living in His world and so we should live with His King, Jesus, as our King.

Craft:

• Wall picture with words 'Mene...' in white crayon. The paint over the top to reveal the words
• Make golden goblets
• Magic picture craft - http://kidfrugal.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/writing-on-wall-magic-window.html?spref=pi
• Hand craft

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5-11s

Theme: God will humble the proud and lift up the humble - Just as He did with Jesus

Aim: the proud should be afraid and the humble should be hopeful

Intro:

• Riddles - they have to complete the riddle
• Pictures from the previous 4 chapters - they have to find and put in order
• Pin 'Mene...' to the wall. They have to hit with a ball/dart/fake hand in order to turn them round. Then ask if they know what they mean.

Teaching:

Recap - what have we seen of Daniel so far? And Daniel 4 - a proud King who humbles himself and is restored.

Many years pass and Daniel and his God are forgotten. King Neb's son (maybe grandson), Belshazzar, becomes King and he decides to throw a party.

[set out party with blackcurrant juice in plastic wine glasses]

Then Belshazzar has a real brain wave! There are some lovely golden wine goblets that my Dad took from the Jerusalem temple. Let's drink out of them!

So the golden cups from the Jerusalem temple are brought to Belshazzar and all his party guests. And so they drink more and more wine out of these special cups.

What you need to understand is how awful this must have been for God's people: these were holy, special, set apart for worship of God. Not for a foreign king to use to get drunk.

And then they start using these cups to worship their made up gods of stone and wood and gold!

But, as they are doing so, suddenly a hand appears from nowhere. And the hand starts writing something on the wall. [use a powerpoint slide to have a hand writing the words].

The King turns very white, his knees start knocking [overdo his reaction]

None of his wise men can help - just like before

But thankfully King Neb's wife remembers Daniel and tells Belshazzar to ask him.

So Daniel is brought before King Bel. Bel promises to make Daniel 3rd highest in the kingdom. Daniel must have been about 80 by this point.

And he begins by explaining why this is happening. Read v18-23.

And then he explains what the writing means (this is the bit we've been waiting a long time for!)

Read v25-28 - slowly explain. The kingdom, the empire, would be taken away from Belshazzar as he did not bow humbly before the Lord God, as he should have.

So what happens? read v30.

How does this point us forward to Jesus? - we have a king who wasn't proud but, because He humbled Himself God raised Him up (Phil 2).

God is in charge of Kings and nations, Rulers and empires - He has such enormous power, so we should bow before Him and recognise how small and weak we are.

If you think you're great like King Bel, then you should be afraid!

But if you realise how much bigger God is than you, then you should be hopeful and encouraged.

Table time: (have a big piece of paper with 'Mene...' in white crayon/candle - gradually paint over the top)

Knowledge

• What did King Bel do wrong?
• What message did God send?
• What happened to King Bel in the end?

Understanding

• Why did God take the kingdom from King Bel?
• What did you learn about God from this story?
• How does it point to Jesus?

Application

• Read v23 - Could God say this of you?
• What does it mean to be humble? Would people describe you this way?
• What should our world leaders do?

Memory verse - Daniel 6:26

Pray

Teaching Psalm 3

5-11s

Theme: When David is in trouble, looking to God means he can sleep.

Aim: That they look to God when in trouble.

Intro:

Sleeping game - what stops you sleeping? What wakes you up in the night?

Teaching:

Timeline - take them to King David and explain the book of Psalms as prayers/song written to God.

One leader is dressed as Absalom - tells the story of 2 Sam 15:1-12 - Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel (v6), led a revolt against David (v10); David flees (v14).

All the children flee like David to the other end of the hall.

Talk about how David must have felt.

David writes a song about how he felt [listen to a recording of it first]

Read v1-2 - How was David feeling? [set up cardboard soldiers around the group]

Read v3-4 - When David is scared and worried, what does He say about God? [set up shields around the group] [could have Absalom still prowling around the group during this time]

Read v5-8 - What can David do now? What else encourages him?

Repeat psalm with actions:

v1 - kneel with hands over head

v2 - lift hands as if in self defence

v3  - clench fists

v4 - raise hands high in prayer

v5 - stand slowly and repeat clench fists

v6 - walk on the spot with chin up

v7 - raise hands in prayer again

v8 - clench fists

[Hold up signpost with 'Jesus' on] How is this song/prayer about Jesus?

            Many were against Jesus as he died and said 'save yourself' (v2)

Many things may scare us but in Jesus we have God as our shield, the wonderful God who gives us courage. He hears us when we cry to Him because of Jesus. And in Jesus he will bring justice and right all the wrongs.

Pray

At tables - using the shape of Psalm 3 they write a song/prayer for the times when they are scared and/or can't sleep.

Memory verse - v3 'But, Lord you are my shield. You are my wonderful God who gives me courage' (NCV) - write on shields and learn.

Sing lots of songs of praise

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3-5s - Psalm 3

Theme: God protects us when we're scared

Aim: that they trust in God's protection when they are afraid or can't sleep

Intro:

Sleeping lions - talk about things that make them afraid

Teaching:

A long time ago King David was king of God's people, ruling over them and looking after them. But King David was very afraid [put on a crown and scared face]. His own son Absalom wanted to be King instead of him. Absalom was working hard to get all the people to make him King instead of his Dad, David. So David had to run away and hide. [at this point you could move to another part of the room, or use cut outs of David and Absalom at the table]

As David was hiding because he was so afraid of Absalom. And when he was in hiding he wrote a song about it. Here is what he wrote:

Read v1-2 - David felt surrounded by people who didn't like him and were attacking him. They were saying that God doesn't care about him anymore. [Again surround with cut-outs of people]

But David knows something amazing: read v3-4. David says that God protects him and so he doesn't need to be afraid. God hears him as he prays. [surround with shield cut-outs]

So David is at peace, even though lots of people are against him. Read v5-8.

And do you know, because of Jesus, we don't need to be afraid. When we get scared of .... we should talk to Jesus and ask Him to be with us and protect us, and then we can go to sleep.

Pray.

Craft:

·        Shields with v3 written on

Game:

Psalm statues - play a version of Psalm 3 and when the music stops they have to fall asleep.

Songs:

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

·        Don't be afraid of the night (from J is for Jesus)

Teaching Daniel 3

3-5s

Theme: God rescues His people

Aim: That they trust that God is powerful, rescuing God

Intro:

Cover last week's statue in gold/yellow paper [you'll also need some musical instruments and 4 cut-out people, and a 'fiery furnace', a box with red and orange crepe paper stuffed inside, hide one cut-out person inside before]

Teaching: [note - they will have heard the story in church, this could be more interactive to see how much they can remember and have understood]

[Have some pictures of people needing rescued eg in the sea, stuck up a tree, etc.]

What do all these people need? Rescuing. We're going to meet some people in our story today who needed God to rescue them.

Recap - do you remember our statue from last week? King Neb dreamt of the statue and learnt that God knows everything. But he hasn't quite learnt it properly!

Do you know what he does this week? He sets up a big gold statue and demands that everyone bow down and worship it. [hand out some instruments] So when the instruments make a noise everybody was to worship the statue. If anyone didn't then they'd be thrown into a big fiery furnace.

Do you think God would be happy with that?

Well Daniel's friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, knew that God wouldn't be happy with it and so they refused to bow. They said, 'God can rescue us from this fire. And even if He doesn't, there's no way we're going to bow down to a made up statue!'

When the king heard about this, he was FURIOUS! He ordered that the fiery furnace be made even hotter and hotter. [add more red and orange crepe paper] And then the 3 friends were thrown into the fire. [put the three men inside the box]

But as soon as the king had sat back down and calmed down a bit, he sat bolt upright on his throne. 'Didn't we throw three men into the fire? Why then is there a fourth man in there?' [Show fourth man in the box]

'Bring out Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego!'

So the three men were brought out and not even a hair on their heads had singed! They didn't even smell of smoke.

Nebuchadnezzar was amazed and he called out, 'Your God is amazing, He rescues people! No-one must say anything bad about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's God.'

Do you know our God is a rescuing God! This big gold statue can't rescue people [push it over] But God can and God does! He is so big and so strong and so amazing. And He came and was with Shadrach and his friends in the fire. He was with them when it was scary and they were afraid.

And do you know, He rescues us through Jesus [show a picture of a cross]. And Jesus is with us when we're scared and afraid too.

Pray

Craft:

• Fiery furnace - Get them to stick on red and orange crepe paper and cut-out men onto a paper place, or open box. Stick on tag - 'God rescues His people'
• Colouring page

Songs:

• My God is so big
• Super Saviour
• He Died Upon the Cross

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5-11s

Theme: God is a rescuing God who stands with His people when they trust Him

Aim: That the children recognise this and are prepared to put God first no matter what

Intro:

Who will bow - have up a statue of gold. Ask them if they'd bow before the statue: for a sweet? Two sweets? - reward all those who don't bow with a sweet.

Teaching:

[note - they will have heard the story read in church. So we'll assume they were listening!]

Recap - use the timeline to remind where Daniel comes in the Bible story. See how much they can remember about the last two weeks, particularly the statue from last week.

[Have an area set up as the fiery furnace - ie fill with red and orange paper/cloth/etc

Have a large gold statue on the powerpoint from the first game]

Re-read/re-enact v1-7.

Ask them - would you bow? Not even if your life depended on it?

Apply - People in our lives are unlikely to set up big gold statues, but they will ask us to make other things more important that God (eg ?), and when we don't will think we're really strange. [think up some personal examples that are safe to share]

Re-read/re-enact v8-18.

Would you be prepared to say what S,M&A said? Why, what would give you confidence?

Re-read/re-enact v19-25 using the 'fiery furnace' area.

What is going on here? Who do you think the fourth person might be?

Why did the fire not hurt them?

Re-read/re-enact v26-30.

What had King Neb realised about God?

What had he not yet realised?

How does this story point us to Jesus?

Table time:

[for pieces of the memory verse: Daniel 6:26]

• Why were Daniel's friends in danger?
• What would you have done? Why?
• What did God do? Why?
• Where do we see Jesus in this story?
• How can we trust God and put Him first always?