Series: Resilience  
Message: Determination  
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira

Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 3.

Read: Daniel 1 - Re-read in the ESV translation for new insights/questions.

Reflect: Perspective is key. How we approach the story and how we share the story is driven by preconceived ideas. The way the story is shared in Daniel 1, you start to sense that as difficult as the story will be when it weaves through the turbulent years ahead, God is in control. Verse 2 shows you that the captivity was with God allowing this to take place. Verse 9 shows you that God blesses Daniel’s resolve. Verse 21 lets you know that Daniel outlives the Kingdom of Babylon. If you had a chance to read Genesis 39-50 previously you might have also picked up on these similarities, between Joseph and Daniel. 

Both were led to foreign lands (Egypt/Babylon)
Both were handsome (Gen 39:16 and Dan 1:4)
The faith of both were tested (Gen 39:7-12 and Dan 1:14-16)
God showed favor to both before their overseers (Gen 39:21 and Dan 1:9)
Both were given foreign names (Gen 41:45 and Dan 1:7)
Both could interpret dreams (Gen 41:15 and Dan 1:17)
Both outperformed all the wise men (Gen 41:38 and Dan 1:20)
Both were promoted to serve as a king’s ruler (Gen 41:41-44 and Dan 2:48)

Recalibrate: 
Would you rather know the future or remember the past? 
What life lesson will you always remember?
What life lesson would you want to pass on to another generation?
As a child, what is/was your favorite story and why?

Respond: Pray for your trust in God to grow.

Research: Google - The meaning in the names of Daniel and this three friends. Compare it with their new names and see what some of the commentaries suggest is the reason the new names are hard to trace.