Have younger kids? Watch this passage here: https://vimeo.com/160752128 [Thru 1:05]

Daniel 1:1-21 | During the third year of King Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord gave him victory over King Jehoiakim of Judah and permitted him to take some of the sacred objects from the Temple of God. So Nebuchadnezzar took them back to the land of Babylonia and placed them in the treasure-house of his god.

Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names:

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Have younger kids? Watch this passage here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ7wLTBnF84

Genesis 37:18-36 | When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. “Here comes the dreamer!” they said. “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”

But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue. “Let’s not kill him,” he said. “Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father.

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Have younger kids? Watch this passage here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u9eN72iFjo

Acts 6:8-7:60 | Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.

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Have younger kids? Watch this passage here: https://vimeo.com/104308767

Daniel 3:1-29 | King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

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This summer, we’ve been growing as we journey with Jesus. We’re learning about the pruning of the Master Gardener (John 15:1-2) who refines us to bear much fruit. We started with a refined purpose last week, one that is focused on God’s kingdom and bringing God glory. Like clay in the hands of a potter, disciples are reshaped after following Jesus as they are “made for more.”

This week, we journey to another well known garden in Scripture–the Garden of Gethsemane. This garden is best known for being the last place Jesus went as a free man before His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. But we actually see that Jesus was in Gethsemane often (John 18:2). Perhaps that is why in His time of struggle, Jesus heads to Gethsemane again.

In the garden, we see that Jesus is struggling under the weight of the suffering that is to come.

Luke 22:44b | He was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood

Jesus is being tested as He decides between the road that leads to the cross (and death) or the one that allows Him to live.

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Psalm 138:8 | The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

• What is the prayer of the Psalmist in today’s passage?

• Do you trust God to work out His plans for you? Why or why not?

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Proverbs 16:9 | We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

• What is the difference between a person’s plans and a person’s steps?

• What are some plans you have for yourself (today and in the future)?

• What do you do personally so the Lord can direct your steps? If nothing, why not?

• How can a person's plans get in the way of God’s purpose for them?

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1st Corinthians 10:31 | So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

• What purpose does God have for His followers?

• What does it mean to do everything for the glory of God?

  • What is ‘everything’ you do during a 24 hour period?

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