Real Men: Daniel #10 Notes & Small Group Questions

To help you study the book of Daniel in a men’s group setting, each week we will post notes and small group questions from Real Men men’s ministry based on that week’s sermon on the markdriscoll.org blog.

3 Ways to Turn From Crisis to Christ: Daniel 10

Judo (Japanese “the gentle way”) combat won by using opponent’s weight and strength as weapons against him. Goal is they expend mental & physical energy while you preserve yours. Technique can beat strength. Spiritual War principle

Backdrop Daniel (2500+ yrs ago)

  1. Battle reopen “Church”1. word 2. worship 3. witness
  2. The people of God are weary (8 weeks vs 70 years)
  3. Daniel sees the spiritual forces behind the scenes in the unseen realm
  4. The people of God are fighting an invisible enemy (viral/spiritual)
  5. Daniel overwhelmed with bad news & he’s not doing well

Turn Isolation into Solitude

Daniel 10:8 I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength.

Daniel 10:10 And behold, a hand touched me

Turn Complex Grief into Lamenting

Daniel 10:1-3 the word was true, and it was a great conflict…I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.

  • Complex grief

10:9 I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.

  • Physical depression

10:16-17 “…by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength…now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”

  • Psalms, Lamentations, Jeremiah, David
  • Jesus Isa 53 “suffering servant” “man of sorrows” “acquainted w/grief” “Jesus wept”
  1. When you lament, you allow yourself to feel.
  2. When you lament, you process pain in the present & fear of the future.
  3. When you lament, you grieve your involvement and shed your victim mind-set.
  4. When you lament, you empathize with others who are hurting.
  5. When you lament, you work through the cycle of grief: 1. Denial 2. Anger 3. Bargaining 4. Depression 5. Acceptance 6. Thanksgiving.
  6. When you lament, you escape being a religious response (Romans 8:28).

Turn Fear into Faith

Daniel 10:12 “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard…

  • Fear – not always a sin

Daniel 10:19 And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

  • Faith – external unchanged, internal changed (who can you speak to)

Discussion and Prayer

  1. How can you turn isolation into solitude?
  2. How can you turn complex grief into lamenting?
  3. How can you turn your fear into faith?
  4. How can we pray for you?

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