Welcome to CALLED Men’s Group!  If you're looking to move forward in your faith, then this is the place for you!  We are a group of men, called by God to understand who He is, who we are, and what we are CALLED to do for Him!  We study the Bible & discuss together, find projects where we can give back, and encourage each other in spiritual growth! 

INTRODUCTION: Welcome everyone, this is the third meeting of the Fall 2026 Semester for the Called Men’s
Growth Group. We have 9 weeks left this semester; we will meet every Wednesday through November 11, 2026.

Tonight, we are continuing our SOAP Bible study - Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer and Questions, of the
book of Daniel. Reminder: there are no specific prerequisites or formal “membership” required to attend, and you do
not have to have been at a previous meeting to attend tonight.

Our purpose tonight, is to come together, read and study God’s word; we should develop an understanding, grow in
our faith and have a friendly discussion. Keep in mind, we are all in different places in our faith journey; we all come
from various backgrounds and have different points of view. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been a believer for 10 seconds,
10-years, or an entire lifetime; everyone is welcome; everyone has a voice and everyone has value. If there are
different points of view, we should not be hostile to one another or feel attacked; it is our various points of view that
adds to the discussion. We came together tonight as friends and brothers in Christ, and we should leave the same -
friends and brothers in Christ.

We need to remember – often there is no clear right or wrong answer; there is only interpretation of scripture. Biblical
scholars don’t even agree all the time; ultimately, JESUS IS THE ANSWER.

Reminder: Sometimes we are the only Bible people will ever read. So, we need represent Christ well in all situations.
/// Go around the room and have people introduce themselves. ///

BACKGROUND, HISTORY AND AUDIENCE:

The Book of Daniel stands out in the Old Testament as a unique combination of stories and visions. Written partly in
Hebrew and partly in Aramaic, it captures the tension of God's people living as exiled minorities in a hostile, pagan
empire.
It is also a survival manual for believers living as a minority in a secular culture. Written in a blend of court narrative
and visions, the Book shows how God remains sovereign even when His people are living under pagan rule.

1. Historical Setting: The Babylonian Exile
The book begins in 605 BC, during the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah. King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon besieged
Jerusalem. Rather than destroying the city immediately, Nebuchadnezzar took the young men of noble and royal
families back to Babylon. The goal was forced assimilation: strip them of their culture, rename them after pagan gods,
re-educate them in Babylonian literature and science, and deploy them into royal service.
Daniel (renamed Belteshazzar) and his three friends—Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (renamed Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego)—were swept into this system as teenagers and subjected to a three-year Babylonian re-education
program designed to strip them of their Jewish identity and assimilate them into pagan service.

Daniel served faithfully through the rise and fall of two world empires: the Babylonian Empire (under Nebuchadnezzar
and Belshazzar) and the Medo-Persian Empire (under Darius and Cyrus).

2. Structural Overview: Two Distinct Halves, The book splits cleanly into two major sections across 12 chapters:
Chapters 1–6: Court Narratives -- Daniel and his friends standing firm under pressure in Babylon and Persia (Fiery Furnace, Lion's Den, Writing on the Wall).

Chapters 7–12: Apocalyptic Visions -- Symbolic visions granted directly to Daniel, predicting the rise and fall of world empires and God's final victory.

The Book of Daniel speaks to two distinct audiences—the immediate historical readers and future generations:
1. Jewish Exiles in Babylon and Persia (6th Century BC):
The primary audience consisted of God’s displaced people living in captivity. Stripped of their land, the Temple,
and political independence, many Jews wondered if the pagan gods of Babylon had defeated the God of Israel.
Daniel was written to reassure them that God had not lost control.

2. Believers Facing Cultural & Political Pressure, The bilingual structure of the book highlights its dual audience:
The Two Languages: Uniquely, Daniel was written in both Aramaic, and Hebrew.
o Aramaic Section (Chapters 2–7): Written in the common trade language of the empire to declare
God’s ultimate authority to the gentile nations and surrounding cultures. , making it readable to the
broader ancient world.
o Hebrew Sections (Chapters 1 & 8–12): Written specifically for the Jewish people to provide comfort,
hope, and prophetic clarity about the future.

3. Timeline of Empires
Daniel lived a remarkably long life, serving through the fall of the Babylonian Empire and into the rise of the Medo-
Persian Empire.

• 605 BC: Deportation to Babylon, Reign of Nebuchadnezzar - Daniel is taken captive to Babylon as a teenager

and enters royal service (Daniel 1).

• 539 BC: Fall of Babylon, Reign of Belshazzar - Babylon falls in a single night after the "handwriting on the wall"

judgment (Daniel 5).

• 539–536 BC: Medo-Persian Rule, Reign of Darius & Cyrus - Persia takes over; Daniel serves under King Darius

and experiences the lions' den (Daniel 6).

4. Core Purpose and Takeaways
For a reader navigating the text today, the Book of Daniel delivers three primary themes:
1. Uncompromising Integrity: Showing how to draw a line in the sand or establishing a boundary on convictions
while maintaining respect and excellence in work (Daniel 1 & 6).
2. The Limits of Human Power: Kings, presidents, and empires think they hold ultimate power, but God sets
boundaries on every earthly ruler (Daniel 4).
3. The Coming Kingdom: The visions in the second half point forward to an eternal kingdom established by
"someone like a Son of Man" (Daniel 7:13–14)—a prophecy Jesus directly applied to Himself in the Gospels.

5. Major Themes in Daniel
The Book of Daniel serves as the apocalyptic anchor of the Old Testament, bridging ancient Near Eastern history with
end-times prophecy. The book is structured around five major visions and prophetic dreams that outline the rise and
fall of world empires, the arrival of the Messiah, and the ultimate establishment of God's everlasting kingdom.
A. The Sovereignty of God Over World Empires
The dominant theme throughout the book is that human kingdoms, no matter how powerful, are temporary. God
determines who rises and falls.

B. Faithfulness in Culture (Uncompromising Integrity)
Daniel and his friends demonstrate how to live faithfully under hostile pagan rule without compromising core
convictions, whether refusing non-kosher royal food (Ch. 1), refusing to bow to an idol (Ch. 3), or continuing daily
prayer despite a royal decree (Ch. 6).

C. The Coming Eternal Kingdom
Daniel's visions introduce the foundational Old Testament imagery of the "Son of Man"—a messianic figure who
receives an everlasting kingdom from God (the Ancient of Days). Jesus frequently used this exact title ("Son of
Man") for Himself in the Gospels.

PRAYER: This Week’s Prayer: Father God, we thank you for allowing us to come together tonight and study your
word. Lord help us to understand your word and help us to apply it to our lives. Lord, we thank you. You Lord are our
provider and our protector. Help us to trust and follow your plan for our lives. In Jesus’ name. – Amen

Scripture - Read:  Daniel Chapter 3

Observation, Application & Questions: (Identify/Discuss Among the Group)
Discussion Questions: Daniel Chapter 3

In Daniel chapter 3, the narrative moves from the private interpretation of a dream to a massive, public test of loyalty.
King Nebuchadnezzar builds a 90-foot gold statue — and demands all to worship under penalty of death. Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow, delivering one of Scripture’s most firm declarations of faith.

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your
power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve
your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up." — Daniel 3:17–18

1. Defying God’s Vision with All-Gold Pride (Daniel 3:1–3) In Daniel Chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar was told that Babylon
was merely the "head of gold" and would be succeeded by inferior kingdoms. Now, in chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar
constructs an image that is ninety feet high and nine feet wide, made entirely of gold, and gathers every official across
the empire to dedicate it.

• Question: Why did Nebuchadnezzar likely make the statue entirely out of gold instead of using the multi-metal

design from his dream? In what ways do we try to rewrite God's reality or manufacture permanent security for
ourselves when His truth challenges our pride?

2. The Power of Cultural Pressure (Daniel 3:4–7) The herald announces that as soon as the massive orchestra plays
(horns, flutes, zithers, harps, and pipes), everyone must bow immediately or be thrown into a blazing furnace.

• Question: At the sound of the music, the king demanded conformity with the threat of death to enforce

obedience. What are modern pressures —media, friends or family expectations, social approval, or career
pressures —that demand we bow and conform to the world?

3. Motives of the Accusers (Daniel 3:8–12) Some astrologers used this moment to step forward and say to the king:
"There are some Jews whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon... They pay no attention to you, Your
Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue."

• Question: What was most likely motivating the Babylonian astrologers to point out to the King that the Jewish

administers failed to obey the King’s command —genuine concern for the king; jealousy over foreign captives
being promoted above them? How should we handle situations where professional jealousy or personal
hatred targets our integrity?

4. The Rage of the King (Daniel 3:13–15) Nebuchadnezzar flies into a rage, gives one final chance, and throws down a
direct challenge: "And who is the god who can rescue you from my power?"

• Question: The king believed his political and executive authority superseded every spiritual power. When

earthly authorities, corporations, or cultural institutions believe they hold total leverage over our lives, what
truth keeps us fixed on God?

5. Faith Without a Guarantee: "Even If He Doesn't" (Daniel 3:16–18) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego do not
hesitate or negotiate. They answer: "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save
us... But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods."

• Question: Why is the phrase "even if he doesn't" the defining mark of complete faith? How does conditional

faith - "I'll follow God if He protects and blesses me", breakdown when real suffering or loss occurs?

6. The Heat of the Furnace and Unseen Bonds (Daniel 3:19–23) Furious that his authority was challenged, the king
orders the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual. The fire is so intense that it even kills the soldiers who throw
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the flames.

• Question: Sometimes standing firm for God makes our immediate circumstances worse, not better. Have you

ever experienced a trial that seemed to intensify right after you chose to do the right thing? How did you
navigate that moment?

7. Freedom and Fellowship in the Fire (Daniel 3:24–25) Nebuchadnezzar leaps up in amazement, asking: "Didn't we tie
up three men and throw them into the furnace?... Look! I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed!
And the fourth looks like a god!"

• Question: The fire did not burn the men, but it burned the ropes that bound them. Why does God often

choose to meet us in the fire rather than keeping us from the fire? What "bonds" does God burn away during
our most difficult seasons?

8. Stepping Out Without the Smell of Smoke (Daniel 3:26–27) When the officials examine the three men, not a hair on
their heads was singed, their robes were undamaged, and they didn't even smell like smoke.

• Question: To come out of a furnace without even the smell of smoke represents total, supernatural

preservation. What does it look like to come through deep personal or vocational trials without carrying the
lingering "smoke" of bitterness, resentment, or cynicism?

9. The Decree and Promotion (Daniel 3:28–30) Nebuchadnezzar praises the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
because they "trusted in him and defied the king's command, willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except
their own God." The king issues a protective decree and promotes the three men in the province.

• Question: Uncompromising faithfulness transformed the public policy of the most powerful empire in the

ancient world. How does our consistent refusal to compromise to the world, lead those in our own circle of
influence toward God?

Supporting Scripture to Review: (Discuss Among the Group)
1. On Exclusive Allegiance and the Rejection of Idols - Exodus 20:3–5 (end at any other gods.)
"You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything
in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your
God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods."

•  Connection: Provides the foundational legal standard that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to

violate. When Nebuchadnezzar commanded everyone to bow before the 90-foot gold image (Daniel 3:4–6),
the three men prioritized God's eternal commandment over imperial decree.

2. On Walking Through Fire Without Being Burned - Isaiah 43:2
"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."
Connection: Foretells the literal event of Daniel 3:24–27. God did not keep the three Hebrew men from being
thrown into the blazing furnace, but He was physically present with them in the flames so that not a hair was
singed and they carried no smell of smoke.

3. On Obeying God Over Human Authority - Acts 5:29
"But Peter and the apostles replied, 'We must obey God rather than any human authority.'"
Connection: Mirrors the exact posture of Daniel 3:16–18, where the three Jewish administrators refused to
negotiate or plead for mercy from King Nebuchadnezzar, firmly establishing that God's authority always
supersedes the laws of earthly rulers.

4. On Refusing to Fear Those Who Can Only Kill the Body - Matthew 10:28
"Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy
both soul and body in hell."
Connection: Captures the core theology behind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s courage. The king
threatened them with instant incineration in the furnace (Daniel 3:15), but they feared compromising their
covenant with God far more than physical execution.

5. On Quenching the Power of Raging Fire by Faith - Hebrews 11:33 (Start at Through faith)–34 (end at edge of the sword.)
"...Through faith their weakness was turned to strength. They quenched the flames of fire and escaped death by the
edge of the sword."
Connection: A direct New Testament reflection on the event in Daniel 3, listing the three men among the great
champions of faith who trusted God so completely that physical flames lost their power over them.

6. On Faith That Holds Even Without Guaranteed Deliverance - Job 13:15
"God might kill me, but I have no other hope."
Connection: Directly echoes the resolute declaration in Daniel 3:18: "But even if he doesn't, we want to make it
clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods." It illustrates an unconditional faith anchored in
God's character rather than an expectation of an easy rescue.

7. On God as an Immediate Fortress in Crisis - Psalm 46:1–2 (end at into the sea.)
"God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea."
Connection: Aligns with the calm composure of the three men when faced with Nebuchadnezzar's furious rage
and an execution chamber heated seven times hotter than normal (Daniel 3:19–20).

8. On Refining and Purifying Faith Through Fiery Trials - 1 Peter 1:7
"These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire purifies gold—though your faith is far more
precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and
glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed."
Connection: Connects to the symbolic setting on the Plain of Dura. Nebuchadnezzar tried to demand worship
of a physical gold statue, but the genuine, refined faith of the three men proved far more enduring than the
king's furnace or his empire.

9. On God's Deliverance Converting Pagan Rulers - Psalm 67:1–2
"May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. May your ways be known throughout the
earth, your saving power among people everywhere."
Connection: Matches the climax of Daniel 3:28–29, where King Nebuchadnezzar, after seeing God's miraculous
rescue, publicly praises the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and issues an empire-wide decree
protecting His name from blasphemy.

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Other questions to explore:

• What was the context? What was going on at the time this was written?
• What and where is this happening?
  • What makes what was happening meaningful?
  • Is there anything special about the location (or locations)?
• Who is involved?
  • How do they respond to God?
  • What character traits do you notice about them?
  • What is the significance of their involvement?
• What do you think is the key message?
• Did anything that surprised or stood out to you? What was it? Share with the group and discuss.
• Are there any key verses that stand out to you? Discuss among the group.
• Were there any repetitive words or themes that stood out to you? What were they?

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• Is there anything that left you with more questions? What were they? Share with group, discuss, and

research.

• Biggest takeaway?

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Elements of today’s Bible study were referenced from:
1. NLT Courage for Life Men’s Bible, New Living Translation (NLT); copyright 2023 Tyndale House Ministries
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation
https://www.tyndale.com/sites/courageforlifebible/
2. ESV Study Bible, copyright 2008. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV); copyright 2001 by Crossway,
Wheaton, Illinois.
3. NIV Study Bible, Revolution, copyright 2011. The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV); copyright 1973,
1978, 1984, 2011 by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan. https://www.zondervan.com/p/niv-bibles-for-teens- true-images-revolution/
4. NLT Parallel Study Bible, New Living Translation (NLT); copyright 2011 Tyndale House Ministries
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation
5. HCSB/CSB The Apologetics Study Bible, copyright 2007. The Holy Bible, Holman Christian Standard Bible
(HCSB/CSB); copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holmon Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
7. https://www.jeremiahstudybible.com/Daniel/

August 2026:
_X_ 001, 08/26 Daniel, Introduction, Chapter 1
September 2026:
_X _ 002, 09/02 Daniel, Chapter 2
_ x_ 003, 09/09 Daniel, Chapter 3
_ _ 004, 09/16 Daniel, Chapter 4
_ _ 005, 06/23 Daniel, Chapter 5
_ _ 006, 06/30 Daniel, Chapter 6
October 2026:
_ _ 007, 10/07 Daniel, Chapter 7
_ _ 008, 10/14 Daniel, Chapter 8
_ _ 009, 10/21 Daniel, Chapter 9
_ _ 010, 10/28 Daniel, Chapter 10
November 2026:
_ _ 011, 11/04 Daniel, Chapter 11
_ _ 012, 11/11 Daniel, Chapter 12*