2. BACKGROUND OF THE BOOK WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ISRAEL – GOD’S PEOPLE? THE MISTAKES THEY MADE: 1. THE MISTAKE OF WANTING TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE 2. THE MISTAKE OF NOT TAKING GOD SERIOUSLY 3.THE MISTAKE OF LIVING LIFE THEIR WAY – NOT GOD’S WAY

3. BACKGROUND OF THE BOOK

4. WHERE IN THE WORLD IS BABYLON?

5. BACKGROUND OF THE BOOK WHO ARE THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE? GOD, NEBUCHADNEZZAR, BELLSHAZZAR, DARIUS, DANIEL AND FRIENDS

6. WHY STUDY THE BOOK OF 1.BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT EVENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST 2.BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SOVERIEGNTY OF GOD 3.BECAUSE OF THE IMMENANCE OF UNFOLDING PROPHECIES 4.BECAUSE OF THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION TO US TODAY

7. “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God; an he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of the his god. (vs. 1,2) DANIEL 1:1-7

8. “Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles, youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding, and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king’s court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. And the king appointed for them a daily ration from the king’s choice food and from the wine which he drank,…” vs. 3-5a

9. DANIEL 1:1-7 “…and he appointed that they should be educated three years, at the end of which they were to enter inter king’s personal service. Now among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hanniah, Mishael and Azariah. Then the commander of the officials assigned new names to them, and to Daniel he assigned the name Belteshazzar, to Hananiah the name Shadrach, to Mishael the name Meshach, and to Azariah, the name Abednego.” vs. 5b-7

11. FACING THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A CHRISTIAN IN OUR CULTURE TODAY “And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and he brought the vessels into the treasury of his god.” Daniel 1:2 II.THE CHALLENGE OF WATCHING EVIL TRIUMPH - AND GOD ALLOWING IT.

12. III.THE CHALLENGE OF FACING AND WITHSTANDING THE CULTURAL PRESSURES OF CONFORMITY AND POLITICAL CORRECTNESS “Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the fief of his officials to bring in some of the sons of Israel, including some of the royal family and of the nobles, youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding, and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king’s court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans… and appointed that they should be educated three years at the end of which they were to enter the king’s personal service.” Daniel 1:3-5

13. “I URGE YOU THEREFORE, BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, TO PRESENT YOURSELVES TO GOD… AND DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YOU MAY PROVE WHAT THE WILL OF GOD IS, WHICH IS GOOD ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT.” Romans 12:1,2 THE GOAL: RE-EDUCATE RE-PROGRAM CONFORM TO THE WAYS OF BABYLON MAKE THEM USEFUL FOR OTHER PURPOSES

14. FACING THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A CHRISITAN IN OUR CULTURE TODAY IV.THE CHALLENGE OF MAINTAINING OUR CHRISTIAN IDENTITY “Now among them from the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Then the commander of the officials assigned new names to them, and to Daniel he assigned the name Belteshazzar, to Hananiah the name Shadrach, to Mishael the name Meshach, and to Azariah the name Abednego. (Daniel 1:6,7)

15. V.THE CHALLENGE OF STANDING FIRM WHEN EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE AGAINST YOU. “BUT DANIEL MADE UP HIS MIND THAT HE WOULD NOT….” Daniel 1:8