Daniel in the Lions Den

OBJECTIVE

The theme for the Old Testament module for 2nd grade is to learn about Obedience and how important it is in our church. In the story of Daniel in the Lion's Den, we learn how obeying God and fully trusting in Him is of the utmost importance in our spiritual life.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

Please review the previous week's lesson. (5 minutes)

Option 1:

Who here has been to the zoo? What's your favorite animal at the zoo? Did you ever see a lion at the zoo? Can we pet the Lion? Can we go near the lion and feed him? Tell the children how the lion is a vicious animal and is always locked up. Lions eat meat and kind of meat. Lions are very scary and we could never have a lion as a pet.

Have kids listen to how loud a lion can sound so as to feel how scary the lion is.

Option 2:

Materials Needed:

  • Cylinder Glass Vase Filled with Water 2/3 ways up
  • Place a piece of Painter (Blue or Yellow Tape) on the front bottom of vase labelled "God"
  • Shaving Cream
  • Liquid Food Coloring (not gel) -- gel food coloring can be mixed with water prior to make it more liquidy, then you could use it)

What is the one way you can talk with God? (through prayer)

What is the purpose of prayer? Do you think God is waiting for us to ask for something from Him so He can help us? (No) The purpose of prayer is to have a conversation with God and to communicate with God. When you are constantly praying to God you are building a RELATIONSHIP with Him.

Sometimes you feel sad because you miss your friends (spray shaving cream over the water in the vase, so it floats over the water). Sometimes you worry about your sick grandpa that just went to the hospital (spray shaving cream over the water in the vase, so it floats over the water). Maybe you're confused about a problem you don't know how to solve, and you don't know who to ask for help (spray shaving cream over the water in the vase, so it floats over the water). Sometimes it feels like your problems keep you further and further away from God (point to the foam, versus where God is labeled on the bottom of the vase).

But then you pray (put a few drops of food coloring over the shaving cream and it will seep through to the water and go down to 'God'). PRAY, He will hear you. Today we want to talk about Daniel and the Lion's Den. We want to talk about how Daniel finds himself in a difficult position between King Darius that he has to obey and the God that deserves all his praise and prayer. The easy choice, even if it is pretending, is not always the right one. Today we will see how Daniel stuck with God (the more difficult decision to take) and how God in return stuck by Daniel's side when he was in need.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Memory Verse: "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths" Daniel 6: 22

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 10 Minutes

Daniel was a good man that loved the Lord and always prayed to God three times every day. Daniel was a very important man and the King of Babylon named King Darius really liked Daniel and was going to appoint him to be in charge of the kingdom.

The king loved Daniel out of all the governors because Daniel was faithful. The three other governors did not like Daniel and were very jealous of him, so they came together so they could conspire (make a plan) against him. They had a hard time finding anything against Daniel other than he prayed to his God (everyone else worshipped idols or the king himself). So they decided to come up with a decree (law) stating that no one can pray to any other god, other than to King Darius for thirty days, and if anyone was found guilty of praying to anyone but King Darius will be thrown into the lion's den.

King Darius agreed to the idea and signed that into law. Regardless of that law, Daniel would continue to go to his house and he would pray to God three times a day. Those governors saw him praying and went and told King Darius. King Darius was really upset because he really liked Daniel and did not want to throw him in the Lion's Den.

King Darius thought about it all day and at the end of the day, those governors came and reminded him that the law must go into effect. King Darius took Daniel and put him in the lion's den and told him "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you." (Daniel 6:16). The king then went to his palace and was very nervous he couldn't eat or drink anything because he was afraid of what could happen to Daniel.

The King woke up early the next morning and ran to the Lion's Den and called on to Daniel, asking him if his God saved him from the Lions. Daniel answered him and said, "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths so that they have not hurt me because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O King, I have done no wrong before you." Daniel 6:22

King Darius then came out and said: "I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." Daniel 6: 26-27

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes

  • Why did King Darius like Daniel so much?
  • Why did Daniel not listen to the new rule?
  • How many times a day did Daniel pray to God?
  • Was Daniel ever afraid of the lion's? Why not?

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Daniel was always obedient to King Darius and that is how he found favor in his eyes. But when the King told him to do something that is against his own God, Daniel did not follow that rule and was never afraid. Daniel also did not fear being thrown into the lion's den because he knew that he didn't do anything wrong and that His God will protect him.

How difficult is the decision to take the hard route in doing something, when no one is watching? Let's do an example. Let's say one day you are at school, and your teacher left the room for a few minutes to ask another teacher a question next door. Before your teacher left, she told you to read the three pages of your reading book. Once the door closed and your teacher left the room, everyone put their books down and started talking to their friends and classmates. You know what you need to do, but you want the few extra minutes to talk to your friends. I mean everyone else is doing it, why not you? You can't all get in trouble if everyone's doing it, can you?

When others around us try to convince you to do something wrong and you know that it will not please the Lord, then don't do it. Never be afraid of doing what's right.

Saint Augustine said "Wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it. Right is right even if no one is doing it."

ACTIVITY - 15 Minutes

Lion Stuffed Pillows

Materials:

  • 2 different color fleece fabric
  • Stuffing
  • Googly eyes
  • Fabric marker

Complete Instructions

Final Product:

First, cut two big circles of the two different color fleece fabric

Then, pair up the different color fabric and cut fringes.

You can pre-tie some of the fringes before class for the sake of time and then you can have the children do the rest in class.

You can now have the kids draw the face and glue the eyes on. Stuff the lion and help the kids finish off tying the fringes.

SERVANT RESOURCES

  • Old Testament Books Song - Missing Deuterocanonical books (Tobit and Judith from history books, Wisdom and Sirach from poetic books, Baruch, 1&2 Maccabees from prophetic books, and the Prayer of Manasseh)

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

This week we learned about Daniel in the Lion's Den and how Daniel was never afraid of doing the right thing. In this case, it was praying to His God. Daniel did not want to worship any other god, other than the real God, even if he was going to get thrown in the Lion's Den. Remind the children that to always be faithful and obedient so the Lord will bless us always.

LESSON ATTACHMENTS

Daniel Icon.pdf

Old Testament Song.pdf

Old Testament Timeline & Summary.pdf