Community Group Discussion Questions
“From the Hand of God” | Daniel 1:1-2 | September 29, 2024 | David Fandey
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CG Discussion
Kicking Things Off
Share a time when you have had a hope dashed or when your hope has been disappointed by something.
How did that make you feel?
Getting Into It
What stood out for you in David’s review of the events in the history of Israel leading up to the Babylonian captivity where the book of Daniel kicks off?
Read Daniel 1:1-2.
In verse 2 we see that it was God Himself that gave Jehoiakim into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar was not a good guy. He was evil, worshipped false gods and full of pride. Why did God do this?
What does it mean that God is absolutely sovereign? (see Ps. 135:6, Ps. 115:3, Prov. 16:33, 2Chron. 20:6, Job 42:2, Is. 46:9-10, Dan. 4:35)
Christianity is not fatalistic. What’s the difference between the sovereignty of God and fatalism?
At what times in your life have you struggled with the idea of God being sovereign over everything that comes your way?
How have you seen the sovereignty of God work out well for you in the long or even short run? How does that serve as a comfort to you when facing new difficult circumstances?
Facing difficult circumstances and trials may be a result of God’s discipline (see Heb. 12:5-11), spiritual warfare (see Eph. 6:10-13), living in a broken world or other causes. Many times, like with Job, we may not know what’s going on behind the scenes. When facing difficult times, what is it that draws you to God or causes you to try to run from God?
When facing difficult times, what is it that helps you to hope in God? What is it that causes you to hope in other things?
The Parting Shot
Share a time, perhaps right now, when you were facing difficult circumstances and the sovereignty of God was a source of deep comfort and hope.
Spend some time praying for one another.