The document recounts the story of Daniel chapter 3, highlighting the conflict between team Israel and a king who demands worship of a statue, ultimately showcasing their unwavering commitment to God. Their defiance leads to their persecution but also to a miraculous rescue from the furnace, which results in the king honoring their God. It emphasizes the broader principles of faith, perseverance, and the redemptive power of God in the face of worldly opposition.

1. Daniel Chapter Three

2. THE MESSAGE
IS
THE STORY

3. the little story is part of A BIGGER STORY

4. BIGGER

5. BABYLON “we lay down and wept…”

6. FOOD “we will not defile ourselves…”

7. WISEST
guys in the whole
empire
and it all came from heaven
!

8. DEADLY
DREAMING
and the little king meets
the big KING

9. little
Daniel Chapter 3

10. every story has

11. through line
The king
builds a
STATUE
Team
draws a
LINE IN
THE SAND
Jealous
leaders try
WIPE OUT
team Israel
Team Israel
TESTIMONY
turns
punishment
into
presence
The king of
the empire
HONOURS
the King of
universe

12. dots of the story line
through line
 The king built a STATUE
The king issued a DECREE
 Team Israel draws A LINE IN THE SAND
by deciding not to compromise their commitment to worship God alone
 Jealous leaders try to WIPE OUT team Israel
Team Israel gets ARRESTED and brought before the king
 Team Israel get to TESTIFY to their faith in God before the king
The king gets riled and throws them in the furnac
God turns punishment into PRESENCE as team Israel are saved from the fire
 The king sees and HONOURS the God proclaimed by team Israel
The king issues a DECREE calling on everyone to honour the God of team
Israel

13. HISTORICAL PARTICULARS becoming
UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES
 The king built a STATUE and king issued a DECREE
 Team Israel draws A LINE IN THE SAND by deciding not to compromise their
commitment to worship God alone
 Jealous leaders try to WIPE OUT team Israel - Team Israel gets ARRESTED and
brought before the king
 Team Israel get to TESTIFY to their faith in God before the king - the king gets riled
and throws them in superheated furnace - God turns punishment into PRESENCE
as team Israel are saved from the fire
 The king sees and HONOURS the God proclaimed by team Israel - the king issues
a DECREE calling on everyone to honour the God of team Israel.

14. HISTORICAL PARTICULARS UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES
1
The king built a STATUE and
king issued a DECREE
The power person or idea demands to be
honoured and served in a way that is only
appropriate for God.
2
Team Israel draws A LINE IN
THE SAND
The believers refuse to substitute their
honour toward God by honouring the person
or idea.
3
Jealous leaders try to WIPE
OUT team Israel
Other people who want to see the believers
wiped out use the king’s law to accomplish
their goals.
4
Team Israel TELL the king of
the world of their faith in God
The believers use their court appearance to
explain their actions by explaing their trust in
God.
5
The king experiences the God
of team Israel and HONOURS
Him
God vindicates and honours the believer’s
trust by joining them in the fire and rescuing
them from it’s danger in a way that is seen
and known by everyone.

15. THE ‘KINGDOM OF GOD’ STORY
THE KING
authority or
influence of
this wor;d’s
kingdom
THE CROWD
People who
live according
to this world’s
kingdom
TEAM
ISRAEL
People who
represent
the kingdom
of God
PEER LEADERS
People who
acively oppose
the kingdom of
God
PRESENCE of
GOD
Makng
redemptive
purpose known
through his
servants

17. ■ A dominating subsitution for trust,
confidence, love and service to God
– person,
– group,
– opinion,
– cultural attitude,
– world view,
– philosophy,
– religious belief or system.
■ A lie that locks a person in an
oppression or addiction.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world…
...strongholds…. arguments and every pretension that sets itself up
against the knowledge of God 2 Corinthians 10
Dominant or
prevailing power or
influence

18. ■ People who share the same view as the
prevailing or dominant one
■ People who side with the person or
persons with power and influence.
■ People who simply go along with the
prevailing view even if they don’t share
the conviction
■ People who don’t share the prevailing
view but who simply don’t want to do
anything that will risk harm or difficulty.
Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But
because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith
for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human
praise more than praise from God
John 12
People
worshipping the
statue

19. ■ People who have determined to trust and
follow God regardless of the circumstances.
■ People who have already made a stand in the
smaller matters and are simply living out a
regular lifestyle rather than doing something
totally new.
■ People who are willing to take the matter of
serving God to the next level.
■ People who can tell the difference between
issues that matter and issues that don’t
matter.
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human
beings!” Acts 5

20. ■ People around you who are opposed to the
gospel and seek to bring trouble and hardship
upon those who genuinely serve God’s
purpose in God’s way.
■ People in positions of authority or who
manipulate systems unjustly to further their
intention to destroy what represents the
kingdom of God.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all
kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great
is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets
who were before you. “ Matthew
5

21. ■ People who trust God even to the point where
their lives are threatened.
■ People who recognise an opportunity to
testify to the goodness of God when they see
it and are not scared to speak plainly and
without reproach.
■ People who understand how to turn a hostile
situation into a redemptive opportunity.
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an
example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin,and no
deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did
not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted
himself to him who judges justly. First Peter 2

22. If the story IS the message…
WHAT WILL THIS STORY LOOK LIKE
IN YOUR WORLD?
KING Person or persons who have influence over me OR values and views that have
influence
STATUE Even if everyone else is doing what compromises my/our commitment to
worship, serve and honour Jesus as Lord. We are going to practice doing that when it
isn’t a big deal so that when the big deal happens we will just keep doing what we
really are fully convinced about.
OFFICIALS When people arc up because they don’t like what we represent we will
look for God’s redemtpive opportunity, not complain about the personal injustices.
FURNACE If it comes to the crunch we would rather risk insult, harm or danger rather
than fail to honour, trust and serve Jesus – and be assured of the value of the outcome