advent 1 | firm in the faith | daniel 3:8-30

Hope in Exile

What does the story of the fiery furnace have

to do with Advent?

Jeremiah

Daniel and Friends

Daniel and Friends

TempleDestroye

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EXILE FOR70 YEARS!

Are We in Exile Today?

“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

(John 18:36, NRSV)

NOT this…

The Church is a People in Exile

How do we treat our host culture?

1.Pray for their

welfare

2.Don’t bow to their

idols.

The Fiery

Furnace

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.””

(Daniel 3:16–18, NRSV)

“Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him. They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.”

(Daniel 3:28, NRSV)

Two Ways We Can Apply This Today:

1. Be Aware of the Countries in which it is illegal to be a Christian.

2. Be Aware of the idols that want our worship in Anoka County.

What Do You Worship?

That to which you give the best

of your Time, Talent, and Treasure.