Teaching

Can someone who was here last time remember what Chris learned from his adventure with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?

Yes, it is always a good choice to obey God and resist the pressure to disobey God’s Word. We saw in the video that God performed an amazing miracle when He saved the three men from the blazing furnace! The Bible is filled with true stories of God rescuing His people in impossible situations. When we learn about these stories, our faith in God is made stronger as we think about what He can do in our lives!  

Now, are you ready to learn more about the three Hebrew men: Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah? Children are probably confused. 

Oh, I forgot to tell you that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego weren’t the names their parents gave them. The names we are familiar with were given to the men after they were captured and brought to Babylonia by King Nebuchadnezzar. Why do you think the king would change their names?

Changing their names showed his power over them. He took their Hebrew names, which had something about God in their meaning, and changed them to names representing Babylon’s idols and false gods. The king may have thought that by changing their names and teaching the Hebrew men about Babylonian ways for 3 years, they would become different people and they would forget about the One True God.   

God knows each one of us—He knew us before we were even born! He knows everything about us, inside and out. Nothing can change that. The king tried to change the three men but he could not change or remove what was inside of them—their love, faith and trust in the One True God.

Hold up the heart and the bag. What are these? A heart and a bag.

Watch me put the heart into the bag. Place heart in bag. Now, let’s give this bag a new name, What shall we call it?

Okay, so this is not a bag anymore, it is a name given by class. What’s inside of it?

Oh, I guess you are right, it’s still a heart. What was on the inside didn’t change.

Take the heart out of the bag and put it in the box. All right, now we have completely changed the outside container to a box. What do you think is inside now? A heart.

Really? But we changed the outside completely. Let’s check. 

Open the box and take the heart out. You are right! We can change the names or the outside all we want, but that doesn’t change what is inside!

Have volunteers read Daniel 3:15–18:

¹⁵ I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” ¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. ¹⁷ If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.¹⁸ But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

The king could not believe that anyone would refuse to obey his command. He believed no one could be more powerful than he and his gods were. But the three Hebrew men, who were captured from their homes, given different names, changed in their outward appearance, and educated in Babylon’s ways, still served God! Nothing was able to change them on the inside and nothing could take away their faith in the One True God! God still knew they were His faithful servants, regardless of what clothing they wore and what names they were given! He was completely able to save them!

Things can change in the world, but that doesn’t affect our relationship with God. People may tell us we aren’t allowed to pray out loud, but we can still pray in our hearts—and God hears us, He knows where we are, and He is able to save us!

Read 1 John 5:4–5:

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

How can we win the victory? By believing in Jesus!

Let’s say our SuperTruth again. “God is able to save me.”  

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Now it is time for our Discipleship Challenge!

Hold up the sample Holophone craft you made and show how the Memory Card slides up and down, revealing questions in the front window of the phone, with the answers plus corresponding scripture references in the back window. Give a Holophone pattern to any child who was not present for Lesson 1 and explain how to make the craft at home.

Our challenge for the “Fiery Furnace” lessons is to learn about other people in the Bible who had to risk everything to obey God. How many of you took the time to look up some of the answers and Bible verses on your Holophone Memory Card “A”? Who would like to share how one of the Bible characters risked everything and obeyed God and what happened as a result of their obedience?

Once you complete Memory Card “A,” continue with memory Card “B.” Remember, the most important part of our challenge is to pray about ways that God would want you to stand up for Him! Can anyone share about a time in the last few days when you were able to stand up for God and obey Him—even if other people didn’t want you to?