Teaching the book of Daniel in a Group Setting

Here's a suggested way to teach the book of Daniel in a group setting.

Preparation Phase

First, read through the book of Daniel several times yourself, paying special attention in these first readings to the first six chapters.

Second, study the first three lessons on "Non-Situational Intelligence"

Class Session 1:

In the first class session, introduce the ideas of pushed intelligence, non-situational intelligence, and footprints. Homework assignment for students:

  1. Read through the first 6 chapters of Daniel and write down examples of where the text shows that the intelligence of God is shown to be from outside the context or situation portrayed there.
  2. Write down examples from these first 6 chapters of places where that intelligence is shown to have a "pushed" quality. Look especially for verbs in the text that demonstate this: (an example from 1:17--"to these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding…..")
  3. Show examples from the text in the first six chapters of how the intelligence of God is shown to be different from conventional wisdom--how it, in fact, usually opposes conventional wisdom.

(Teacher should do the homework assignments too--you'll be amazed at what you learn!)

Class session 2:

Go over the students' answers to the three questions they had as a homework assignment. Additional food for thought--Nexus material.

Homework assignment for students: answer the three questions above by looking in chapters 7-12.

Class session 3:

Go over the student's answers from their homework assignments. Additional material: Comparison of chapters 1-6 with 7-12. Homework assignment for students: Write down examples from book of Daniel of "nonsituational responses" of believers. Example: Daniel--when faced with the king's edict not to pray to anyone but the king--Daniel immediately prayed as was his custom. Thus "prayer' would be a nonsituational response.

Class session 4: Go over students' findings of non-situational responses and begin teaching about non-situational responses. Encourage students to begin keeping a notebook of insights and notes about Daniel. If they want, they can write down situations from their lives in which the Daniel teachings helped them react nonsituationally.

 

(More lesson outlines to come later.)