The Book of Daniel: Daniel 3: 1-30

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, the height of which was sixty cubits and its width six cubits; he set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up... Then the herald loudly proclaimed: "To you the command is given, O peoples, nations and men of every language, that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire."... Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up."... Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astounded and stood up in haste; he said to his high officials, "Was it not three men we cast bound into the midst of the fire?" They replied to the king, "Certainly, O king." He said, "Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!" (Daniel 3:1-30, NASB)

Sermon Summary
On Sunday, Lance Terry preached on Daniel 3, focusing on the profound faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when faced with Nebuchadnezzar's command to worship his golden image. Pastor Lance opened with a personal story about his daughter confidently praying that God would keep their family from getting sick, which led him to ask the central question: "What if He doesn't?" The sermon explored how these three young men faced tremendous pressure from three sources—"command, conformity, and consequences"—yet refused to bow down, declaring "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us... and He will deliver us... But even if He does not" we will not worship false gods. Pastor Lance emphasized that their faith was rooted in two key truths: "they're certain of God's revealed will, but not His circumstantial will" and "they have confidence in God, but not entitlement." The message challenged us to move from an "as long as" faith (trusting God only when things go well) to an "even if" faith that stands firm regardless of outcomes, reminding us that "God doesn't always keep you away from the fire, but he does always meet you in the fire."

1. What's a time when you hoped and prayed God would do something specific—and He didn't? How did that affect your faith?
2. Lance described three sources of pressure Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced: "command, conformity, and consequences." Which of these three creates the most pressure for you when you're trying to stay faithful to God?
3. How does our understanding of the difference between God's "revealed will" (what He's clearly said in His Word) and His "circumstantial will" (what He chooses to do in specific situations) help us stand firm when we don't understand what God is doing?
4. Lance said our faith can look like "as long as" (trusting God only when things go well) instead of "even if" (trusting Him regardless of outcomes). Where in your life right now do you need to shift from "as long as" faith to "even if" faith?
5. The sermon emphasized that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had "confidence in God, but not entitlement." How do we recognize when we've crossed from healthy confidence in God's character into unhealthy entitlement to specific outcomes?
6. Lance shared that "God doesn't always keep you away from the fire, but he does always meet you in the fire." Share about a difficult season when you experienced God's presence even though He didn't remove you from the hardship.
7. Lance identified several modern "fires" we face—career success that compromises integrity, seeking approval by never speaking up for what we believe, refusing to confess sin, or suffering we didn't deserve. What's one specific area where you need to trust that "even if He doesn't deliver you from the fire, He'll never let you face it alone"?

Extra Credit
Look up and read these passages about God's presence in the fire:
Deuteronomy 31:8 - The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.
Isaiah 43:2 - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.
Matthew 28:20 - teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Hebrews 11:33-36 - who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.

How do these passages expand our understanding of God's promise to be with us in suffering rather than always delivering us from it? What common thread runs through all of them about "even if He doesn't" faith?