Daniel 1

Lesson Aim

To understand that God is in control of events

Hook 1: Different foods and drinks

Have a selection of foods and drinks which can be divided up into two groups. Those foods which the young men were able to eat and those which they didn’t eat. You can include modern pre-packed food or items which did not exist in those times.

Hook 2: Chubby bunnies’ competition

Hold a competition with four children. They are each given a marshmallow in turn and have to keep it in their mouth without eating it. The winner is the one who resists eating most marshmallows. You might name the children after Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Relate this competition to the food test which Daniel and his three friends had to face. They had to resist eating the King’s food, which would have been the best food.

Hook 3: Actors

Have two groups of people (two in each group will be sufficient). Feed one group with unhealthy foods and the other group with healthy foods. After this get them to perform various physical activities (press- ups and running on the spot) in competition with each other. Prime the healthy actors to win!

Hook 4: Questions

What is a vegetarian? If you became a vegetarian which foods would you miss eating? In today’s story from the Bible some people decided to become vegetarians in order to honour God.

Story Tips

Make clear that Daniel and his friends chose not just healthy food but also food not offered to idols! Be careful that you are not advocating that everyone should become vegetarian. That is not the point of the story.

Application

Explain how God is in control over events even when we think that things have gone wrong. God can also use events to show that he is in control.