Daniel and the Lion’s Den
Daniel 6
June 7th, 2026
Sunday Recap
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Sunday Recap •
Hey Fams!
As Daniel grew into an older man, God continued to show him favor as Daniel served under a new king—King Darius. Yet, Daniel’s place in the government of Babylon was a subject of jealousy. In an attempt to trap Daniel, royal officials petitioned Darius to enact a law forbidding anyone from praying to any god other than the king. Just as the officials suspected, Daniel continued praying to the one true God.
The Bible points out that Daniel prayed as an act of defiance to the new law. When Daniel was faced with the possibility of death if he prayed, he made a courageous decision. Daniel 6:10 says, “When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” Instead of hiding his prayers, Daniel boldly walked in obedience, knowing his life would be put in danger.
In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus faced a similar decision with even greater consequences. Following the Last Supper, Jesus spent time with the Father in prayer. Jesus wrestled with His coming death as He asked the Father to take the cup from Him if possible. Luke describes the agony that Jesus went through in this decision by telling us Jesus’ sweat fell like blood due to the intensity of His time with God. Jesus surrendered to the will of the Father even though it led to death. God honored the obedience of both men. He delivered Daniel from the lion’s den, and He delivered Jesus—the only person to always obey God perfectly—from the grave in victory over death.
One final detail of this story should challenge us in our walk with God: Darius was rooting for Daniel. Right before Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den, the king hoped out loud that Daniel’s God would deliver him from death. Eventually, after Daniel’s deliverance, the king declared all people must respect Daniel’s God. This week, encourage the kids in your class to live a life that honors God, even when others around them are making different choices. May we model lives that are so honorable to God that even people who disagree with us might want us to be right about God.
***Next Week: Daniel’s Prophecies (Daniel 7-12)
Family Discipleship Plan
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Family Discipleship Plan •
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Read Daniel 6 from the Bible.
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Did you know a lion can eat up to 88 pounds of meat in a single meal? That’s the equivalent of eating around 265 bananas! Don’t worry…there aren’t any hungry lions hiding in your closet! It’s amazing to think of how hungry the lions must have been when Daniel was thrown into their den, and yet they didn’t eat Daniel. Why not? Because God sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions! God kept Daniel safe. God showed everyone how strong and mighty He is. When King Darius realized what had happened, he made a new decree that everyone should worship the one true God.
There are times in our lives when we face difficult or scary situations. These times leave us wondering where God is and how He’s going to help us. But we can always trust in God’s power to save because Jesus offers the greatest deliverance—freedom and eternal life to everyone who believes in Him.
Daniel continued to trust God even though it meant he might be thrown into the lions’ den. Jesus was faithful to follow God’s plan even through it meant He would die on the cross for sinners.
Pray: Thank You, God, for the story of Daniel and the way it shows us how much You love and care for Your children. Thank You for sending Jesus to save us from the dangers of sin. Help us to trust in Jesus, knowing He is always with us, protecting us, and giving us courage to follow Him. Amen.
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Preschool:
“Do everything for the glory of God”
1 Corinthians 10:31 (CSB)
1st-5th:
”So eat and drink and do everything else for the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIRV) -
Mornings
Take a moment to think about times when you feel afraid or unsure, just like Daniel might have felt in the lions’ den. Ask God for courage to trust Him, knowing that He is always with you and will protect you.
Evenings
Thank God for allowing us to talk with Him through prayer. Ask Him to help you grow in the spiritual discipline of prayer. How does prayer help us experience God’s presence?
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For Fun
Gather your family and participate in a trust fall. Stand behind your kids and carefully catch them as they fall backward. Talk about how Daniel trusted God completely, even in the face of danger. Explain that just like Daniel trusted God and was saved, we can trust in Jesus for our ultimate protection from sin and death.
To Serve
Take a walk around your neighborhood, park, or even around your house if going outside isn’t an option. As you walk, pray for the people on your list, asking God to make them aware of His presence and to protect them, just like He protected Daniel. You can pause at different spots during the walk to pray for specific people or needs or even hand out small prayer cards or encouraging notes to those you meet.