12th July Sermon Discussion - “Standing Tall in Turbulent Times – Drawing the Line”

Scripture Reading: Daniel 3:16-18

Warm-up:

A. Play the familiar game, “Simon says”.

For those who do not know the game, “Simon says” is a game where the game leader specifies a few commands. If the game leader starts the command with “Simon says”, the participants are required to obey the command in order to stay in the game. If the game leader did not use the phrase “Simon says”, participants are required to ignore the command. Let’s start the game with:

(i) Simon says, “Jump 3 times.”

(ii) Jump 5 times.

(iii) Simon says, “Tickle the friend seated next to you.”

(iv) Stop tickling your friend.

(v) Simon says, “Run to the nearest wall, touch it, come back & sit down.”

(vi) Simon says, “Give me a 10 cent or 20 cent coin each.”

(vii) Simon says, “Dig out a $2 or whatever dollar note from the wallet of the person seated on your right and keep the money for yourself.”

a) How did you feel when you were asked to take money from your friend’s wallet? Would you do it?

b) If the rest played along to take money from their friend’s wallet all in the name of fun and you choose not to follow the crowd, how would you feel about being the only one not doing what others are doing?

B. Read Daniel 3:16-18. How did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego draw the line in obeying God ?

Review what Ps Khong taught us about drawing the line.

The 3 Principles about “Drawing the Line”

(i) Please God, not man

(ii) Have a Personal Knowledge that God is Great and God is Good

(iii) Be Willing to Pay the Price for Obeying God

C. Are there situations in your life that you will follow the crowd mindlessly or be prone to compromise in?

Some possible peer pressure situations: Copying homework, speaking vulgarities or swear words, please your friends etc.

D. How can you draw the line for your situation using any one of the 3 principles listed above?