This free children’s sermon lesson and kids Bible lesson follows Daniel and the Lions’ Den “The Battle is the Lord’s!” from Daniel 6:1-28 . Don’t miss the related Bible crafts on Daniel in the Lion’s Den.
Main Objective: The account of Daniel and the lions is a popular and fairly known story. We love to see God do the impossible, especially when wild animals are involved! But the story also reminds us that God protects us, just as He saved Daniel, and He is near to us always. We might not always understand why we struggle or face opposition, but God rescues us from all kinds of enemies. He hears us when we pray and comes to our aid.
Law/Gospel Theme: This message reminds us that not all saviors and protectors are visible, although visibility is not required for something to be real. God saved Daniel from the lions, and He saves us through His Son, Jesus. He continues to be with us and fight for us daily.
Note: This lesson is the fourth in a series on “impossible heroes,” Biblical figures who were able to do amazing and unlikely things only through the power of God.
Optional Materials: Items that might be used for protection (helmets, umbrellas, medicine, soap, hand sanitizer, gloves, etc.).
Bible Passage: Daniel 6:1-28
Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs.
Greet children, and talk about items we might use to protect ourselves. Bring examples to demonstrate as you discuss.
Hello, children of God!
Can you think of anything that you might use for protection? There are a lot of things that we use every day to protect us from things. If it’s raining, for instance, you might use an umbrella. Hold up items as you mention them. Or if you’re going to ride your bike or go roller skating, you should wear a helmet to protect your head. You might us gloves or oven mitts from getting too cold or too hot. Then there are some things we use to protect us from invisible enemies. I use hand sanitizer or soap to protect against germs. Germs are so tiny that we can’ see them without a microscope, but we certainly know what they do, because they can make us sick if we’re not careful.
Those germs are an invisible enemy…and there are other invisible enemies in our lives. But we have a great protector, someone who rescues and saves us against visible and invisible opponents. You can probably guess who I’m thinking of, right? It’s God! We can’t see God with our eyes, and we don’t always hear Him with our ears. But we know that He is present and that He loves us and hears us always. He protects us every day in ways we might not even realize or recognize. He keeps us from harm and danger.
Of course, as so many things do, this makes me think of an amazing account from the Bible! It’s about a man named Daniel. Daniel was a man who was a prophet, someone that spoke for God and could understand things like dreams and visions because God gave him the ability to do so. Daniel had been taken from his home and lived for a long time in a foreign country called Babylon, serving several kings. Because he was able to understand things and tell God’s words, the king liked Daniel and promoted him, but that made him unpopular with the king’s other helpers, who were jealous and wanted more power. They came up with a sneaky plan to get rid of him, and tricked the king into making a law that said people could only pray to the king. Punishment for disobedience would be getting thrown in a pit of hungry lions! They knew Daniel loved and prayed to God, and that he would pray no matter what. And Daniel did. He knew the consequences, but he wasn’t about to stop praying. When the king found out, he was upset, because he didn’t want to throw Daniel to the lions. But he couldn’t change the rule. So Daniel went into the lions’ den, expecting that he would not be coming out. God had other plans, though. The lions didn’t hurt him at all! In the morning, the king came back, expecting to find just a body, and learned that Daniel was alive and well, without even a scratch. He was amazed, and made a new law that people should fear and bow before God, because He was more powerful than anyone.
And the same God who protected Daniel from the lions protects us! We don’t always see Him with our eyes or hear Him with our ears, but we know He is with us and saves us. He sent us Jesus, who saves us from sin and death. We can be hopeful because of that. Even if things still hurt us in this life, Jesus gives us eternity in Heaven with Him. God is with us now and always, just like He was with Daniel. And we can pray to Him anytime, anywhere, knowing that He hears us and responds out of His great love.
Let’s pray now and thank God for protecting us and being with us.
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for protecting us and loving us.
We know you are always near.
Help us remember to come to you for help.
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”
Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”
Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.” Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.
Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.
Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever;
his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel
from the power of the lions.”
So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
-Daniel 6:1-28
The Battle is the Lord’s! – Sunday School Lesson on Daniel and the Lions
This lesson focuses on the account of Daniel, a pretty well-known story, but one that is always a blessing to revisit for kids and adults alike. The protection God gave Daniel reminds us that He loves and protects us, saving us from earthly and spiritual threats. Even if we don’t have ideal outcomes as Daniel did, we know that He is for us and with us, and promises life and blessing after this life. It’s also just an awesome account of remarkable rescue!
This lesson is the fourth in a series on “Impossible Heroes” who experienced victory against the odds with God’s help.
Passage: Daniel 6:1-28 (feel free to hone in on select passages rather than the whole thing, as desired.)
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade (See notes for specific age modifications)
Materials Needed: Puppets, protective items, beanbags, Bibles
Lesson Opening: This lesson is a great one for fun activities, games, and acting out to bring it to life! Here are some openers to get kids thinking (select the best ones for your audience and age group):
- Who’s That Lion? Have students take turns being a “Daniel,” blindfolded in the center of the group. Other students should form a circle around him/her. Daniel will point to one of the “lions” surrounding, and that student will make a roaring or growling sound. Daniel must guess who the person is, based only on the growl/roar.
- Shut the lion’s mouth: Have a large poster or cardboard with a drawing of a lion (or multiple lions). The lion(s) should have holes where the mouths are. Provide students with bean bags or small balls, and have them throw them into the lions’ mouths to “shut” them.
- Angels and lions: Create two teams of students. Each team will have one angel, and the rest of the students will be lions. The angels will run around tagging the lions, who should then freeze, close their mouths, and lie down to “sleep.” The first angel to tag all opposing lions is the winner.
- Lion, Lion, Daniel (or Angel): Play this game just like Duck, Duck, Goose, with children tapping heads to recite “Lion, Lion…” and then choosing one kid to be Daniel (or angel, if preferred), and chase the lion back to the original spot.
- What protects you? Look at various objects that might be used for protection (helmets, gloves, hot pads, soap, etc.). Have students discuss what each item protects us from and how God protects us from harm.
Explain to students that today’s lesson is a powerful reminder of God’s protection and presence. God is with us when we pray and seek Him!
Bible Lesson:
Explain that this story involves someone who was taken from his home and sent to live in another country. This was when God’s people were in exile in a place called Babylon. The people of Babylon did not believe in God or worship Him. But Daniel was still faithful to the Lord, even with people who believed otherwise.
This is a great story to act out, or act with puppets.
Ask: Have you ever moved to a new place? How does it feel to be far from the familiarity of your home?
It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.” -Daniel 6:1-5
Daniel did what was right, worked hard, and pleased the king. He did such a good job that King Darius put him in charge of all the other officials. However, this made the other officials upset. They were jealous that Daniel had a higher position than they did. They wanted to try to get rid of him, but knew that he didn’t do anything wrong. The only way to get him in trouble would be to find something that made his faith illegal. So they came up with a plan…
Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Therefore King Darius signed the document and injunction. When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.” -Daniel 6:6-13
The plan was to force everyone to stop praying to any God, and only bow to and worship King Darius. Anyone who disobeyed would be cast into a den of lions. Darius gave it the thumbs up, probably not even thinking of any consequences that might come. Of course, the law did not stop Daniel from doing what he knew was right, and praying to the Lord. The officials were only too happy to catch him in the act and report it to the king. Darius was upset, but he couldn’t go back and change the law.
Ask: What do you think you would do if there was a law against praying to God?
Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.” Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. -Daniel 6:14-18
Ask: Have you ever been so upset that you couldn’t eat or sleep? That’s what happened to the king in this situation.
Darius tried to help Daniel, but nothing could be done to change the law that He Himself had made. So finally, he had to go through with it. He threw Daniel in the den with the lions, hoping that somehow he might be spared, but not expecting much. The lions were vicious and hungry, and normally would attack right away. The king had a sleepless night thinking about his friend.
Ask: Have you ever felt God’s presence, even when you couldn’t physically see Him?
Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?” Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” Then the king was exceedingly glad, and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. -Daniel 6:19-24
A great miracle happened! The king cried out, expecting that only Daniel’s body would remain. But Daniel himself answered, and he was okay! The lions didn’t put a single scratch on him. This wasn’t for lack of hunger or desire to kill, too, because when the other officials were thrown into the den in Daniel’s place (that’s quite a turn-around!), the lions destroyed them before they even hit the floor! But no harm came to Daniel. The king realized that his God was powerful.
Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”
So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
-Daniel 6:25-28
King Darius realized that God had more power than any other God or ruler. He made a new rule that people should fear and honor the one true living God, having seen the remarkable miracles He was capable of.
Of course, we do worship that living God, and what a blessing it is to do so! We now that He is mighty and powerful, strong to protect and save from any threat that might come our way.
Ask: What are some amazing things God has done in your life? How can you shar those with other people?
The same God who rescued Daniel (and Elisha, and Joshua, and Gideon) is with us and fights for us. We can pray to Him anytime and know He is with us!
Review questions about the lesson:
- Why did the officials make the rule against praying to God? Have you ever dealt with jealousy or had someone jealous of you?
- Daniel trusted in God, but he didn’t know that the Lord would save him from the lions. Would you be willing to give up your life to do what is right?
- How does God protect us daily?
Close with prayer, asking God to help us pray to Him and trust Him for protection always.
