DISCOVERY QUESTIONS

Series: Unshakeable Hope
Sermon: God Gives Grace to the Humble

Main Idea: “Those who walk in pride God is able to humble.
But those who walk in humility God is able to use.” – Max Lucado

Leader GuidePDF Version (Participant)PDF Version (Leader)

OPENING PRAYER & WORSHIP

Open in prayer, asking God to fill your time together.

Play the song Great Things.

GROUP DISCUSSION

Lean In

Purpose: Introduce topic and get the group talking.

1. Share your most embarrassing moment.


Look Down

Purpose: Observe the passage and interact with the text

Recap of Daniel 4:1-27:

King Nebuchadnezzar was known to be the greatest king of ancient Babylon. He had conquered the nation of Israel and forced them to serve in his kingdom. His immense wealth, power, and success drove him to see himself as a godlike figure. Daniel 4 opens with King Nebuchadnezzar being tormented by a dream. He was so disturbed by it that he asked all of the wise men in the nation to come together to try and interpret the dream for him. None of the wise men were able to give him an interpretation, except for Daniel, because he was able to hear from the Lord. Daniel told the king that the dream was from God, warning Nebuchadnezzar of the downfall of his pride. Unless he repented of his sin and humbled himself before God he would be driven into insanity and cast out from the kingdom into the wilderness to eat grass like an animal for seven years.

Between verse 27 and verse 28, Nebuchadnezzar is given a year to humble himself and seek God, but after 12 months, there was no change in his heart.

Read Daniel 4:28-37.

2. Describe Nebuchadnezzar’s view of himself in relation to the world and God. What happened as a result?

3. What was the turning point for Nebuchadnezzar in his restoration?


Look Out

Purpose: Connect observations in God’s Word with observations in our world today.

4. Read v. 30. How do you see this mentality reflected in our world? How has this pandemic season seemed to shift that mentality?


Look In

Purpose: Internalize God’s Word and apply the truth to your personal life.

5. What area(s) of pride in your own life has God exposed in this season? What might He be showing you right now?


Live It Out

Purpose: Spend time listening for God’s for direction and guidance as you seek to live out the truths of this passage in your everyday life.

6. Read verse 37. As our world begins to open up again, ask God what practices or rhythms you need to maintain in order to regularly remind yourself of God’s rightful place in your life. As you do, listen to the song: You Will Never Fail.

Come back together and share together your sense of how God may be leading you.

Pray for each other as you seek to remain humble before the Lord.

LEADER GUIDE

OPENING PRAYER & WORSHIP

Before you officially begin, allow time for people to catch up and get comfortable with being online.

Open in prayer, asking God to fill your time together.

Play the song Great Things.

The idea here is simply to give space to open our hearts to God. It doesn’t matter if people sing or not. Please ask group members to mute their audio. We suggest you invite them to close their eyes as well to help focus. Encourage them to simply reflect on the words and on who God is.

To learn how to share your screen with the audio, click HERE.

Lean In

Purpose: Introduce topic and get the group talking.

1. Share your most embarrassing moment.

This question is designed to be a light starter. Choose to use it if the group could use some light discussion before diving in. If you have already had time to catch up feel free to jump directly into the passage with Question #2.


Look Down

Purpose: Observe the passage and interact with the text

Recap of Daniel 4:1-27:

King Nebuchadnezzar was known to be the greatest king of ancient Babylon. He had conquered the nation of Israel and forced them to serve in his kingdom. His immense wealth, power, and success drove him to see himself as a godlike figure. Daniel 4 opens with King Nebuchadnezzar being tormented by a dream. He was so disturbed by it that he asked all of the wise men in the nation to come together to try and interpret the dream for him. None of the wise men were able to give him an interpretation, except for Daniel, because he was able to hear from the Lord. Daniel told the king that the dream was from God, warning Nebuchadnezzar of the downfall of his pride. Unless he repented of his sin and humbled himself before God he would be driven into insanity and cast out from the kingdom into the wilderness to eat grass like an animal for seven years.

Between verse 27 and verse 28, Nebuchadnezzar is given a year to humble himself and seek God, but after 12 months, there was no change in his heart.

Read Daniel 4:28-37.

2. Describe Nebuchadnezzar’s view of himself in relation to the world and God. What happened as a result?

Nebuchadnezzar gave himself the credit and the glory for the greatness and power of Babylon (v. 30). It was not God’s work, nor was it the people of Babylon – it was his. This is a powerful depiction of pride.
Yet, God humbled him. He seemed to be overcome by some mental disorder, and this mighty King of Babylon began acting like an animal, spending his time living outside eating grass like an ox.
Nebuchadnezzar would not only lose his power and glory but also his rationality (which distinguishes him as human), so that he would behave like the wild animals. The one who thought of himself in godlike terms would become beast-like. There may not be a more humbling experience.

3. What was the turning point for Nebuchadnezzar in his restoration?

He “raised [his] eyes toward heaven” (v. 34). God restored his sanity and gave him the opportunity to acknowledge him. And he took the opportunity (see vv. 34-35).

Once brought low by God, he was brought back to the heights and restored to control of his kingdom, demonstrating that the Lord is able both to humble the proud and to exalt the humble. The great and mighty persecutor of Israel, the destroyer of Jerusalem, was humbled by God’s grace and brought to confess God’s mercy.

He blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever. God used Daniel’s faithfulness to bring light to this Gentile ruler.


Look Out

Purpose: Connect observations in God’s Word with observations in our world today.

4. Read v. 30. How do you see this mentality reflected in our world? How has this pandemic season seemed to shift that mentality?

The human tendency is to believe that we have control – control of our jobs, our health, our finances… Another other human tendency is to believe that our success and achievements are solely due to our own efforts and talents. This season has reminded us that we have much less control than we thought. Many things have been stripped away, despite our best efforts. It causes us to look for stability, provision, and guidance from sources outside of ourselves (i.e. God).


Look In

Purpose: Internalize God’s Word and apply the truth to your personal life.

5. What area(s) of pride in your own life has God exposed in this season? What might He be showing you right now?

Take 3 minutes of quiet to listen here. Use a Journal if you prefer. Ask God to show you where your heart is prideful or arrogant. Confess it to Him, and then share with the group if you feel comfortable.

Remember I John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Even though confession doesn’t often feel good in the moment, a conviction and confession of sin is REALLY a good thing. It is evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, and the first step to freedom.


Live It Out

Purpose: Spend time listening for God’s direction and guidance as you seek to live out the truths of this passage in your everyday life.

6. Read verse 37. As our world begins to open up again, ask God what practices or rhythms you need to maintain in order to regularly remind yourself of God’s rightful place in your life. As you do, listen to the song: You Will Never Fail.

Come back together and share together your sense of how God may be leading you.

Pray for each other as you seek to remain humble before the Lord.