Welcome to CALLED Men’s Group!  If you're looking to move forward in your faith, then this is the place for you!  We are a group of men, called by God to understand who He is, who we are, and what we are CALLED to do for Him!  We study the Bible & discuss together, find projects where we can give back, and encourage each other in spiritual growth! 

INTRODUCTION: Welcome everyone, this is the sixth meeting of the Fall 2026 Semester for the Called Men’s
Growth Group. We have 6 weeks left this semester; we will meet every Wednesday through November 11, 2026.

BACKGROUND, HISTORY AND AUDIENCE:
The Book of Daniel stands out in the Old Testament as a unique combination of stories and visions. Written partly in
Hebrew and partly in Aramaic, it captures the tension of God's people living as exiled minorities in a hostile, pagan
empire.

It is also a survival manual for believers living as a minority in a secular culture. Written in a blend of court narrative
and visions, the Book shows how God remains sovereign even when His people are living under pagan rule.

1. Historical Setting: The Babylonian Exile
The book begins in 605 BC, during the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah. King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon besieged
Jerusalem. Rather than destroying the city immediately, Nebuchadnezzar took the young men of noble and royal
families back to Babylon. The goal was forced assimilation: strip them of their culture, rename them after pagan gods,
re-educate them in Babylonian literature and science, and deploy them into royal service.
Daniel (renamed Belteshazzar) and his three friends—Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (renamed Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego)—were swept into this system as teenagers and subjected to a three-year Babylonian re-education
program designed to strip them of their Jewish identity and assimilate them into pagan service.
Daniel served faithfully through the rise and fall of two world empires: the Babylonian Empire (under Nebuchadnezzar
and Belshazzar) and the Medo-Persian Empire (under Darius and Cyrus).

2. Structural Overview: Two Distinct Halves, The book splits cleanly into two major sections across 12 chapters:
Chapters 1–6 Court Narratives -- Daniel and his friends standing firm under pressure in Babylon and Persia (Fiery
Furnace, Lion's Den, Writing on the Wall).
Chapters 7–12 Apocalyptic Visions -- Symbolic visions granted directly to Daniel, predicting the rise and fall of world
empires and God's final victory.

The Book of Daniel speaks to two distinct audiences—the immediate historical readers and future generations:
1. Jewish Exiles in Babylon and Persia (6th Century BC):
The primary audience consisted of God’s displaced people living in captivity. Stripped of their land, the Temple,
and political independence, many Jews wondered if the pagan gods of Babylon had defeated the God of Israel.
Daniel was written to reassure them that God had not lost control.

2. Believers Facing Cultural & Political Pressure, The bilingual structure of the book highlights its dual audience:
The Two Languages: Uniquely, Daniel was written in both Aramaic, and Hebrew.
o Aramaic Section (Chapters 2–7): Written in the common trade language of the empire to declare
God’s ultimate authority to the gentile nations and surrounding cultures. , making it readable to the
broader ancient world.
o Hebrew Sections (Chapters 1 & 8–12): Written specifically for the Jewish people to provide comfort,
hope, and prophetic clarity about the future.

3. Timeline of Empires
Daniel lived a remarkably long life, serving through the fall of the Babylonian Empire and into the rise of the Medo-
Persian Empire.
 605 BC: Deportation to Babylon, Reign of Nebuchadnezzar - Daniel is taken captive to Babylon as a teenager
and enters royal service (Daniel 1).
 539 BC: Fall of Babylon, Reign of Belshazzar - Babylon falls in a single night after the "handwriting on the wall"
judgment (Daniel 5).
 539–536 BC: Medo-Persian Rule, Reign of Darius & Cyrus - Persia takes over; Daniel serves under King Darius
and experiences the lions' den (Daniel 6).

4. Core Purpose and Takeaways
For a reader navigating the text today, the Book of Daniel delivers three primary themes:
1. Uncompromising Integrity: Showing how to draw a line in the sand or establishing a boundary on convictions
while maintaining respect and excellence in work (Daniel 1 & 6).
2. The Limits of Human Power: Kings, presidents, and empires think they hold ultimate power, but God sets
boundaries on every earthly ruler (Daniel 4).
3. The Coming Kingdom: The visions in the second half point forward to an eternal kingdom established by
"someone like a Son of Man" (Daniel 7:13–14)—a prophecy Jesus directly applied to Himself in the Gospels.

5. Major Themes in Daniel
The Book of Daniel serves as the apocalyptic anchor of the Old Testament, bridging ancient Near Eastern history with
end-times prophecy. The book is structured around five major visions and prophetic dreams that outline the rise and
fall of world empires, the arrival of the Messiah, and the ultimate establishment of God's everlasting kingdom.
A. The Sovereignty of God Over World Empires
The dominant theme throughout the book is that human kingdoms, no matter how powerful, are temporary. God
determines who rises and falls.

B. Faithfulness in Culture (Uncompromising Integrity)
Daniel and his friends demonstrate how to live faithfully under hostile pagan rule without compromising core
convictions, whether refusing non-kosher royal food (Ch. 1), refusing to bow to an idol (Ch. 3), or continuing daily
prayer despite a royal decree (Ch. 6).

C. The Coming Eternal Kingdom
Daniel's visions introduce the foundational Old Testament imagery of the "Son of Man"—a messianic figure who
receives an everlasting kingdom from God (the Ancient of Days). Jesus frequently used this exact title ("Son of
Man") for Himself in the Gospels.

PRAYER: This Week’s Prayer: Father God, we thank you for allowing us to come together tonight and study your
word. Lord thank you for sending us your Son, Jesus. Father, you are trustworthy and true, help us; Lord, help me to
rely on you whenever we encounter opposition or someone challenging us; help us remain aligned to you no matter
what happens or whatever situations we face. In Jesus name – Amen


Scripture - Read: Daniel Chapter 6 (28 Verses)


Observation, Application & Questions: (Identify/Discuss Among the Group)

Discussion Questions: Daniel Chapter 6
Daniel chapter 6 transitions into the Medo-Persian administration. Daniel, now in his eighties, outlasts multiple kings
and regimes through exceptional administrative competence and irreproachable personal integrity. When jealous
political peers use the law against Daniel, Daniel refuses to hide his allegiance. His miraculous survival in the lion’s den,
demonstrates God's authority rules over everything.
Key Takeaway: "My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths, so that they would not hurt me, for I have been
found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty." — Daniel 6:22

Discussion Questions
1. Exceptional Competence and Uncompromising Integrity (Daniel 6:1–4) Darius divides the kingdom into 120
provinces under three administrators, with Daniel distinguishing himself above all others. Verses 3–4 note that
because Daniel possessed an "exceptional administrative ability" (or "spirit"), the king planned to place him over the
entire realm. His peers searched for evidence of corruption or negligence, but "they could find no grounds for accusing
him. He was trustworthy, completely honest, and cannot be accused of any wrongdoing."

•  Question: Daniel’s enemies found no grounds for accusing him. How does our moral integrity serve as a

witness to our Christian beliefs, in secular workplaces?

2. Faith as the Only Target (Daniel 6:5) Conceding defeat on professional grounds, the officials conclude: "Our only
chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the rules of his religion."

•  Question: What does it say about a believer when their opponents realize the only way to trap them is to

outlaw obedience to God? In what areas of life might your unwavering commitment to biblical principles bring
you into tension with corporate policy or social norms?

3. Flattery and the Weaponization of Law (Daniel 6:6–9) The administrators appeal to the king’s vanity, proposing a
thirty-day imperial decree that anyone praying to any god or human other than Darius must be thrown into the lions’
den. Under the "law of the Medes and Persians," once the king signed the document, it could never be revoked.

•  Question: The conspirators used ego and legal mechanisms to trap the monarch and eliminate a rival. How can

personal pride blind leaders to manipulative agendas around them, and how do we safeguard ourselves
against subtle flattery?

4. The Unshakable Disciplines of Grace (Daniel 6:10) Daniel learns that the decree has been signed. Instead of
retreating, modifying his routine, or closing his shutters, he goes home, opens his upstairs windows toward Jerusalem,
kneels three times a day, and "prayed and gave thanks to his God, just as he had always done."

•  Question: Daniel did not initiate a dramatic public protest; he simply refused to alter his lifelong rhythm of

private prayer and gratitude. How do daily spiritual disciplines built in peaceful seasons provide the muscle
memory needed when sudden crises hit?

5. Caught in Devotion (Daniel 6:11–15) The officials catch Daniel praying and immediately report him to Darius. When
the king realizes he has been manipulated into signing the death warrant of his most valued leader, he spends the
entire day until sunset desperately trying to find a legal loophole to rescue Daniel.

•  Question: Darius was paralyzed by a rigid system and his own careless signature. How does the king’s frantic,

powerless regret contrast with Daniel’s quiet peace in this moment?

6. A Pagan King’s Desperate Hope (Daniel 6:16–18) Forced by constitutional law to execute the sentence, Darius
orders Daniel thrown into the pit of lions, saying to him: "May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you." The
king returns to his palace, refuses food, entertainment, and sleep, and spends the night fasting.

•  Question: Notice Darius’s observation: Daniel served his God "faithfully" (consistently/continually). What

impression of God are you giving to the non-believers, supervisors, or peers who observe how you handle
regular duty and unexpected stress?

7. Shutting the Mouths of Lions (Daniel 6:19–23) At dawn, the king rushes to the pit and calls out in anguish. Daniel
responds calmly: "My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths, so that they would not hurt me, for I have been
found innocent in his sight." When Daniel is lifted out, "not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God."

•  Question: God did not prevent Daniel from being thrown into the pit; He sent His angel to shut the lions'

mouths inside the pit. When have you felt dropped into an impossible situation, only to find God’s presence
and restraint actively protecting you where you felt most vulnerable?

8. The Rebound of Retributive Justice (Daniel 6:24) By royal command, the men who maliciously accused Daniel are
arrested and thrown into the lions' den alongside their families, meeting the very destruction they engineered for an
innocent man.

•  Question: Scripture repeatedly emphasizes that those who dig a pit for others often fall into it themselves.

Why must believers leave vindication and justice in God's hands rather than plotting personal revenge against
those who wrong us?

9. The Decree of the Living God (Daniel 6:25–28) Darius writes to all nations, commanding everyone in his kingdom to
tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. He declares: "For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His
kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end. He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous
signs and wonders." The chapter concludes by noting Daniel continued to prosper during the reign of Darius and the
reign of Cyrus the Persian.

•  Question: Daniel’s willingness to face death rather than hide his prayer life resulted in an imperial

proclamation honoring the living God across the known world. How does personal endurance through trials
create a platform for God’s power that comfort and compromise never could?

Supporting Scripture to Review: (Discuss Among the Group)
1. On Unimpeachable Integrity in Secular Duty
Titus 2:7–10 "And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do
reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching. Teach the truth so that your teaching cannot be criticized. Then
those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us. Slaves must always obey their masters
and do their best to please them. They must not talk back or steal, but must show themselves to be entirely
trustworthy and good. Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way."

• Connection: Parallels Daniel 6:3–4, where Daniel’s professional competence and moral character were so

airtight that political adversaries searching for corruption or negligence found zero grounds for accusation.

2. On Malicious Conspiracies and Traps of the Wicked
Psalm 64:2–5 "Hide me from the plots of this evil mob, from this gang of wrongdoers. They sharpen their tongues like
swords and aim their bitter words like arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly and
fearlessly. They encourage each other to do evil and plan how to set their traps in secret. 'Who will ever see us?' they
ask."

•  Connection: Reflects the covert alliance formed in Daniel 6:4–9, where the jealous administrators and high

officials conspired behind closed doors to engineer an unalterable imperial statute targeting Daniel's devotion.

3. On Inflexible Commitment to Prayer in Times of Trouble
Psalm 55:16–18 "But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress,
and the Lord hears my voice. He ransoms me and keeps me safe from the battle waged against me, though many still
oppose me."

•  Connection: Echoes Daniel 6:10, where Daniel, upon learning that the execution decree had been officially

signed, maintained his lifelong practice of kneeling by his open window three times a day to pray and give
thanks.

4. On Suffering for Righteousness Rather Than Wrongdoing
1 Peter 4:14–16 "If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of
God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other
people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his
name!"

•  Connection: Aligns with Daniel 6:5, where Daniel’s rivals conceded that their only leverage against him lay in

his uncompromising obedience to the law of his God, rather than any legal or administrative failure.

5. On Angelic Intervention and Supernatural Deliverance
Psalm 34:7–9 "For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the
Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him
will have all they need."

• Connection: Direct scriptural precedent for Daniel 6:22, where Daniel declared from the pit: "My God sent his

angel to shut the lions’ mouths, so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight."

6. On Faith That Neutralizes Mortal Danger
Hebrews 11:32–34 "How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. Through faith these people conquered
kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the
flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became
strong in battle and put whole armies to flight."

• Connection: Explicitly records Daniel's trial in the New Testament Hall of Faith, noting that by faith God's

servants "shut the mouths of lions" and emerged completely unharmed because they trusted in God (Daniel
6:23).

7. On Plotters Falling into Their Own Pit
Psalm 7:14–16 "The wicked conceive evil; they are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. They dig a deep pit to
trap others, then fall into it themselves. The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan
will fall on their own heads."

• Connection: Matches the principle of divine retributive justice demonstrated in Daniel 6:24, where the

conspirators who engineered the deadly trap were cast into the very lions' den they had reserved for Daniel.

8. On Proclaiming God's Everlasting Dominion to the Nations
Psalm 145:10–13 "All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you. They will speak of
the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the
majesty and glory of your reign. For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The
Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does."

• Connection: Directly anticipates King Darius’s imperial decree in Daniel 6:26–27, commanding every province

in the Medo-Persian Empire to revere the living God whose kingdom can never be destroyed.

9. On Peaceful Rest Under Divine Protection
Psalm 4:3, 5, 8 "You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for himself. The Lord will answer when I call to
him... Offer sacrifices in the proper spirit, and trust in the Lord... In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O
Lord, will keep me safe."

• Connection: Contrasts the serene confidence of Daniel resting safely inside the den with the frantic, sleepless

distress of King Darius pacing his palace halls through the night (Daniel 6:18–19).

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Other questions to explore:

• What was the context? What was going on at the time this was written?
• What and where is this happening?
  • What makes what was happening meaningful?
  • Is there anything special about the location (or locations)?
• Who is involved?
  • How do they respond to God?
  • What character traits do you notice about them?
  • What is the significance of their involvement?

• What do you think is the key message?
• Did anything that surprised or stood out to you? What was it? Share with the group and discuss.
• Are there any key verses that stand out to you? Discuss among the group.
• Were there any repetitive words or themes that stood out to you? What were they?

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• Is there anything that left you with more questions? What were they? Share with group, discuss, and

research.

• Biggest takeaway?

Elements of today’s Bible study were referenced from:
1. NLT Courage for Life Men’s Bible, New Living Translation (NLT); copyright 2023 Tyndale House Ministries
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation
https://www.tyndale.com/sites/courageforlifebible/
2. ESV Study Bible, copyright 2008. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV); copyright 2001 by Crossway,
Wheaton, Illinois.
3. NIV Study Bible, Revolution, copyright 2011. The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV); copyright 1973,
1978, 1984, 2011 by Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan. https://www.zondervan.com/p/niv-bibles-for-teens- true-images-revolution/
4. NLT Parallel Study Bible, New Living Translation (NLT); copyright 2011 Tyndale House Ministries
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation
5. HCSB/CSB The Apologetics Study Bible, copyright 2007. The Holy Bible, Holman Christian Standard Bible
(HCSB/CSB); copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holmon Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
7. https://www.jeremiahstudybible.com/Daniel/

August 2026:
_X_ 001, 08/26 Daniel, Introduction, Chapter 1
September 2026:
_X _ 002, 09/02 Daniel, Chapter 2
_ x_ 003, 09/09 Daniel, Chapter 3
_ x_ 004, 09/16 Daniel, Chapter 4
_x _ 005, 06/23 Daniel, Chapter 5
_ x_ 006, 06/30 Daniel, Chapter 6
October 2026:
_ _ 007, 10/07 Daniel, Chapter 7
_ _ 008, 10/14 Daniel, Chapter 8
_ _ 009, 10/21 Daniel, Chapter 9
_ _ 010, 10/28 Daniel, Chapter 10
November 2026:
_ _ 011, 11/04 Daniel, Chapter 11
_ _ 012, 11/11 Daniel, Chapter 12*