LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Daniel 1:3-17, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon captured the city of Jerusalem and took some prisoners, including young men from the royal family and nobility. The king wanted strong, intelligent, and handsome young men to serve in his palace. He ordered his servant to select these young men and give them the same rich food and wine that was served to the king’s royal court. Among those chosen were Daniel and three of his friends. Daniel knew this food would not be healthy for his body, so he made up his mind not to eat and drink what the king provided. Daniel asked the king’s guard to test them for ten days by giving them only vegetables and water. After the test period, the guard was amazed to see that Daniel and his friends were healthier and stronger than all the other young men who had been eating the royal food.
God showed His love and care for Daniel and his friends by helping them use their minds wisely. The Lord gave Daniel a special ability to understand visions and dreams. After three years of training, all the young prisoners were brought before the king. Daniel and his three friends impressed King Nebuchadnezzar more than any of the others and became valued members of the king’s court. Daniel had the courage to stand up for what he believed was right, even though he was a prisoner and the king had power over him. God blessed Daniel’s faithful choice and gave him wisdom that would serve him throughout his life.
OPENING ACTIVITY 10:15-10:30 | Vegetable Stamping Art
Items Needed:
- Cut vegetables (celery ends, bell pepper halves, potato halves)
- Washable paint in various colors
- Large white paper
- Smocks or old shirts
Put smocks on children and place paint in shallow dishes. Show them how to dip the cut vegetables in paint and stamp them on paper to make colorful designs. While they create, talk about the different vegetables Daniel might have eaten. Let children explore the textures and shapes of the vegetables. Display finished artwork and discuss how God made vegetables in so many beautiful colors and shapes.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 10:30-10:40 | Mirror Discovery Hunt
Memory Verse: “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14)
Items Needed:
- Small, inexpensive mirrors (one for each child)
- Hide them around the room before class
Tell children they’re going on a hunt to find something special that God made. Hide mirrors around the classroom. Send children one at a time to find a hidden mirror. When each child finds a mirror, have them look in it and see the wonderful person God made. Practice the verse together, pointing to themselves when they say “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Let children take the mirrors home as a reminder that God made them special.
Note: Use a permanent marker to write “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” on the back of each mirror.
SONG 10:40-10:50
BIBLE STORY 10:50-11:00 a.m.
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? Daniel
Question 2: Is this in the Old Testament or New Testament? Old Testament
There was a young man named Daniel. Can you say “Daniel”? [Wait for response] Daniel lived far away from his home in a place called Babylon. He missed his home.
The king of Babylon was named King Nebuchadnezzar. That’s a really long, funny name! Let’s try to say it: Neb-u-chad-NEZ-zar! [Say it slowly, then faster] The king wanted strong, smart young men to work in his palace. [Flex your muscles] Show me your strong muscles! [Wait for response]
The king said, “Feed these young men the same fancy food I eat! Give them meat and cake and wine!” [Rub your tummy]
But Daniel knew that this food was not good for him. Daniel wanted to eat food that would make him healthy and strong.
Daniel had three friends. Let’s count them on our fingers: One, two, three! [Hold up three fingers and count together]
Daniel said to the king’s helper, “Please, can we eat vegetables instead?” [Pretend to hold a carrot and crunch it] Crunch, crunch, crunch! Let’s all pretend to eat a carrot! [Wait for children to pretend]
“And can we drink water?” [Pretend to drink from a cup] Let’s all take a pretend drink of water! Glug, glug, glug! [Wait for response]
The king’s helper was worried! He said, “But what if you get sick? The king will be angry at me!”
Daniel said, “Just try it for ten days.” Let’s count to ten on our fingers! [Count together slowly] One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, TEN!
So they tried it! Every day Daniel and his friends ate vegetables. Can you name a vegetable? [Let kids respond – carrots, peas, etc.] And they drank water!
Meanwhile, the other young men ate the king’s fancy food. Cake and cookies and all kinds of sweet things!
After ten days [hold up ten fingers], something AMAZING happened!
The king’s helper looked at Daniel and his friends. They were stronger and healthier than ALL the other young men!
[Flex muscles] Show me those strong muscles again! [Wait for response] Daniel was so strong! And so smart!
Why? Because Daniel chose to eat the food that God wanted him to eat. Daniel made a BRAVE choice!
God was so happy with Daniel! [Make a big smile] Give me your biggest smile! [Wait for response] God helped Daniel be strong and smart.
Three whole years went by. That’s a long time! The king talked to all the young men. And guess what? Daniel and his three friends were the BEST! The smartest! The strongest!
[Whisper] Do you know why? [Pause] Because Daniel was brave and did what was right, even when it was hard. Daniel ate healthy food like vegetables [pretend to crunch a carrot] and drank water [pretend to drink].
God made YOUR body too! [Point to children] And He wants you to take good care of it! [Hug yourself]
Let’s all say together: “God made ME special!” [Wait for response] One more time, really loud: “GOD MADE ME SPECIAL!”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Theological Questions:
- Who made your body? (God made my body)
- Does God want us to take care of our bodies? (Yes, God wants us to take care of our bodies)
Life Application Questions:
- What are some healthy foods we can eat like Daniel? (Vegetables, fruits, water)
- When is it hard to make a good choice? (When I want candy instead of healthy food, etc.)
CLOSING PRAYER
“Dear God, thank You for making our bodies so special. Help us be brave like Daniel and make good choices. Help us eat healthy food and take care of the wonderful bodies You gave us. Amen!”
BIBLE ACTIVITY 11:00-11:15 a.m. | Daniel’s Picnic Basket
Items Needed:
- Daniel’s Fruit & Vegetable Picnic Basket
- Paper Plates
- Glue
- Fruit & Vegetable Stickers
Give each child a paper plate and a glue stick. Precut out all of the fruit pieces and put them in the paper picnic basket. Also precut each of the Bible Story (and Memory Verse) Plates. Have kids take turns coming to pick something out of the picnic basket to glue to their plate. When they pull out a Bible Story plate, retell that part of the Bible Story. At the end, give each child a sheet of Fruit and Vegetable stickers to finish “making their plate” of healthy foods.
BIBLE MOVIE AND SNACK
If time allows, offer a healthy snack (baby carrots, celery sticks, apple slices, and water) and play a short Bible video about Daniel making brave choices.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Daniel 1 (KJV)
¹ In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
² And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.
³ And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;
⁴ Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
⁵ And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
⁶ Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
⁷ Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
⁸ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
⁹ Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
¹⁰ And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.
¹¹ Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
¹² Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
¹³ Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
¹⁴ So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
¹⁵ And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.
¹⁶ Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.
¹⁷ As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
¹⁸ Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
¹⁹ And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
²⁰ And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
²¹ And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway
Make Healthy Choices
What I Learned Today
- Daniel was a young man who was taken far from his home to live in Babylon, where he had to serve the king.
- When the king wanted Daniel to eat unhealthy food, Daniel bravely chose to eat vegetables and drink water instead because he wanted to honor God and take care of his body.
- God blessed Daniel for his brave choice, making him healthier and stronger than all the other young men, and giving him great wisdom.
Questions to Ask Me
Theological Questions:
- Who made your body? (God made my body)
- Does God want you to take care of your body? (Yes)
- Who helped Daniel be brave? (God helped Daniel)
- Did God make you special? (Yes, God made me special)
- Where do we read about Daniel? (In the Bible)
Life Application Questions:
- What healthy foods did Daniel eat? (Vegetables and water)
- Can you name a vegetable you like? (Answers will vary – carrots, broccoli, etc.)
- What does your body need to be strong? (Healthy food, water, exercise, sleep)
- When is it hard to make a good choice? (When friends want me to do wrong, when I want candy instead of vegetables)
- How can you be brave like Daniel? (By making good choices, listening to God, taking care of my body)