Scary, Gross, and Weird StuffWe’re in a series called what?

Let’s see how much you’ve learned. We’re going to play “Make It True”

Each statement that appears on the screen is false. Raise your hand if you can make it true.

1. The Bible indicates that there are over 100 thousand angels! (100 million)

2. According to the Bible, angels live to be about 200 years old. (angels don’t die)

3. The Bible teaches that all angels look the same. (vary greatly in appearance - just like there are different species of animals on our planet, there are different “species” of angels. archangels, cherubim, seraphim – and they all look very different from one another)

4. When we die we become angels. (we were created human and will continue to be human after we die)

5. In the Old Testament, when we read “THE ANGEL OF THE LORD,” it is referring to an appearance by Michael the Archangel. (it is referring to an appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself)

6. Demons are beings that were created by Satan. (demons are angels created by God that rejected God)

7. Demons have unlimited power. (limited in their power)

8. Satan and his demons will forever torment mankind. (one day be completely destroyed)

9. God's people should be afraid of demons and what they can do to us. (should not be afraid because they have no power over followers of Christ)

10. A ouji board is nothing but a silly board game. (a potential doorway for demonic activity)

11. Pharaoh let God’s people go after 5 plagues. (10 plagues)

12. One of the plagues on Egypt was flying monkeys. (name any other plague)

13. The first plague brought upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians was frogs. (Nile to blood)

14. The last plague brought upon Pharaoh and the Egyptians was locusts. (death of firstborn sons)

Fun with Idioms!We’re going to introduce today’s lesson with a little game called “Fun with Idioms.” No, I did not say fun with idiots. I said fun with idioms – there’s a big difference.

The Bible indicates that there are over 100 thousand angels.

The Bible indicates that there are over 100 thousand angels.

There are over 100 million angels.

There are over 100 million angels.

Slide for each one.

Fun with

Idioms

Fun with

Idioms

Anybody know what an idiom is? It’s simply a fancy word for a common saying or a phrase used by people in a culture or society. I’m going to show you an idiom and see if you can tell me what it means?

Each of these idioms will appear on power point one at a time. Just ask if anyone can explain what the idiom means. The definition will pop up when you click.

cat got your tongue?can’t think of what to say

put a sock in it be quiet

when pigs flyain’t gonna happen

on pins and needlesanxious or nervous

a piece of cakethat was easy

a slap on the wrista mild punishment

all in the same boateveryone is facing the same challenges

an arm and a legvery expensive

the writing’s one the walldisaster is approaching – it’s all over soon

You know what’s cool about this last saying? It actually comes from a story in the Bible. A kind of scary story – a kind of weird story.

The writing’s on the wallAnd that’s the title of our lesson today.

This scary, weird story comes from the book of Daniel in the Old Testament. So let’s get our historical bearings.

Last week you learned about the Israelites being freed from slavery in Egypt after God brought ten plagues on Pharaoh and the Egyptians.Who remembers how long ago that event took place? (about 3500 years ago)

cat got your tongue

Slide for each one.

DanielDaniel

Ch.5Ch.5The Writ ing’s on the Wal l

The Writ ing’s on the Wal l

Okay, so with today’s story we are advancing about 2900 years ahead from the time the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. We’re around the time of 600 B.C. Here’s the big picture of what has happened in those 2,900 years.

A. Israelites were delivered from slavery and left Egypt.

B. They settled in the land God had promised them

C. They became a nation (Israel) governed by Kings.

D. After some 120 years or so as a nation, they had a civil war and they divided into a southern kingdom which was called Judah, and a northern kingdom which continued with the name Israel. Each had their own king.

E. Eventually, the northern kingdom was conquered by another kingdom, the Assyrians, and taken into captivity.

F. Shortly after that, the southern kingdom was conquered and taken into captivity by the Babylonians.

So this is the context of our scary, weird story today. The Israelites are in captivity. They are no longer a nation with a king – they have been conquered by the Babylonians.

Two Main DudesNow, we have two main dudes in this scary, weird story: a dude by the name of King Belshazzar and a dude by the name of Daniel.

King Belshazzar is the king of Babylon who conquered the Israelites, so he is an enemy of the Israelites and even an enemy of the one true living God.

Daniel is an Israelite – and not just any Israelite – he is a prophet of God. Does anyone know what a prophet was?

A prophet in the Old Testament was a man used by God to deliver God’s messages to His people. God would speak directly to a prophet and then the prophet was supposed to go to the people and tell them what God says. (“God told me to tell you….”)

So with all that in mind . . . let’s read our scary, weird, but TRUE story from the Bible. (This is kind of long so you’ll really need to read this story with emotion, really tell the story with excitement and expression.)

Daniel 5

• delivered from slavery and left Egypt

• settled in the promised land

• became a nation (I srael) with Kings

• After some 120 years, civil war southern kingdom [J udah] northern kingdom [I srael]

• northern kingdom conquered by Assyrians

• southern kingdom conquered by Babylonians

Two Main DudesTwo Main Dudes

King BelshazzarKing Belshazzar Daniel the ProphetDaniel the Prophet

Sometime after King Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, a King named Belshazzar ruled Babylon and all of Jerusalem.

During a night of drunken feasting with his nobles, his women, and his servants, Belshazzar got the great idea to use gold and silver cups taken from the Temple in Jerusalem to toast his reign.

His servants brought him the cups, and the whole party began drinking,toasting idols and gods made of gold, silver, and bronze. Are you getting this? They are using sacred cups from God’s holy temple for partying and toasting false gods!

How do you think God is feeling as he is watching all this happen?

At that moment, a human hand began writing on the palace wall.Just four words. Mene. Mene. Tekel. Parsin.

Belshazzar was absolutely terrified—so much so that he literally fell over.

He asked his astrologers and fortunetellers to interpret the meaning ofthe writing. But no one could decipher it. It was at this time that his mother remembered a prophet in Israel named Daniel.

She advised her son to call him. Belshazzar called for Daniel and promised him wealth and power if he could interpret the words on the palace wall.

Daniel refused the wealth and the power but delivered God’s messageto Belshazzar. Daniel said to the king:

King Belshazzar, the Most High God made your father a great and powerful man and brought him much honor and glory. God did such great things for him that people of all nations and races shook with fear. But when he became proud and stubborn, his glorious kingdom was taken from him. His mind became like that of an animal, and he was forced to stay away from people and live with wild donkeys. Your father ate grass like an ox, and he slept outside where his body was soaked with dew. He was forced to do this until he learned that the Most High God rules all kingdoms on earth and chooses their kings.

MeneMeneTekelParsin

MeneMeneTekelParsin

MeneMeneTekelParsin

King Belshazzar, you knew all of this, but you still refused to honor the Lord who rules from heaven. You treat with contempt the living God who holds your entire life from birth to death in his hand.

You turned against God and ordered the cups from his temple to be brought here so could drink wine from them. You praised idols made of silver, gold, wood, and stone, even though they cannot see or hear or think. You refused to worship the God who gives you breath and controls everything you do. That's why he sent the hand to write this message on the wall.

Then Daniel interpreted the words written by the mysterious hand.

Mene, Mene: your days are numberedTekel: you have failed the testParsin: your kingdom has been divided

When he heard the prophecy, Belshazzar proclaimed Daniel the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

That very night, Belshazzar was slain by his enemies, who had brokeninto the palace.

You know you’re in trouble when…Pretty wild story, isn’t it? Could you imagine sitting around with your friends – doing something you shouldn’t be doing – and then seeing a hand (just a hand – attached to nothing!) writing a message FROM GOD to you! Whoa! You know you’re in trouble then!

And so now today, people are over the world use the idiom: the writing’s one the wall – as another way of saying, “disaster, destruction is fast approaching – it’s all over soon! – you are in BIG trouble now!”

Your days are numbered You have failed the testYour kingdom has been

divided

The Writ ing’s on the Wal l

The Writ ing’s on the Wal l

King BelshazzarBased on this episode in King Belshazzar’s life, what are some words you would use to describe him? (stupid, fool, proud, arrogant, etc)

Why do you think God used this mystery hand to give King Belshazzar a message? (not looking for any certain answer here)

Let’s look at one key verse in this story that I read. It was verse 22 and it said this: You treat with contempt the living God who holds your entire life from birth to death in his hand.

Do you know what that word “contempt” means? Who can give me a definition for contempt?

Contempt means: lack of respect along with intense feelings of dislike

Have you ever felt or shown contempt for someone?

Do you think middle schoolers ever show contempt for God? What might that look like? Give me some examples. (possible examples: damaging or stealing church property; being rude and disrespectful to leaders; being disruptive in class and not paying attention; etc)

It’s one thing to sin – to say or do something that is not pleasing to God. God forgives us when we sin if we ask him. But contempt – this is a whole different thing. A very scary thing!

Two Important VersesLook at this verse. James 4:6 says: God opposes everyone who is proud . . .

King Belshazzar was a proud and arrogant man – he not only thought he was better than everyone else, he thought he was better than God

You treat with contempt the living God who holds your

entire life from birth to death in his hand.

You treat with contempt the living God who holds your

entire life from birth to death in his hand.

Contempt means: lack of respect along with intense feelings

of dislike

Contempt means: lack of respect along with intense feelings

of dislike

James 4:6God opposes everyone who is proud . . .

(wiser and more powerful than God). Out of his pride came contempt for God. But scripture says that God opposes the proud.

There are many people just like King Belshazzar today. And we must be careful that we are NOT one of them! Just like God opposed King Belshazzar, He opposes those today who are proud and show contempt toward Him. If we show contempt for God, we’re in big trouble – the writing is on the wall for us!

But look at this verse. Proverbs 15:33 says: Showing respect to the LORD will make you wise, and being humble will bring honor to you.

Showing respect for God makes you what? (have them shout “wise”)

Being humble will bring you what? (have them shout “honor”)

Let’s pray.

Proverbs 15:33says: Showing respect to the LORD will make you wise, and being humble will bring honor to you.