Daniel 8
/Daniel 8 is the record of an intensely personal vision given to Daniel. It has great significance for the Jews as a people of God, and therefore it has important relevance for the Church today.
sermons | study
These are sermons preached during our Sunday worship services. (Recordings were not always successful, so there are gaps in the postings.)
Daniel 8 is the record of an intensely personal vision given to Daniel. It has great significance for the Jews as a people of God, and therefore it has important relevance for the Church today.
The interpretation of Daniel’s vision concludes with a stunning climax that sets out the grace of God. Here we see truths that are foundational to the lives of those who follow Christ.
The climax of chapter seven, and we might say of the book of Daniel as a whole, is vital to a proper understanding of Jesus’ identification of himself. It is helpful to refer back to chapter two in our interpretation of chapter seven, since the two parallel one another in many ways.
We continue our study of Daniel chapter seven, focusing on the significance of Daniel’s response to the vision, which is related to the identification of the beasts that it features.
This chapter occupies a pivotal place in the book of Daniel and merits our extended consideration. This initial message on this chapter focuses on the way in which chapter seven highlights the primary theme of the book as a whole.
Chapter six is the last of the narratives of Daniel, and it parallels chapter four in several ways, This affords us the opportunity to consider again key themes of the book and also to explore further applications of those themes to our lives.
Chapter five of Daniel is purposely paired with chapter four, although the events of the two chapters are separated by more than two decades. The Scriptures give much more attention to thematic arrangements than to chronology. The thematic connections between these two chapters will be clear as we consider the content of chapter five.
This chapter brings the narratives that include Nebuchadnezzar to a climax in a remarkable manner. Even though this king seems culturally far removed from us, his example serves to highlight for us a common human condition.
Narratives of the Bible that may be familiar to us from childhood bear a closer consideration when we are older. The historical accounts that we read in Scripture lead us to consider the spiritual challenges we face, and lead us ultimately to the gospel.
This passage presents the first of several dreams and visions in the book of Daniel. Like Joseph before him, Daniel is a believer who interprets the dream of a pagan ruler. There are several similarities to be seen between Joseph and Daniel, not only in their circumstances, but in their characters. We also see in both narratives an emphasis on the sovereignty of God.
The narrative of chapter two will introduce the first of several significant dreams and visions in the book of Daniel. Before considering the dream, however, we do well to take time to enjoy and learn from the account of the events that lead up to Daniel’s first significant encounter with Nebuchadnezzar.
The opening narrative sets out the major theme for the book of Daniel: the sovereignty of God. It is this truth that forms the center point of the faith and world view of four Hebrew teenagers who must determine how to live in an alien culture. Followers of Christ today need the same center point for our faith and world view, so the book of Daniel has much to teach us.
The book of Daniel is remarkable in a number of ways that become apparent when we give it close attention. Although it has been often misinterpreted, Daniel is a wonderful source of truth that will benefit the honest hearer.
The Bible frequently uses the concept of covenant to describe the relationship of God as King to his people. A covenant–in contrast to a contract–is based upon personal promises made by the person or persons who establish the covenant. The covenants that God makes are based upon his promises to his people. Their response to his promises is to trust him and submit to his will. The Old Testament (or Old Covenant) sacrament of circumcision and the New Covenant sacrament of baptism are signs performed by his people that demonstrate their faith in God’s act of bringing them into covenant relationship with himself
Continuing a sermon series on the theme of God as King, the focus of this message is on prayer. Since God is King, to him alone prayer is to be made, but how do sinful human beings approach a righteous God in prayer?
Continuing a sermon series on God as King, chapter eight of First Samuel is an obvious text to consider, since it relates to the beginning of the monarchy in Israel. While it clearly portrays God as King, our text also shows human depravity in rejecting his kingship.
The theme of the kingdom of God appears throughout Scripture. The book of Hebrews, which is best understood as a sermon, shows us Christ as king in its opening verses.
The kingdom of God is one of the overarching themes of the entire Bible. The fact that it appears in passages from Genesis to Revelation underscores the fact that we should consider its importance for our own lives.