Memory verse
“But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods.”
Daniel 3:18
Roman Urdu Aur agar nahin bhi, to bhi ai badshah, tujhe maloom ho ke hum tere devtaon ki ibadat nahin karenge.
Teaching the lesson
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The pressure was public
A gold statue, an orchestra, and a whole province on its face. Three men stayed standing. Ask the group what it costs to be the only one standing in a room u2014 they will know, because most of them have been.
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The first half of their answer
Our God is able to deliver us, and He will deliver us. Confident, and entirely right. Many young people know how to say this part.
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But if not
Then the three most important words in the chapter. But if not u2014 we still will not bow. Their obedience was not a transaction. Sit with this. Faith that is conditional on the outcome is a deal, not trust.
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A fourth man in the fire
God did not keep them out of the furnace. He got in it with them. The only thing the fire burned was what tied them up. Ask the group where they have wanted God to prevent something, and consider that He may intend to be with them in it instead.
Activity
The "but if not" list. Each young person writes privately one thing they are asking God for. Underneath they write "But if not…" and finish the sentence honestly. Nobody shares unless they want to. This is a serious exercise; give it silence and enough time.
Craft
For this age, a written page rather than a craft. Each writes Daniel 3:17-18 out in full in their own handwriting and keeps it. Handwriting a text slowly is a way of thinking about it.
Closing prayer
Lord, I want to trust You for what You will do, and I also want to trust You if You do not. Be with me in the fire when You do not take me out of it. You are still God either way. Amen.
This lesson is free to use
Print it, photocopy it, retype it or translate it into Punjabi, Sindhi or Pashto for your own class. You do not need permission and you do not need to tell us. The only thing asked in return is that it is never sold to a teacher who cannot afford it.
