Sermon Tone Analysis

“10x” (Dan 1:8-20) by M.W. Mauldin

Discussion Question/ Last week: "What things make it difficult to serve God and make Him known in school (or any public arena)?"

This week: "What might make it easier to serve God and make Him known in school (or any pubic arena)?"

Help from Afar: email from Ray Rubi

Ray Rubi: I got saved at 18 but I was already a year out of high school, Fred and Richard spent their Senior year as Christians (Fred did a do-over).

They were saved at the end of the previous school year, they got fired-up over the summer and were determined to leave their mark on Tucson High in their last year there.

They had the benefit of doing it together but they were aggressive from Day One.

Witnessing at lunch, preaching after school, they even got permission from a rather passive principal to have a full blown concert in the auditorium after school once.

What sustained them was a fervent prayer life.

Many of their friends got saved.

If there is a parallel between them and Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah at “Babylon High” it would be that they were the aggressors.

Daniel was proactive in making a stand and in requesting what he wanted from the authorities.

Also, what gave them favor was their spirit of excellence in how they went about their daily business.

My advice to kids heading back to school is make morning prayer the cornerstone of your daily life, stick together, throw the first punch and have a blast.

I. Imagining Greatness (Dan 1:19-20)

Principle E

Jerry Rice-records for mist records but still not ten times better than second place

A. How Would your Parents Feel?

B. What Would You do With That Greatness?

C. *Greatness most appreciated when it is least expected

II.

What created this Greatness/Excellence?: (Dan 1:8)

Daniel's Determination & Discipline

A. "Resolved" (often purposed or decided within his heart)

B. "Not to Defile"

Principle D: DESIRE DISTINCTION

Jerry Rice's secret #1: create separation by running good routes

To Daniel, being "defiled" meant two things:

dishonoring the commands of his God and

being like everyone else

In what ways can you be set apart in your generation?

C. "He asked"

preemptive

Principle A

He was confident

Principle C (will discuss later)

He was respectful in asking

Principle H

He received respect in return (Dan 1:10, 14, 16)

D. He involved like-minded friends (Dan 1:11)

Principle F: Choose God-FEARING FRIENDS

III.

The X Factor (10X) (Dan 1:8-9, 15, 17, 19-20)

Jerry Rice: secret #2: even better separation happens when you are not tired and your opponent is.

Both their determination and their multiplied greatness had a source of limitless power.

Daniel and his friends were praised for (amongst other things) their wisdom.

Solomon was said to be the wisest man that ever lived.

But he describes a very depressing, and very unmotivated time in his backslidden life (Eccl 1:16-2:11)

Those that have accomplished great things (most notable, athletes) have described a wall that they hit that they would never have been able to pass on their own.

They describe a necessary transcendence that propelled them and it often was the sight of others that believed in and invested them, others (perhaps a future generation of athletes) that were inspired by them etc. (from the book Peak Performance)

What is most worth it?

What is most enduring and transcendent?

In fact this is the reason that I asked you what you would do if you were to be recognized for your great achievements?

What Solomon finally concluded at the end of such a depressing book was (Eccl 12:1) The Bible shows us the greatest motive for anything

Dan 12:3; 1 Cor 10:31; Col 3:17; Col 3:23-24

A. "But" (perhaps the most important word in all of the book)

The word "but" is a conjunction used as a bridge and it means to unite to contrasting ideas

The king believed that Israel's God was no better than his god so the vessels of worship would be better in the house of his god etc.

He placed all of the vessels (consecrated) from the house of God in the house of his gods (Dan 1:2)

The king believed that Israel was just like every other nation he conquered, meant to serve him (Dan 1:3-7)

Thus he stripped these young men of their culture and forced attempted to brainwash them into his service…BUT

B. Convinced:

Able to Convince because He was convinced himselfPrinciple C: God God His front: "favor and compassion" (Dan 1:9) God got His back: (Dan 1:15)

C. The X Factor is God

God's Mission: Natural increase of Momentum, Transcendence (others may follow)

God's Power: Supernatural (Dan 1:19) Principle G: Remember God Gives Graceseen in favor received (Dan 1:9) seen in health (Dan 1:15) seen in multiplied excellence (Dan 1:17)

God's Presence: Convergence of Enjoying God (Dan 12:3)

Mika Rae's question: Answer: You may enjoy the praise of others bet never more than you enjoy seeing them praise God.

That is your end motivation and you will be tempted to be distracted from it.