Theme: Wild animals

Bible Story: Daniel and the lions

Value: Trust in God’s protection

Daniel and the lions

Daniel loved God and prayed to Him every day. He was very wise and worked for King Darius. But some men were jealous of Daniel and made a plan. They tricked the king into making a rule: no one could pray to anyone but the king for 30 days. If they did, they would be thrown into the lions’ den!

Daniel heard the rule, but kept praying to God because he trusted Him. The jealous men told the king, and King Darius was sad. He liked Daniel but had to follow the rule. So, Daniel was thrown in the lions’ den.

The lions were big and scary, and their teeth were sharp. But Daniel trusted God. Guess what happened? God sent an angel to close the lions’ mouths! Daniel was safe and sound!

Early the next morning, King Darius rushed to the lion’s den and called out, “Daniel, did your God save you?” Daniel answered, “Yes! God kept me safe because I trusted Him.”

The king was so happy that he made a new rule: everyone should pray to Daniel’s God because He is powerful and He protects His people.

(Daniel 6)

 

  1. Opening

What types of wild animals can you name? What sound does a lion make?

Today we will learn from the Bible about a man named Daniel and some scary lions. Let’s read the Bible story.

 

  1. Discovery

Can you remember the story that you heard yesterday?

Yes, we talked about Daniel who was thrown into the lion’s den. Let’s read the Bible story again.

What is your favourite part of the story?

What animals do you see in the picture? Let’s count them!

 

  1. Retell

Can you tell me what happened in our story yesterday? (Ask leading questions and guide the child using the picture and story.)

What new rule did the king make?

How do you think Daniel felt when he went into the lion’s den?

When do you feel like that?

Why was Daniel not worried in the lion’s den?

 

  1. Value

This week we’ve been talking about how God saved Daniel from the lion’s den. Daniel trusted in God’s protection, and God kept him safe from harm. We can trust God just like Daniel did. He will always take care of us. No matter what happens, God is always with us and He loves us very much.

Is there anything that makes you feel scared? Let’s pray and ask God to help you.

 

  1. Activity

In our Bible story this week Daniel trusted God and it saved his life. Now, let’s pretend to be the lions that were in the den with Daniel.

(Have the children walk on all fours and roar like big lions. When you yell “Stop!” they need to freeze and stay quiet, just like the lions did in the story.)