Students will be encouraged to live a life that exhibits an authentic faith by putting it in action no matter the circumstances.

 

Epic or Fail – You’ll need to have some video clips that you can play for the group (make sure you screen them, for obvious reasons). Searching “epic win” and “epic fail” compilations will produce a vast amount of content. Choose a mixture of wins and fails that are appropriate to show. While playing the videos, hit pause right before the epic win or fail. Have students vote if the rest of the clip will be an epic win, or an epic fail. (You can divide the room into “win” and “fail” and have students move to the side they vote for.) Only bragging rights and a lot of laughter are the prizes.

 

Ask the students what their favorite epic and fail clip was. Explain that we take risks often; sometimes, we fail epically, but other times, our risks reveal greatness.

 

“Even If” by MercyMe describes the importance of putting our faith in action to reveal God’s glory, even if things don’t go our way. Play the song, and then discuss what students wrote in their Lingering Lyrics section on their Student Guide.

 

Say something like, “MercyMe’s song, ‘Even If’ describes being faithful and steadfast even in what may appear as the most dire of times. MercyMe uses the incident of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as the basis for the song’s message.” (You may want to fill in who King Nebuchadnezzar was and the circumstances surrounding the times [serving idols, multiple gods, etc]).

 

Read Daniel 2:47-49; 3:1-15, and go over the questions and answers in the students’ Even If section of their guide.

Explain that Nebuchadnezzar had appointed the three men to prominent positions in his government. Imagine being in charge of people and they don’t do what you tell them to. It’s a sign of disloyalty. Nebuchadnezzar wanted his decrees to be followed. When the three of them challenged him, he grew furious, threatening them with being thrown into the furnace.

Continue to read Daniel 3:16-30, then discuss the answers to the questions.

Scholars have long debated about who the fourth Heavenly being was in the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but what we can take from this piece is so important; that “even if” we aren’t delivered from the circumstances, we won’t face them alone. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood that God could deliver them from certain death, but that “even if” He didn’t, that they would still stand firm in their faith. Their faith wasn’t limited to their words, but in action as well. Bart Millard, MercyMe’s lead singer, stated in an interview that this song stems from knowing that even in hardships, our hope should remain in God because of what He’s already done. Our hardships shouldn’t change who we put our faith and hope in.

 

Say something like, “We all face furnaces of one type or another – some seem hotter than others. But, no matter the circumstance, we need to realize that our faith needs to stretch beyond mere words and into action. Sticking to our convictions like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did is a way our faith can be put into action. Acting in faith doesn’t mean that God WILL intervene, it means “even if” He doesn’t, we know He won’t leave us to go through the fire alone. (Hebrews 13:5) No matter what happens, He is STILL on the throne. Do you have a faith that is willing to say “even if” and step into the “fire”? Don’t let your circumstances determine your convictions, “even if”!

 

Have the students fill out the Un-scorched section on their handout. End in prayer.