Read the Bible Story
You can read from a Children’s Bible, your Bible or use the following story.
Daniel
Daniel 6
Daniel was a wise and good worker, and King Darius rewarded him with an important job. He put Daniel in charge or all the king's helpers. Well, the king's helpers didn't like this one bit. They didn't like that Daniels was the king's favorite. "We have to do something to make Daniel look bad," one of them said. He won't worship anyone other than his God," said another. "Maybe we can use this against him. So the king's helpers made a terrible, evil plan. But for it to work they needed to trick the king.
They said to the king, "You are such a wonderful king. You should make a new law that for the next 30 days, everyone must pray only to you. If someone disobeys, they will be thrown into the lions' den. "What a great idea!" King Darius said. So he made the law and signed his name to it.
When Daniel heard this, he refused to obey and kept praying to God because he loved God. Three times every day he went to his room, kneeled by his window and prayed giving thanks to God.
The king's helpers saw that Daniel continued to pray to God and they told King Darius, "You made the law, and it cannot be changed."The king heard this and he tried to think of a way to save Daniel because he did not want him to get hurt. But a law is a law. So he ordered Daniel to be thrown into a pit of roaring lions. The pit was then sealed with a stone. All night long the king was worried and hoped that Daniel's God would save him.
When the sun came up the king got up and ran to the pit. "Daniel!" he shouted. "Did your God save you?" "Yes!" Daniel answered. "God sent an angel to protect me. He closed the mouths of the lions by sending an angel to protect me. He kept the lions from eating me.
The king was so happy. He let Daniel out of the pit and then sent this message to all the people: "I command everyone in my kingdom to worship and honor the God that Daniel loves. His power and his kingdom will last forever." Because of this, many people from different countries came to know about God.
Daniel is the Bible superhero in this story because he choose to do what was right rather than what everyone else was doing. He prayed and God saved him.
Bible Story Questions & Answers
Talk about what the Bible story was about by asking the children questions. You can decide ahead of time how you want them to answer the questions. I like to have the children raise their hand to answer the question. If they are incorrect that is fine. You can say what the answer is or ask: “Does anyone else have a thought or answer to the question?”
Questions after Story:
‧ Who did King Darius put Daniel in charge of? (The king's helpers)
‧ Did the king's helpers like that Daniel was in charge of them? (No)
‧ Did the king's helpers decide to do something sneaky and mean to get Daniel to look bad? (Yes)
‧ What was the law that they asked the king to sign? (People could only pray to the king.)
‧ Did King Darius sign this law? (Yes)
‧ Who saw Daniel praying to God and told the king about it? (The king's helpers)
‧ Where was Daniel put because he prayed to God and not the king? (Into the pit of lions)
‧ All night long was the king worried about Daniel and hoping God would save him? (Yes)
‧ Did Daniel pray to God to save him? (Yes)
‧ Did God save him? (Yes)
‧ What did God send to close the mouths of the lions? (An angel)
‧ Do you think you can be like Daniel and pray about everything? (Yes)
Prayer
While sitting on the floor with criss cross legs, have the children repeat after you. You can have them fold their hands and close their eyes or just sit quietly and say after you. Following is a prayer written out that you can use, or you can make up your own.
Dear God
(children repeat)
Thank you for this day
(children repeat)
Please help me
(children repeat)
to be like Daniel
(children repeat)
and pray about everything.
(children repeat)
I love you
(children repeat)
Amen
(children repeat)
