Tag: bsf answers questions lesson 4 day 3

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BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 4, Day 3: Daniel 3:19-30

by atozmom, posted in BSF Exile & Return: A Time to Build 2025/2026

Summary of Daniel 3:19-30

King Nebuchadnezzar was furious that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow before his statue. They were bound and thrown into the furnace. They walked around (with a fourth figure, presumably God) in the fire. Then, the king asked them to come out, so they did. They were unharmed. Then King Nebuchadnezzar praised God who rescued the men. He decreed that no one could blaspheme the God in heaven and promoted the men.

BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 4, Day 3: Daniel 3:19-30

6a) King Nebuchadnezzar was so mad because he was the absolute ruler of that area of the world, and he did not expect to be defied. And, he couldn’t let the men set the precedent of defying his orders in front of others, who might then be emboldened against him.
b) The men were thrown into a fiery furnace.
7a) The King saw four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looked like a son of the gods. He asked the men to come out.
b) This story shows that there is a divine standard of justice that supersedes human law and that the right to conscience is sacred. It demonstrates that while humans have the ability to judge, their judgment is dangerously flawed and ultimately subordinate to the perfect and righteous judgment of God.
8a) The king was willing to change his position based on irrefutable evidence of the God in heaven. He takes what he sees and acts on it, declaring no one shall blaspheme God and promotes the men. This shows the intelligence of the king, but also shows just how powerful God truly is.
b) Unsure about “radical” but I know that God’s truths change me every day, as I strive to be more like Jesus in subtle ways that ultimately (I hope) will produce radical change.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 4, Day 3: Daniel 3:19-30

Great story of relying on your faith no matter the consequences, and God rewarding you for it.

End Notes BSF Study Questions Exile & Return: A Time to Build Lesson 4, Day 3: Daniel 3:19-30

It’s safe to assume that the fourth man was Jesus. King Nebuchadnezzar identifies him as the Son of God. This shows that Jesus is with us in all of our trials, whether we feel his presence or not.

Note that the only thing the fire burned was the ropes that bound the men. They walked around freely in the fire. The fire had no power over them.

Note God can deliver us from a trial, but He can also sustain us while we are in one.

Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the greatness of the God of the men.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego surrendered themselves completely to God.

Note how three innocent men had to die because of the king’s anger.

Fire often symbolizes God in the Bible (Exodus 3:2; 13;21; Deuteronomy 4:11-12; Psalm 18:8; Acts 2:1-4)

The outcome of the fire was a powerful testimony for God. What is your testimony?

END NOTES SUMMARIZED

Daniel 3:19-30 demonstrates the supreme power of God over the world’s greatest threats and the ultimate vindication of unwavering faith.

The interpretation of its key elements is as follows:

  • The Furnace and Divine Power: In a fit of rage, King Nebuchadnezzar heats the furnace to its absolute limit, an act representing the peak of human fury and power. The fire is so intense that it kills his own soldiers, yet it is utterly powerless against those protected by God, revealing that God’s power is infinitely greater than any earthly threat.
  • The Fourth Man in the Fire: The miracle’s climax is the appearance of a fourth, divine figure (described as “like a son of the gods”) walking with the men in the flames. This reveals a God who does not just rescue from a distance but is present with His people in the midst of their suffering.
  • The King’s Forced Confession: The event compels the arrogant king to reverse his position completely. He goes from taunting God to praising Him, issuing a decree to protect God’s name, and admitting that “no other god can save in this way.” God uses the faithfulness of the three men to reveal His unique power to the pagan world.
  • The Vindication of Faith: The miraculous preservation and subsequent promotion of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego serve as a public reward for their absolute loyalty. Their willingness to die rather than compromise their faith is openly honored by both God and the king.

In essence, this passage reveals that radical faith, even in the face of certain death, is honored by a God who is present in suffering and whose power can compel even the world’s most powerful rulers to acknowledge His supremacy.

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BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 4, Day 3: Revelation 2:1-7

by atozmom, posted in BSF Revelation: The Hope 2024/2025

Summary of Revelation 2:1-7

To the church in Ephesus: Jesus praises the church for their hard work and perseverance. He knows they have endured many hardships. YET: They have forsaken the love they had at first. He asks them to repent and whoever is victorious (i.e. follows his ways), Jesus will grant them eternal life.

BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 4, Day 3: Revelation 2:1-7

6) Compare what false prophets say against what the Bible says. As you grow and become more with Jesus, you will have a greater understanding of God’s ways and word and be better able to discern false teachings. False teaching may curse Jesus.

7a) Jesus says,”Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.” Someone who does not back up their words with actions. They no longer walk the walk of loving God or others. They have let evil into their heart when it comes to one or both of these.

b) I express my love by trying to do God’s will for my life and obeying His commands. I also try to help others along their Christian walk. I fall short in many ways. I can be very selfish, very cautious, and think the worst-case scenarios, rather than helping others. I think more about how it will affect me rather than others.

8 ) Repent means to change your ways and go in a different direction. It’s the act of changing your mind and changing the course of your life. Here, Jesus is telling the Ephesians to turn back to their old ways. God could be telling me to turn to him and away from my sins as well.

9) The tree of life was the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden that God had made. Adam and Eve could eat from the tree of life. Jesus here promises that those who return to him can return to God’s paradise in heaven and have eternal life. Therefore, if I follow God and his ways, I can have eternal life!

Conclusions BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 4, Day 3: Revelation 2:1-7

I love how we visit such a great passage twice! Again, we see a repetitive them in Bible and the book of Revelation: if we walk in God’s ways, we’ll have eternal life!

End Notes BSF Study Questions Revelation: The Hope Lesson 4, Day 3: Revelation 2:1-7

Most Bible scholars say that the Nicolaitans promoted an incorrect doctrine of Jesus and God’s Word. They could have claimed they were from the body of Christ but then perverted the word.

The Nicolaitans are mentioned in Revelation 2:15-16, too. They are considered a heretical group within the early church. When we see them mentioned again, they are mentioned in association with Balaam. Some say it could have been a reference to a false teacher who taught heretical beliefs. This belief taught Christians to be of the world. Learn more about who the Nicolaitans were HERE

Here, we have the first letter to the first church, Ephesus. They all follow a very similar pattern: Jesus will tell the church what they are doing good and/or bad and then he will offer up a command for reparation. He also promises a reward!

Jesus addresses the church as angel.

The church in Ephesus should be familiar to you. It is mentioned a lot by Paul since he ministered there for 3 years. Aquila, Priscilla, Timothy, and Apollos served there as well. (Acts 18:24-28, Acts 19:1, Acts 19:10, Acts 20:31, 1 Timothy 1:3)

One of the seven wonders of the ancient world was located here, the temple of Diana. It was absolutely massive!

Jesus describes himself as John sees him in Chapter 1. Jesus is central in all of this.

Jesus knows all about the church (as he knows everything).

The church left (not lost) their first love. This is a deliberate choice.

Their first love is most likely God AND the people. You have to love both (Matthew 22:37-39)

Jesus tells them to:

  1. Remember the times when they had their priorities right. You must get back to where you were with Jesus.
  2. Repent
  3. Go back to the basics (pray, read God’s Word, be excited about Jesus).

He says another positive word, by pointing out how they hate the Nicolaitans. Not much is known about the Nicolaitans, but you can be sure they were evil.

We don’t see Jesus use the word “hate” much (after all, he’s a God of love), so this is strong indeed.

All (including us) who hear.

If you overcome your cold hearts, you’ll receive eternal life.

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map courtesy of: https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/article/id/1887/truth-revelation-2-3.htm

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BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 3: John 3:9-15

by atozmom, posted in BSF John's Gospel: The Truth 2023/2024

SUMMARY OF JOHN 3:9-15

Jesus says that the Jewish leaders still do not see or accept him and the testimony of the disciples and others. If you do not understand earthly things, how will you understand heavenly things? The Son of Man will be lifted into heaven so that others will be.

BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 3: John 3:9-15

7a) The disciples and John the Baptist.

b) That the Jewish leaders do not accept the testimony of others. That they do not understand God’s Word, essentially.

8 ) The bronze serpent was God’s means of salvation for those bitten by the snake. Similarly, Jesus’ death on the cross is God’s mean of salvation for all of humanity bitten by sin.

9a) When you are saved, you believe in Christ’s sacrifice for your sins on the cross. You then will have eternal life.

b) That Jesus would choose to suffer death for lowly ol’ me.

Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 3: John 3:9-15

I love the emphasis on the fact that anyone can be blind to Christ, including religious leaders. We must always grow close to God ourselves and not rely on others for knowledge of God.

End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 4, Day 3: John 3:9-15

Jesus chides Nicodemus as a religious leader that he does not understand the Scriptures.

Christ is the ultimate authority on heavenly things.

Jesus said that the serpent in Numbers is himself, sent to redeem his people. Serpents represent evil in the Bible and appear more than 50 times. Bronze is associated with judgment in the Bible. A bronze serpent is sin judged, which is Jesus who judges sin.

The people trusted the serpent to save them simply by glancing at it. Similarly, we trust in Jesus.

The Son of Man must be lifted up (ascend). We must accept, not do.

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