After reading the selected chapters in Courageous Faith, determine the chapter that you would
like to write about this week and identify the following items:
3 key ideas from the chapter on this character in Courageous Faith.
2 things you learned about this character from your reading in Courageous Faith.
1 way you can use what you have learned from your reading on this character in Courageous
Faith.
Once you have identified these items compose a thread of at least 400 words that not only states
but also explains each of these items. Your thread should contain at least one quote from
Courageous Faith to support the thoughts and ideas you are presenting your thread.
SEE EXAMPLE BELOW THEN READ CHAPTER 12 WHICH I CHOSE
TO HELP COMPLETE THIS ASSIGNMENT RUBRIC WILL ALSO BE
ATTACHED!!!
Week Seven: A 3-2-1 Example:
3 key ideas from this week’s reading.
There is a definite link between justification and sanctification. Grunewald expresses it
this way, “Justification always effects our sanctification. In other words, the grace that
saves us also changes us” (Grunewald, p. 105). This connection is rooted in Jesus Christ
who is at work within us re-creating us to be people who love the people around us.
The gifts and opportunities God gives us are so that we can serve the people around us.
They are not because “He” needs something. We are given them because “they” needs
something. Grunewald writes, “Our neighbors need our good works. Jesus doesn’t need
our love and service by our neighbors do. Jesus doesn’t need our food in order to survive,
but our neighbors might. Jesus doesn’t need us to protects Him and care for Him but our
children do need care and protection” (Grunewald, p. 110). Thus, we are blessed to be a
blessing. We have received good things so that we can share those good things with our
neighbors.
The transformation in the believer is being orchestrated by Jesus and it turns our curved
inward bend to an outward bend. In other words, we are being reshaped so that instead of
an inward gaze at our own life we have an outward look to the needs of our neighbor.
Grunewald notes, “Jesus turns our inward curves out toward our neighbors. When
selfishness has made us worship only what pleases us, Jesus is at work in us making us
forget ourselves. Jesus gives us new sight as we see our neighbors the way He sees our
neighbors” (Grunewald, p. 124). One practical outgrowth of sanctification is that we
begin to see the needs of others and the way in which God has gifted us to meet those
needs.
2 things you learned from this week’s reading.
Concupiscence: This theological word is not something we hear used frequently today.
However, its definition is one that describes the human condition. To that end,
“Concupiscence is the desire and the lusting of the heart towards sin” (Grunewald, p. 25)
Luther’s interpretation of Deuteronomy 6:6: This is an understanding of this passage that
I was not aware of nor had been previously exposed to. Luther sees the terms in this verse
as more practical rather than religious. To that end, “‘between your eyes’ means all our
thoughts must be directed by these words, and the phases to write them on the doorposts
of your house and on your gates’ means that all our senses and particularly our tongue
must be directed and applied according to these words” (Grunewald, p. 112).
1 way you can use what you have read this week.
Grunewald talks about hiding in chapter 1. More specifically, he talks about the way we
have learned to hide things as it relates to social media. He writes, “We’ve become
experts at hiding. We filter our lives and crop out the sadness so that everybody sees a
version of us that has everything together…This is the unwritten law of social media:
show the best version of your life and hide the mess (Grunewald, p.12). With this in
mind, I will focus on personal contentment rather than personal dissatisfaction as I
consume information on social media. I will remind myself that what I am looking at is a
highlight reel with all of the sadness cropped out.
I CHOOSE CHAPTER 12 WHICH IS PASTED BELOW!!!!
Chapter 12: Standing Up for What You Believe: Developing Spiritual Determination
MOST TEENAGERS would have given in! Daniel was only fifteen when the Babylonians
captured Jerusalem, and it would have been a frightening experience for any teenager. Tensions
between Babylon and Jerusalem had been mounting for several years. Finally, the Babylonians
sent Nebuchadnezzar himself to take the city.
David’s kingdom had lasted for over four hundred years. The line of Davidic kings remained
on the throne in Jerusalem throughout those years. And with them the line of the Messiah had
been preserved as well. The promise had been kept alive and well, not by the faithfulness of the
kings but by the faithfulness of God.
There had been both good kings and evil kings. The kingdom had reached its zenith under
David and Solomon between 1,000–931 b.c. After Solomon’s death, the northern tribes pulled
away and eventually established their own capital in Samaria. In 722 b.c. the northern kingdom
fell to the Assyrians. Judah, the southern kingdom, fared much better under great kings such as
Hezekiah and Josiah. But other kings of Judah were not as faithful. They did not obey God’s
commands or keep His laws. Time had now run out. God’s judgment was about to fall. Once
again the promise seemed bleak.
In the summer of 605 b.c. the powerful general and crown prince of Babylon, young
Nebuchadnezzar, marched against the City of David and defeated it. Nebuchadnezzar’s initial
victory over Jerusalem was relatively merciful. He allowed the city and the temple to stand, but
he decided to take a few select captives back to Babylon.
He chose some of the choice young men from the royal family and the nobility. They would
be held as intellectual hostages. These educated and sophisticated young men would be
reprogrammed to serve in the royal palace at Babylon. They were assigned to instructors who
would teach them the language and literature of their new culture.
In other words, they were going to look, talk, and act like Babylonians. They were even
given Babylonian names. Everything possible was done to assimilate them into Babylonian
culture and to break down their Hebrew heritage.
Among the captives were four young Hebrews about fifteen years of age. Their names were
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Each name identified them with the God of Israel: El or
Jehovah. So the Babylonians renamed them after the names of their gods Bel, Mardach, and
Nego. We know them as Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Talk About Peer Pressure
There were other Hebrew boys taken captive and put through this same process of cultural
reorientation. But these four are the only ones whose names we know because they appear to
have been the only ones who stood up for their faith in God.
The others compromised. Besides, it’s not our fault we were taken captive. What did people
expect them to do—get in more trouble? A guy could lose his head if he made the wrong move
in a place like this! After all, they had been kidnapped by a Middle Eastern dictator—a real
madman.
Talk about peer pressure! These young Jews were facing a life-or-death situation. They either
had to compromise their beliefs or give up their lives. The choice was simple for most of them:
Compromise, man, compromise!
Ancient Babylon is part of modern-day Iraq. We’ve all seen the video replay of Saddam
Hussein patting the little British boy on the head while flashing a fake smile at the cameras.
“Nice boy. You’ll be safe here.”
Yeah, sure! Soldiers fell and innocents were captured. People were assassinated. Executions
were a daily occurrence. What a great place to go to school! I can’t wait to see what final exams
are like. If you don’t pass, you end up shoveling sand in the desert.
That’s exactly what being in Babylon in 605 b.c. was all about. These teenagers were
prisoners of war, and they knew it. In fact, they were royal hostages. They were being kept in
Babylon as insurance against any further rebellion back home.
A Little Compromise Can’t Hurt
There was one significant difference back then: Babylon was the greatest city on earth! It
was the crown jewel of the Middle East. Its opulence exceeded any place on earth during this
era. Its azure blue and sparkling gold walls glistened in the desert sun. It was the greatest
metropolis in the whole world—a giant oasis in the middle of the desert.
Babylon sparkled with every kind of material attraction and personal temptation you could
imagine. Being taken there was like being hauled off to Las Vegas. Every kind of enticement
existed to appeal to their teenage senses. Besides, their parents were back in Jerusalem. Who
would ever know if they gave in to a little temptation?
From what we can tell from the book of Daniel, most of them probably gave in. But notice
that their names and their memories have since been forgotten.
That’s how life is, you know. We remember only the heroes. The men and women of
character are never forgotten. Somehow their lives make such an impression on us that we
remember them long after they are gone.
The morally weak and spiritually deficient, on the other hand, are soon forgotten. Oh, we
notice them while they are alive, but soon after they are gone, we erase them. Their self-centered
lives are not worth remembering. People of character are a different breed. They stand up for
what they believe. They stand out from the crowd.
The boys were assigned to a three-year training program similar to a modern university
education. They would learn the intricacies of Babylonian art, science, mathematics, and
religion. They were also assigned a portion of food and wine from the king’s table. It was good
stuff. The only problem was that it was considered unclean by Jewish standards.
If they ate the food, they would be violating their religious convictions. But to refuse it meant
refusing the king’s provisions, which could cost you your head!
Dare to Be a Daniel
Daniel’s name has long been associated with taking a stand for faith in God. In fact,
Westminster Academy in St. Louis, Missouri, gives a “Daniel award” every year to the senior
who most exemplifies standing up for his or her faith.
I will never forget sitting in the audience at Westminster’s commencement in 1990, when our
daughter, Christy, was called to the platform to win that award. My wife, Donna, just glowed!
Christy winning the “Daniel award” meant more to Donna as a mother than all the other awards
and honors given that day.
Our little Christy had become a young lady with a heart for God, and it showed. She had
learned to stand up for Jesus Christ even amid the pressure of her peers. And she has been doing
it ever since. Moving to St. Louis had been a challenge for all of us. But it was obvious that she
was handling it just fine.
Daniel and his friends had a serious decision to make: They either had to accept the king’s
request or find a way to resist it. Rather than becoming defiant, the Bible says, “Daniel resolved
not to defile himself” (Daniel 1:8). Then Daniel came up with a creative alternative. He asked the
steward to exempt him and his friends from the requirement.
“I am afraid of my lord the king,” the steward said. “The king would then have my head
because of you” (verse 10).
“Please test your servants for ten days,” Daniel requested. “Give us nothing but vegetables to
eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the
royal food” (verses 12, 13).
It was a good idea. It gave the boys an option, and it gave the steward an option as well.
What harm could a little “test” do? the steward probably thought. Ten days? All right! But only
ten days!
Putting Your Faith to the Test
The request meant that Daniel and his friends were putting their faith to the ultimate test.
Meat and wine were normally dedicated to the idols and gods of pagan religions. Besides, Jewish
dietary laws about such foods were very strict: no pork, only certain kinds of beef or chicken.
Everything had to be kosher by Jewish standards.
The boys’ request was intended to allow them to participate in their schooling without
compromising their beliefs. It wasn’t just a request to become vegetarians. The vegetables were
certainly good for them, but they didn’t require the same kind of kosher restrictions that meats
did according to Jewish law.
At the end of ten days, the Bible says, “they looked healthier and better nourished than any of
the young men who ate the royal food” (Daniel 1:15). So the steward allowed them to stay on
their diet throughout the three-year training program.
At the end of the three years, Nebuchadnezzar himself gave the final examination.
“God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning” to these four
young men (Daniel 1:17). The king examined them all and “found none equal to Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. … In every matter of wisdom and understanding … he found
them ten times better” (Daniel 1:19, 20).
God helped them to pass the examination because they stood up for their beliefs and
convictions. One cannot read the book of Daniel without being impressed by the character and
courage of these young men. While they were still in the training program, Daniel interpreted
Nebuchadnezzar’s prophetic dreams and rose to a position of prominence. He and his friends
were eventually appointed administrators over the province of Babylon. In the meantime, Daniel
actually served in the royal court (Daniel 2:48, 49).
Daniel’s testimony was so well known that he must have been deliberately sent out of town
on business during the event. In Daniel 3, we read the story of his three friends and the furnace
of fire. Daniel is nowhere to be found. This time his friends would have to take their own stand
for God.
Bend, Bow, or Burn!
Nebuchadnezzar was your typical autocratic egomaniac. Power corrupted him so thoroughly
that he eventually lost his mind. He loved things that called attention to him. So he eventually
constructed a ninety-foot gold statue of himself. Then he invited all the provincial officials
(except Daniel) to a public dedication of the statue.
“As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of
music,” announced a herald, “you must fall down and worship the image of gold” (Daniel 3:5).
Nebuchadnezzar already forced his people to worship all those Babylonian gods, but now he
demanded that they worship him too. And, if you didn’t do it you would be “thrown into a
blazing furnace” (Daniel 3:6).
Ancient Babylon was covered with brick kilns. These “blazing furnaces” were used to fire
the bricks for massive construction projects. There was very little wood in Babylon, since it was
in the desert, so bricks were used to build everything—houses, palaces, and city walls. Such
furnaces were typically conical in shape with a door at the bottom and an opening at the top.
During the ceremony, the band played and the people bowed. Nebuchadnezzar stood there
smiling from ear to ear, until the astrologers interrupted him and denounced the three Jews for
not bowing down. They were still angry that he had promoted the Jews to positions of leadership.
This was a chance to get those Jews in trouble.
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego … pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve
your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up,” the astrologers reported (Daniel
3:12).
Nebuchadnezzar blew up in a fit of rage! These stubborn Jews and jealous astrologers had
spoiled his big day. He summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and demanded an
explanation. Then he threatened them with execution.
“Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” he said (Daniel 3:15).
“O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter,” the
Hebrew men responded. “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to
save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we … will
not serve your gods or worship the image of gold” (Daniel 3:16–18).
Standing at All Costs
Notice their response was twofold: 1) God is able to deliver us, 2) but He may not choose to
deliver us. Either way, they were determined to stand up for their convictions. Now that is true
courage! Humanly speaking, they had everything to gain by compromising. Spiritually speaking,
they had everything to lose: their character, their integrity, and their commitment.
Nebuchadnezzar was furious! Their decision against his authority was pure defiance. He
ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. That’s the illogic of anger. The
intense heat would only kill them more quickly! Such decisions never make sense anyway, nor
did throwing them down through the opening in the top. Nevertheless, the king ordered it. The
Babylonian soldiers climbed the ladder on the outer surface of the furnace and threw the three
Jews into the blazing fire down below. The soldiers who did so died instantly from the heat.
Nebuchadnezzar peered into the furnace from the lower door window and was shocked when
he saw four people walking around in the fire unharmed.
“Look!” he shouted. “I see four men walking around in the fire … and the fourth is like a son
of the gods” (Daniel 3:25).
Babylonian law codes always specified the concept of “trial by ordeal.” In other words, if
someone were thrown into a river—or a fire—as punishment and survived, they were presumed
innocent.
Nebuchadnezzar ordered the Hebrews to come out of the furnace and he exonerated them.
They had survived the ordeal unharmed. Even the royal advisers had to acknowledge the miracle.
“Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and
rescued his servants!” Nebuchadnezzar said. “They trusted in him … and were willing to give up
their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God” (Daniel 3:28).
Two things are apparent from this account. First, it was an incredible testimony to
Nebuchadnezzar. The pagan king was impressed by their courage and by God’s power. Until you
are willing to take such a stand, the power of God will never be evident in your life.
Second, the Hebrews put their fate in God’s hands. They were willing to give up their lives
for their beliefs. Some call this the “theology of martyrdom.” Martyrs are those who are willing
to die for their faith. When people are willing to die for what they believe, they will also be
willing to live for what they believe.
The Fellowship of the Unashamed
Very few Americans ever face this option. Rarely are any of us called upon to die for our
faith in Jesus Christ. But until we are willing to die for Him, we will never fully live for Him.
The true martyr is the one who believes his testimony is more important than his safety, and his
faith more important than his life.
The following confession of an African Christian was found among his papers after he was
martyred:
I am part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit’s power. The die has
been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus
Christ. I won’t look up, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my
present makes sense, and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight
walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talking, chintzy
giving, and dwarfed goals.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I
don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by
presence, learn by faith, love by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power. My pace is set, my
gait is fact, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my
guide reliable, my mission clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted, or delayed. I
will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table
of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t
give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I’ve preached up, prayed up, stored up, and stayed up
the cause of Christ.
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until Heaven returns, give until I drop, preach until
all know, and work until He comes. And when He comes to get His own, He will have no
problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear.
Enduring to the End
Daniel lived all the way through the seventy years of the Babylonian captivity. His courage
as a young person paid off time and time again. He stood up against Nebuchadnezzar and
eventually won him over to faith in his God. He stood against the king’s wicked grandson,
Belshazzar, and saw his kingdom fall to the Medes and Persians. Finally, he stood against Darius
the Mede, the new ruler of Babylon who served under Cyrus the Great.
His last stand got him thrown in a lion’s den when he was an old man of about eighty-five.
When ordered not to pray to anyone but the local king, Daniel continued praying to God three
times a day with the windows open. He was a true servant of God, not some “secret agent”
believer sleuthing around unidentified. He stuck out in a crowd because he was down on his
knees talking to God.
Daniel’s jealous critics rushed to Darius and accused Daniel of breaking the law because he
prayed in public places. Some things never change! Satan is still trying to keep people from
prayer. It is the one thing he fears most. When we are talking to God, we are in communication
with the one and only Person who can overcome all opposition.
Daniel survived the “trial by ordeal.” He lived through the night in the lion’s den. “My God
sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions,” Daniel called to the king. “They have not
hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight” (Daniel 6:22).
Daniel was released, and his accusers were given his punishment instead. The lions tore them
to pieces. And Daniel was vindicated for his stand. In fact, Darius was so impressed, he issued
the following decree:
For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed. His
dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens
and on the earth (Daniel 6:26, 27).
Signs and wonders! That got the king’s attention. Daniel’s testimony made a lasting impact
on everyone who knew him. Friends and enemies alike were overwhelmed by his courage and
his faith. God moved powerfully on his behalf because Daniel stood up for his faith in Him.
Daniel was so beloved of God that the Lord unveiled the future to him through his many
visions of the end times. He saw the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven and receiving a
kingdom from God the Father, the “Ancient of Days.” Daniel wrote: “His dominion is an
everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be
destroyed” (Daniel 7:14).
Although it seemed bleak, the promise was not forgotten, nor was it in any serious jeopardy.
The eternal God was still on the throne. The Promisor would maintain and fulfill the promise,
just as He always had.
Ask Yourself
1. What pressures to compromise do you face in your life?
2. What are you doing to resist the pressure to give in?
3. Are you willing to stand up for your beliefs, or do you depend too much on your friends?
4. What stand should you be taking right now that you are hesitant about?
5. What are you really living for in this life?
6. What are you willing to die for?
Making It Real
How is God using your life and testimony to impact others?
Family
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Friends
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Relatives
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Acquaintances
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Closing Thought
If you don’t stand up for something,
you will fall for everything!
—Cal Thomas
[Ed Hindson (2017). (p. 191). Courageous Faith: Life Lessons from Old Testament Heroes
(Updated). AMG Publishers. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com]
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Comments:
Running Head: CHAPTER 12 1
CHAPTER 12
Student Name
Institution Affiliation
CHAPTER 12 2
Three ideas from chapter twelve readings
There is a great power when faith is put to the test. Faith is the belief of something to
happen with no certainties or proof that they will happen. Daniel and his friends decided not to
compromise their faith in God when they have presented food that was given to the idols. The
bible says that after ten days, they looked healthier than the men who took the royal food. "The
King examined them all and found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. … In
every matter of wisdom and understanding … he found them ten times better (Ed Hindson, 2017).”
God saw the four of them through the examination because they did not compromise their faith.
The ability to stand with faith at all cost will attract the favor and mercies of God when
Nebuchadnezzar built an idol of himself and asked everyone to bend and bow on the idol or get
burnt. But Daniel and his friends stood firm and said, "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace,
the God we serve can save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O King. But even if
he does not, we … will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold (Ed Hindson, 2017).”
These men were willing to undergo any cost to stand firm with what they believed in. God is
pleased by those who suffer for the Kingdom of God. They were thrown in the fire, and non was
burnt, which means that God is pleased with them and rescue those who serve Him regardless of
the conditions.
Endurance spurs up the victory. Daniel faced many challenges through the seventy years
of captivity in Babylon (Ed Hindson, 2017). Daniel was a true martyr because he suffered for his
faith in God. His courage and endurance paid off during his times. Daniel was accused of breaking
the law because he prayed in public places; he was presented for trial because he failed to worship
idols and was through in a den of the lion where the angel of God shut the lions' mouth. "For he is
CHAPTER 12 3
the living God and endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed. His dominion will never
end. He rescues, and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth (Ed
Hindson, 2017).”
Two things learned from this reading.
God is a God of signs and wonders. When God wants to glorify Himself, he might allow
one to go through trial and temptation for his namesake. Daniel faced a lot of humiliation for his
faith in God. God allowed Daniel to undergo all these years of trouble because He wanted to be
glorified and that the King would finally accept to worship the God of Daniel. Daniel knew that
the God he serves was able to get him through all the humiliation, and he would finally come out
as a conqueror.
When we stand on our convictions about God, He will surely fight our battles, and we will
be conquerors. Just as Daniel, who did not allow himself to compromise his belief even after being
presented with the Royal food, after being sent to burn on fire and being in the den of lions. One
should stand firm in what one believes in, which should be a spiritual determination for anyone
who beliefs in Christ. God rescues anyone that believes in him (Ed Hindson, 2017).
One way to use this reading
I will use this reading to building my confidence in my conviction. I have learned that there
is power in standing up on what I believe in. This word can be useful for me not to be ashamed of
the gospel of Christ. Since I have the holy spirit with me, I believe just as Daniel that the Lord can
deliver us from any disaster or troubles that we face in life, and even if God does not deliver us,
we should either be willing to stand up for our convictions. There is no need to gain earthly desires
CHAPTER 12 4
and lose the kingdom of God. I will be more determined to seek God and stand my convictions
because I am now sure that the Lord is with those who stand up for him.
CHAPTER 12 5
References
Ed Hindson (2017). (Chapter 12). Courageous Faith: Life Lessons from Old Testament Heroes
(Updated). AMG Publishers. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com]
Outline: chapter 12
1. Three ideas from chapter twelve readings- There is a great power when faith is put to test.
Faith is the belief of something to happen with no certainties or proof that they will happen.
2. The ability to stand with faith at all cost will attract the favor and mercies of God. When
Nebuchadnezzar built an idol of himself and asked everyone to bend and bow on the idol or
get burnt.
3. Endurance spurs up victory. Daniel faced a lot of challenges through the seventy years of
captivity in Babylon
4. Two things learned from this reading- God is a God of signs and wonders. When God wants
to glorify Himself, he might allow one to go through trial and temptation for his namesake.
5. When we stand on our convictions about God, He will surely fight our battles and we will be
conquerors.
6. One way to use this reading- I will use this reading to building my confidence in my
conviction
