Conversation Starter: Daniel 4:1-37
ExpandTAKEAWAY: What is one personal takeaway and one question that you had from the sermon?
THINKING BACK: Pride is a lot like bad breath. It is disgusting to everyone and yet we often aren’t aware that we have it as bad as we think. Why is pride so ugly and why is it so easy to see in others, but not ourselves?
SCRIPTURE: Read Daniel 4:28-33. We see that King Nebuchadnezzar’s pride led him to live like a beast. Nathan talked about how pride dehumanizes us. What is meant by this? How does pride make us less human?
OPENING UP: Pride is manifested in many ways. We see it in the person who brags about their accomplishments (or the accomplishments of their kids) and we see it in the person who sulks in self pity. While they look different, the person in both situations is focused on themselves. In what ways do you see the “bad breath” of pride in your life?
REFLECT: In chapter 4 verse 27, Daniel advises Nebuchadnezzar to “break off his sins by practicing righteousness.” We often think of battling sin by simply trying to stop it. How does practicing righteousness serve as a unique method of battling sin?
PRAY: Pride is a pernicious sin that truly is the root of so many other sins. But what amazing truth we have and we see in the person of Jesus. Read Philippians 2:3-11 together to begin your time in prayer. As you confess and pray over your pride see Jesus as the one who came to be humbled for you that you might be exalted. See your humble suffering servant King nailing your pride to the cross.