4/15 Sermon on Daniel, Part 2

At Gainesville's Family Church last Sunday, senior pastor Philip Griffin continued his message series on the Old Testament book of Daniel, titled Counter Culture.  This sermon focused on Chapter 2, which you can read via Bible Gateway by clicking on the link.  From it comes a question: how do we live in two kingdoms at once?

Daniel has been taken from Judah to Babylon, where he is undergoing training to be assimilated into the Babylonian Empire.  Yet although he is supportive of those within this strange and ungodly kingdom and dutifully performs his responsibilities, he holds to his faith in God and the laws that govern it.  One day King Nebuchadnezzar demands not only an interpretation of a disturbing dream he has had, but also the dream itself...no one can accomplish this.  But Daniel prays to God and the answer is revealed for him...resulting in him being promoted second-in-authority over Babylon...

Pastor Philip poses a question that pertains to us in our age as well as to Daniel in his: how do we live in two kingdoms (or governments)?  He then states two ways: we have to seek the peace and prosperity of the earthly kingdom we find ourselves in, and we need to know that all earthly kingdoms have crumbling foundations.  In Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, a succession of powerful kingdoms come and go...they are all built on fragile foundations of clay.  Only God's kingdom will persevere.  So we see a duality of existence here, where as believers in Christ we are in essence exiles in this material world.  We are to pursue the well-being of others, shining Christ's light for others to follow.  We neither assimilate into our worldly culture nor isolate ourselves, instead engaging in it as spiritual exiles to the glory of God and the building of his kingdom...

You can watch this message through the church's YouTube video website...just click on the following link: [TFC Videos].  The Family Church, located at 2022 SW 122nd Street, holds its Sunday morning services at 9 and 10:30, providing the weekly sermon along with praise and worship music that is always changing from week to week, prayer, fellowship, and opportunities for learning and discipleship. The story of Daniel continues this Sunday...