Series: Finding Home in the Unknown

We often incorrectly assume that when we face challenging situations, it must be a sign that God is distant. The truth we learn in the Bible is just the opposite: God never leaves us, and we can often feel his presence the most when we’re in the midst of our greatest challenges. This week we’ll read the famous Bible story of 3 friends who faced an extreme risk, but as they faced it together, got to experience God in miraculous and powerful way.

In a world where disagreement is common, it can be easy to use our morals and values as a tool to insulate ourselves from others. God’s plan for his people is quite the opposite: his desire is that by living out his values, we’d be able to share his love and comfort with everyone. This week we’ll see how an ancient young prophet from the Old Testament, Daniel, went from being a scholar in captivity to a blessing to an entire nation because he lived and shared God’s values.

Have you ever had the feeling that you’re a stranger living in a strange land? Have you ever felt like you’re not quite at home in today’s culture? These feelings can be small annoyances, but they can also lead to major worry and anxiety as we seek to live in a world that can seem hostile or uncaring. During this 5-week series, we’ll explore a period of biblical history in which God’s people were conquered, removed from their homeland, and forced to live in exile, under the thumb of foreign rulers. They experienced, first-hand, what it meant to wrestle against their surroundings, yet still feel and share God’s love and hope. Though every feeling of exile is challenging, we’ll learn how it’s also an opportunity for followers of God to embrace their true connection to him and grow the ability to see themselves as citizens of God’s Kingdom