“God kept Daniel safe with the lions. Jesus is with us when we are afraid.”

“Jesus, thank You for being with me when I am afraid.”

Daniel 6.

Children repeat after you:

“Dear God,
Thank You for loving us.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for the Bible,
Your special book.
Help us listen and obey.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Pick 2–3 songs, repeat them often through the year.

Song 1 – “The B-I-B-L-E”
Motions:

• Hold hands like a book on “The B-I-B-L-E”.
• Hug the “book” on “Yes, that’s the book for me”.
• Step forward and stomp gently on “I stand alone on the Word of God”.

Song 2 – “Jesus Loves Me”
Motions: 

• point to self on “me,” 
• hug on “loves,” 
• hands like a book on “Bible tells me so.”

Song 3 – “God Made Me, God Loves Me” chant
“God made me (point to self),
God loves me (hug self),
The Bible tells me so (book hands).
Jesus came,
Knows my name,
He’s with me where I go (walk in place).”

Repeat 2–3 times.

Sit kids in a circle. Have a “Daniel” figure, several toy lions, and a box or ring of blocks for the “den.”

a) Daniel loves God and prays
Show the Daniel figure.

• “The Bible tells us about a man named Daniel. Daniel loved God very much. Daniel talked to God every day. He prayed to God three times a day, even when he was busy.”

Move Daniel to a simple “window” spot (or just pretend).

• “Daniel worked for the king and did a very good job. The king liked Daniel.”

b) The rule and the lions’ den (gentle)
Make a “mad officials” face with a few other people figures.

• “Some men were jealous of Daniel because the king liked him. They made a bad plan. They tricked the king into making a rule: ‘No one can pray to anyone except the king for thirty days.’ If they did, they would be thrown into a den of lions.”

Move Daniel to a “praying” position.

• “Daniel heard about the rule, but he still loved God most. Daniel kept praying to God, just like before. The jealous men saw Daniel praying and told the king. The king was sad, but the rule could not be changed.”

Place Daniel gently into the “den” with toy lions around (but not touching him).

• “Daniel was put into the lions’ den. Lions are big and strong and have sharp teeth. It could have been very scary. But Daniel trusted God.”

c) God keeps Daniel safe
Pretend to place a hand over Daniel.

• “That night, God sent His angel to shut the lions’ mouths. The lions did not hurt Daniel. In the morning, the king ran to the den and called, ‘Daniel! Did your God keep you safe?’ Daniel answered, ‘Yes, God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths.’ God kept Daniel safe because Daniel trusted Him.”

Move Daniel out of the “den.”

e) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat:

• “God kept Daniel safe. Jesus is with me.”

Motions:

• Point up on “God.”
• Point to Daniel figure on “Daniel.”
• Point up (Jesus) then to self and hug self on “Jesus is with me.”
  
  

Say it several times: loud, whisper, standing and sitting.

d) Jesus connection
Hold Daniel near the children, then place a hand on your heart.

“The lions’ den was a very scary place, but Daniel was not alone. God was with him. Sometimes we feel scared too—at night, when we go somewhere new, or when hard things happen. The Bible tells us that Jesus is with us always.”
“Jesus came to be ‘God with us.’ He knows when we are afraid and loves us. Jesus is stronger than any danger. We can pray to Jesus like Daniel prayed to God, and trust Him to be with us and help us.”