Through the end of the year, Lakeland is teaming up with various partners to provide opportunities to meet real needs in our community. Today and next Sunday, Nov. 29th we’ll be collecting food for hungry families right here in Lake County.

Join us Sunday, December 6th for our quarterly congregational meeting right after 2nd service in the Worship Center.

GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER Can you describe a time you had to wait for something?

To join a group, go to http://lakeland.org/#/get-involved/adults.

lakeland.org

——————————————————— Stewardship Update

Giving generously to the Lord is one of the joys of honoring and trusting God! You can bring your gifts to Gathered Worship or you can securely give online at our website. Sep. 1, 2015 — Nov. 16, 2015 Needed Giving % Difference Fiscal year to date: 266,169 246,983 93% (19,186) Last week (Tue.-Mon.): 28,529 15,711 55% (12,818) Caring Fund Balance: 48,332

Are you a guest or newcomer to Lakeland? You’re invited to join Pastor Dan for a free guest luncheon today at 12:15pm in his office (Room 607). There will be food and fun for your kids, so feel free to bring them along.

Join us Saturday, December 5th as we step back in time to Bethlehem, 33 A.D. and explore Jesus’ miraculous love in an interactive marketplace setting that’s an adventure for the whole family! There are invitations on your seat if you know of a family who might enjoy this one-of-a-kind experience.

If this is your first time visiting, please fill out a CONNECT card and bring it to the Welcome Desk in the North Lobby for a free gift. Join us in our mission to

worship Christ in all things as we share him with all people.

Daniel 9:20-27 PERSONAL STUDY: As you study (read, reread, consider, ponder, reread) this passage, list three or more observations that come to mind. What are the obvious thoughts that this passage is conveying? What are the “Aha” thoughts that the Holy Spirit brought to you as you consider the passage? What questions come to mind? How do you respond to the God they show you?

Bring your observations and questions to your Small Group this week! —————————

GROUP QUESTIONS CONTEXT: Daniel 9:1-2 Daniel is in his 80s, having been in Babylon 66 years. While reading Jeremiah, he realizes God promised He would return Israel to Judah after 70 years when they had repented and asked God to make their hearts right. 9:3-19 is Daniel’s prayer 1) remembering God’s goodness, 2) confessing Israel’s sin, and 3) asking God to restore them to Himself. V. 20-27 is what happens next. 1. V. 20-23 What happened then? 2. Look closely at Gabriel’s words to Daniel. What do we learn about God, His view of His people,

prayer, and God’s response to it from what we see here? 3. NOTE: What had Daniel prayed and how aligned was it with the will and Word of God? Why is

praying for God’s will found in God’s Word important? NOTE 1a: Daniel 9:24-27 are among the most debated verses in the Bible. Dozens of varying, reason-

able explanations have been given for these challenging verses and none are finally certain. NOTE 1b: The challenge is not so much with what they promise as when those things will happen and therefore who they point to. My advice: dwell on WHAT God will do more than when.

NOTE 2: Almost all scholars understand “70-sevens” (translated 70 weeks) to mean 70, 7-year periods. 4. V. 24 What does Gabriel tell Daniel God will do for His people? In what timeframe? 5. Look closely at the 6 things God would do within 490 years. Do they sound familiar to us?

Consider each one closely and how they have been fulfilled. 6. How do you respond to seeing this detail of prophecy given to Daniel in 539 BC? 7. V. 25-27 inform us that the overview of God’s work, described in v. 24, will unfold in 3 phases: v. 25a What will happen in phase 1? (7-sevens or 49 years)? v. 25b What will happen in phase 2? (62-sevens or 434 years)? v. 26-27 What will happen in phase 3? (1-seven or 7 years) 8. The last half of v. 27 is particularly challenging. What do we learn will happen in the end of time? 9. What conclusions do we draw from these verses about God, us, and the world in which we are

living? How does each conclusion challenge us to live differently? (I drew 4, though they were not the only ones - you may start with them).

10. While understanding the details of Daniel 9:24-27 is very challenging, what is the overall message of these verses? How is this message helpful for us?

MAIN POINT: heart, will, Phase 1: Sending, Phase 2: Rebuilding, Phase 3, Restorer, Conclusions 1. answers, 2. keeps, important, 3. send, 4. rule

Four conclusions from these verses:

Don’t lose heart - God will make things right!

1) God ___________ right prayers - so pray

2) God _________ His promises - so wait

3) God will _________ a Redeemer - so trust

4) God will bring His _________ to earth - so join

Unshaken through waiting! DANIEL 9:20-27

Apocalyptic literature is… 1) …written to God’s people in persecution 2) …uses “pictures” to communicate truths AND impressions 3) …primarily pastoral, not predictive

Main point: Don’t lose _______ - God ______ make things right

Gabriel answers 9:20-23

God’s plan 9:24-27 Overview - 490 years (9:24)

Phase 1 - 49 years - _________ anointed one ( 9:25a)

Phase 2 - 434 years - _____________ Jerusalem (9:25b)

Phase 3 - 7 years - _____________ of God’s Kingdom (9:26-27a)

Conclusion - End of time - Righteousness comes (9:27b)

What God does in us while we wait is as ______________ as what it is we’re waiting for. Ben Patterson