Kings and Prophets · Lesson 13
Daniel and the Lions
Daniel 6:1-28 Old Testament PrinciplePrayer
When a law made prayer to God a crime, Daniel kept praying as he always had, and God shut the lions' mouths and kept him safe.
We can talk to God anytime, because He hears us, and we keep praying even when it's hard.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”
Daniel 6:10 BSB
Christ Connection · Picture
Daniel was condemned though he had done nothing wrong, put in a pit sealed with a stone, and found alive at dawn. Jesus, the truly innocent One, was laid in a tomb sealed with a stone, and at dawn on the third day it was empty. Daniel was kept from death; Jesus went through death and conquered it.
Matthew 27:62-66; Matthew 28:1-6; Hebrews 11:33
The Big Story · Redemption
Even far from home in Babylon, God kept His people and showed every nation that His kingdom will never end. Jesus is the King of that everlasting kingdom, who rose from the sealed tomb.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Just as before
- Dasch’s Dig Site (bible-times history): The king's seal
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: In the den
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
I can pray to God anytime.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Lions' mouths shut, Color Daniel
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Daniel kept praying even when it was against the law, and God shut the lions' mouths. I can talk to God anytime.
Memory verse
“Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed and gave thanks to his God.”
Adapted from Daniel 6:10
Start here
Ask, "Have you ever been told you couldn't do something good?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today a man is told he can't pray to God. Let's see what he does."
Bible story 6 min
Daniel worked for King Darius. He was a good, honest worker. The king liked him a lot.
Some other leaders were jealous. They tried to find something bad about Daniel, but they could not. So they made a plan. They got the king to sign a new law. "For 30 days, no one can pray to anyone but the king. If they do, they will be thrown to the lions!"
Daniel heard about the law. He went home and knelt by his window. He prayed and thanked God, just like he always did, three times a day.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Dasch Digs Up: Did You Know?
Daniel prayed three times a day, facing toward Jerusalem!
Daniel 6:10
Try an activity
Morning, noon and night 8 min
- Call out "Morning!", "Noon!" and "Night!" in random order.
- For each one, kids act out something they do then (wake up, eat lunch, go to bed), then kneel and say, "Thank You, God!"
- Say, "Daniel prayed at all three times every day!"
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3rd – 4th grade
Daniel kept praying faithfully even when it was against the law, and God rescued him from the lions, showing He is the living God.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Daniel's faithful habit, Prayer reminder lion
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, online and on screens, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Daniel's lifelong habit of prayer held when obeying God became illegal, and God's rescue from the sealed den pictures Jesus, who rose from the sealed tomb.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Sealed and opened, Just as before
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, online and on screens, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Prayer
The same principle in other Bible stories.
