If your class is meeting online, invite students to bring index cards and pens/pencils with them to class.

Daniel and his friend knew that the rules God gave the Jewish people were what was best for them. When the king told Daniel and his friends to eat the rich food and drink the wine, they knew it was going against God’s authority and best plan for them. Instead of fighting with the king or demanding their own way, Daniel and his friends respectfully disagreed and suggested a different plan, one that the king would be able to gauge as a success or failure quite simply. When Daniel and his friends looked better than the other young men on the king’s diet, the king realized that Daniel and his friends were following God’s wisdom.

Write today’s memory verse on a board or screen-shared document where students can see it. Share: Today’s memory verse is one that can help us gain God’s wisdom as Daniel did, “The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 15:33). Hand each student an index card and pen/pencil (or invite students to have those items ready at tome) and instruct them write this verse down and keep it somewhere this week where they can be reminded of its truth.

• What do you think the verse means when it says, “humility comes before honor”? (Answers will vary. Explain that we must not be proud if we want God’s wisdom; rather, we need to fear the Lord.)

This sounds like another verse you may know, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). Remind students of today’s lesson focus: God’s wisdom helps us deal with those in authority.

On the back of the index card, have students write three authority figures or people in authority over them that they struggle to obey. Let students know that they won’t have to share the names of these people or explain why they have a hard time with these people in authority over them.

Being submissive to a teacher, parent, pastor—even a friend’s parents—isn’t easy at times. God’s wisdom can guide us as we navigate this sensitive area. Sometimes a person may be telling us to do something that we think is dumb or unimportant. What today’s lesson about Daniel tells us is that no matter what we think of the rule or expectation, the authority of the person can be respected even if we kindly disagree with them.

It’s never easy to respect a person who we may feel isn’t deserving of our respect. If they’re in authority over us, however, then God wants us to respect them. Let’s try this week to see how we can use God’s wisdom to give both God and the people in authority over us the honor they deserve.

Encourage students to read their card this week and pray for the three people they listed on the back. Follow up to see if prayer helped their students in this struggle.

If students have specific questions or are dealing with an issue of a person in authority who should not be obeyed because he or she is not conducting himself or herself in an appropriate matter, then have that discussion with them privately or direct the student to a staff member who can help. Remember that any evidence of abuse or criminal conduct students share must be reported. If you need guidance, please talk to your supervisor or church leaders.

Close in prayer.