Daniel and the Lions

Daniel was a faithful man who prayed to God every day. Some officials tricked the king into making a law that made it a crime to pray to anyone else. Daniel kept praying, and he was thrown into a den of lions. God sent an angel to shut the lions' mouths, and Daniel was not hurt.

The king was glad, and he told everyone to honor Daniel's God. This game helps everyone remember the key parts of the story.

Verse to remember (Daniel 6:22): God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they did not hurt Daniel.

1. Everyone sits in a circle. One person is chosen as "Daniel" and stands outside the circle. The rest of the players are "lions".
2. Daniel walks slowly around the outside of the circle and gently taps each lion on the shoulder, saying "lion".
3. At some point Daniel taps a player and says "Daniel!" instead. That player stands up and walks the other way around the circle.
4. The two players walk around the circle in opposite directions. The first one to reach the empty spot sits down. The other becomes the new Daniel.
5. The player who is left standing answers one question from the leader's list (see below) before the next round starts.
6. Play until everyone has had one turn, or until time is up.

How it ends: End the game with the questions below, then read Daniel 6:19-23 aloud. Ask the group what they learned about Daniel and about God.

Leader can say: “God was with Daniel in the lions' den, and He is with us too.”

For little ones: Walk, do not race, around the circle. Let little children answer with a helper and pick easy questions, such as "Who shut the lions' mouths?"

For teens and adults: Older players can answer harder questions or find the Bible verse for the answer. Adults can read the whole of Daniel 6 together after the game.

Safety: Walk gently, do not run, and tap shoulders softly. If anyone is not comfortable being touched, Daniel can say "lion" and point to the player instead.

After the game, sit together and ask:

• Who sent Daniel to the lions' den, and why? (The king's officials, because Daniel prayed to God.)
• How many times a day did Daniel pray? (Three times.)
• Who shut the lions' mouths? (God sent an angel.)
• What did the king say when he saw that Daniel was safe? (He told everyone to honor Daniel's God.)

• Bible Charades Relay: Two teams act out Bible people and stories with no talking.
• Jericho March: March quietly for seven days, then shout as the walls fall.
• All Bible games for church