The Fiery Furnace — The Fourth Man Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “They would bow to God alone.”
King Nebuchadnezzar made a huge statue of gold. It was very, very tall – much taller than a house. He set it up on a wide, flat plain. He called all his leaders to come and see it.
A man shouted to everyone. “Whenever you hear the music, fall down and worship the golden image!” Anyone who did not bow down would be thrown into a burning furnace. A furnace is a huge, hot oven.
Then the music played. There was a horn and a flute. There was a zither, a lyre, a harp and a pipe. A zither and a lyre are kinds of harps. Let’s count them: one, two, three, four, five, six! Toot! Tweet! Twang!
Everyone fell down and bowed. Everyone except three friends: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They served only God. They stood tall. Can you stand tall like them? They would bow to God alone.
Some men went to the king. “These men don’t serve your gods,” they said. “And they don’t worship the golden image.”
The king was very angry. He called the three friends. “Is it true?” he asked. “You don’t serve my gods?” He gave them one more chance. “If you don’t worship, you shall be cast into a fiery furnace,” he said. “Who is that god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Deliver means to save.
The friends answered the king. “We have no need to answer you in this matter. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace. But if not, we will not serve your gods.” They would bow to God alone.
The king was full of fury. Fury means very, very angry. He told his men to make the fire seven times hotter. The soldiers tied up the three friends, in all their clothes. They threw them into the fire.
Then the king jumped up. “Didn’t we cast three men bound into the middle of the fire?” he said. “Look, I see four men loose, walking in the middle of the fire! And they are unharmed!” Unharmed means not hurt at all. Let’s count the men! One, two, three, four!
“The fourth is like a son of the gods,” said the king. Who could it be?
The king came near the fire. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God, come out!” And out they came.
All the leaders came and looked. The fire had no power on their bodies. Not one hair was burned. Their clothes were fine. They did not even smell like smoke! Sniff, sniff! They would bow to God alone.
Then the king praised God. “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel.” God had saved his servants who trusted in him.
The king said there was no other god who could save like this. And he gave the three friends important jobs.
God was with his friends in the fire. They would bow to God alone.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- Who do you think the fourth man in the fire was?
- How do you think the three friends felt when they walked out of the fire?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Color the 4 men walking safely in the fire.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us” — Daniel 3:17 (Our God → point up high; whom we serve → fold your hands; able to deliver us → open your arms wide)
Dear God, thank you that you are with us, even in hard times. Thank you that you are able to save. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God is with us always
Memory verse: “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.” — Daniel 3:17 · WEB
The Bible story
When a mighty king builds a golden statue, three brave friends refuse to bow — and inside a roaring furnace, a mysterious fourth man walks with them.
Talk about it
- What did King Nebuchadnezzar build for everyone to worship? — A golden statue
- What were the names of the three brave friends? — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
- When the music played, what were people supposed to do? — Bow down to the statue
- What did the three friends do when everyone else bowed? — They stood up tall
- Why did the three friends refuse to bow? — God alone is the true King
- How did the king feel when he heard they would not bow? — Very angry
Where is Jesus in this story?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow to a golden statue, even to save their lives. Years later, the devil offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if he would bow down to him. Jesus answered, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” (Matthew 4:10). They stood firm for a day; Jesus stood firm all the way, and he stands with you.
What God wants to tell us
This story shows us that God is right beside us, even in our scariest moments. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to trust God instead of doing what was wrong, and God stayed with them inside the flames. We may not always understand what will happen, but we can be brave like the three friends, because God promises He will never leave us alone. Whatever we face, we are never on our own.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You that You are always with me, even when I feel afraid. Help me to be brave like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to trust You no matter what. Thank You for never leaving me alone. Amen.
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