Building Bravery
a study in the Book of Esther
Remembering
April 14, 2019 • Pastor Jack Schull
As we wrap up this series in Esther, we see the story doesn't end with a battle, but a celebration. The Festival of Purim is inaugurated to help the people REMEMBER. It reminds us that no matter how dark things get, there is reason to hope. On an even more personal level, Purim is a call to a reawakening of faith and remembering of how God intervenes for us. Jesus established the Lord's Supper as an act of remembrance to tether us to our faith in Him. An act that Christ followers all over the world have done for 2,000+ years in order to REMEMBER.
God Steps In
April 7, 2019 • Pastor Jack Schull
We are beginning to unpack the finishing of Esther's climatic story and how after she steps up, God steps in and brings about a change and transformation in the story. We see His improbable and incredible timing (in Ch. 6 & 7) to bring help and hope. This story is teaching us again to pursue the path of humility and avoid the trappings of pride. It's calling us to wait on the Lord and trust in His timing and ability to intervene.
Stepping Up
March 31, 2019 • Pastor Jack Schull
Esther learns godly timing. She hits PAUSE – she models 2 key things for us. Prayer and Waiting on the Lord are so key to us living a life of faith, following after God and His best, especially in a world that pushes us to make every decision FAST and FURIOUS style, solely by our own merit and will. We need to grow as disciples who are following after Jesus well; and we would do well to make prayer and waiting up on the Lord a natural rhythm of our lives.
Growing Brave
March 24, 2019 • Pastor Jack Schull
We continue to look into the story of Esther, a new character is introduced and he has evil intentions. We see Esther and Mordecai's faith bolstering and bravery growing in chapters 3 and 4. We're highlighting the drastic difference between a worldly sense of power (to control and dominate) with a godly sense of power (based in vulnerability and advocating for others). God desires for each of us to grow in our bravery for him, for faith and to be an influence for good.
God in the Background
March 17, 2019 • Pastor Jack Schull
As we begin this series in the book of Esther pay attention to what goes unnoticed within the story. God is not mentioned in this book, but yet His sovereignty is within every turn in the story. Tonight we wrestle with pushing back on the notion to seek conformity or isolation and instead pursue a 3rd way - the way of Jesus and obedient living and seeking to be an influence of good. Esther's story is one where God is building bravery. He may at times, seem silent, but God is never absent.