If Not Us. Who? Week 5 - February 7, 2021 Esther 8-10 GETTING TO KNOW YOU 1. Have you ever been punished for something that you did not do or experienced the consequences of someone else’s action? Explain. 2. What is your favorite U.S. event, celebration or holiday? Why? 3. Sigrid Undset said, “But I didn’t realize then that the consequence of sin is that you have to trample on other people”. Thoughts? Agree? Disagree? 4. John Calvin said, “It is a most blessed thing to be subject to the sovereignty of God”. Thoughts? Agree? Disagree? 5. George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. Thoughts? Agree? Disagree? 6. Looking back at your notes from this week’s sermon, was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged or confused you? DIGGING DEEPER 1. After Haman’s plot is exposed and he is hung on the gallows that he had constructed for Mordecai, what does Ahasuerus give to Esther? What does Esther tell the king? After the king learns of who Mordecai is to Esther, what does he do for Mordecai? What is Mordecai’s new position? Who is over the house of Haman? • If you were Mordecai or Esther at this moment, what would have been your thought process? What would have been your response? Who would you have been recognizing and praising? When God shows up in your life, what is your response? Do you ever omit Him from the celebration? Explain. 2. At this point, has the edict been reversed? What needs to happen to reverse it? Is this an easy process to do? What are the implications? What was required under Persian Law? What does Mordecai do? What is in the new edict? What was required of Mordecai do ensure the Jewish people were not destroyed? • How does human responsibility interact with divine sovereignty? Explain. How does God use us to bring about His plans and purposes? What is the responsibility of the Church in this? What is your responsibility in this? Is this something that you are aware of and take seriously? Explain. 3. In a turn of events, what happens to those that wanted to harm the Jewish people? What do you make of this? Was this necessary? What was the purpose of this? How did this counteract the original edict? How did they reap what they sowed? • Should it be our desire or intent for the death and destruction of people? Explain. How would you respond to others that see this situation as a contradiction of that? 4. What happens to Haman’s family? How did Haman’s actions affect his family? How did they receive the consequences of their father? Were they culpable at any level? How did Haman’s heart and attitude filter down to his children? • Does our sin affect others? What are the dangers of thinking that our sins and choices affect only us? How does our sin and choices affect others? What decisions are you making right now that affect you? Your family? Your business or workplace? Other relationships? What beliefs, attitudes, and perspectives are you passing on to your kids or grandkids? As a result, will they experience positive or negative consequences? Is it leading them to God or something else? Explain. 5. What is Purim? What does Mordecai lay out for the observance of it? How has it been celebrated historically? How is it celebrated today? What are the different elements? Did Jesus celebrate/observe it? Is Purim the unnamed feast in John 5? What is your understanding? What arguments do scholars make for it being Purim? How is Purim & Hanukkah different from the feast and festivals outlined in the Torah? How is Jesus’ observance of Hanukkah (John 10) another indication that He probably celebrated Purim? • Should we celebrate Purim? Do you have to be Jewish to celebrate it? What does Esther 9:27 say? Does this include us? Explain. 6. What has been most impactful to you as we have gone through the Book of Esther? What is something that you learned? What has been the most challenging part? What have you enjoyed the most? What do you need to apply to your life as a result? Explain. GROWING CLOSER 1. Who is someone you shared the gospel with this week? 2. What have you been reading in your quiet times? 3. What has God been teaching you?
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