Out of the Shadows (vv. 1 -3) Esther’s Struggle (vv. 4-11; Matthew 16:21-23) Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me (vv. 12-17; Matthew 16:24-26)
The Prince in Persia (vv. 1-6) Haman’s Plan (vv. 7-9) The King’s Law (vv. 10-15)
A New Bride by a Different Way (vv. 1-7) Children of Glory (Exiles on Earth) (vv. 7-18) Two Criminals and one Righteous Man (vv. 19-23)
Approaching the Book of Esther (or any part of Scripture) Vashti’s Garden Rebellion (vv. 1-22) Another Bride in another Garden (Genesis 2-3)
Understanding our Freedom in Christ (Romans 6:15-23)A Guide for the Free (vv. 9, 12, 48-50, 66-69, 98-104, 137-138,142-144,169-176, )An Anthem of Freedom (vv. 10-16, 67-72, 51-56, 97, 103,139-143)
Crying out for Salvation (vv. 17-18, 25-29, 32-39, 41, 73, 76-77, 81, 88, 94, 108, 132, 135, 154-156, 166) Christ’s Righteousness (Not Ours) (vv. 22-24, 30, 35, 40, 44-48, 90-93, 105-106, 109-112, 129-1313, 136, 158-160, 162-168) A New Relationship to the Law (vv. 19, 23-24, 35, 87-89, 105-106, 109-112, 129-131)
God’s Law is Reliable and True (v. 4, 151-152) God’s Law is Good and Worthy of Praise (v. 7, 62, 147-148) God’s Law is Despised by the World (vv. 61, 63, 150) God’s Law Reveals Our Sin and Need for Grace (vv. 1-4, 6, 8, 58, 145-147) God’s Law is a Blessing (not a Burden) (v. 5, 57, 59-60, 64, 149)
The Great CommissionBaptized Into His NameBeing “The Baptized”
Understanding their Past (vv. 5-27)Understanding their Future (vv. 22-27)Understanding our Present (vv. 1-21, 28-29)Discussion StartersMonday—Does the language of Jesus becoming something seem strange? (vv. 14, 21; cf. 1 Cor 15:45) Why or why not? Can Jesus save us without doing something in history for us?Tuesday—What was the exile? How long Israel in captivity? Why would that have been hard for Israel to understand? Was it the end of their story?Wednesday—What did God accomplish through the exile? How did he use something hard for the good of his people? What did it teach Israel about where to put their trust?Thursday—How did Jesus mirror Israel’s exile story in his own life? What did he endure? Why? What does it mean that the rejected stone has become the cornerstone?Friday—How does Psalm 118 help you interpret hard times in your life? How does it assure you that you have not been abandoned? What comfort does it offer you?
God’s Love Declared (vv. 1-2) God’s Love Illustrated (Jonah) God’s Love Embodied (John 1:14-18; 13:1)
The God who Hears Us (vv. 1-9) What Shall I Return to the Lord? (vv. 10-19) Precious? (v. 15)
Comfort or Terror? (vv. 1-5, 10-12) Comfort in the Lord’s Character (vv. 3-4, 7, 10; Romans 4:1-8) Two Peoples or One? (vv. 6-10; Romans 4:9-12)
The Plea of the Afflicted (vv. 1-6, 14-22) The Hinge of Affliction (vv. 9-13; Luke 23:44-47) Theology Made Practical (Two Thieves) (Luke 23:39-43)
The Earth and its Idols (vv. 4-8, 16-17) The God of Heaven (vv. 1, 3; 12-17) Trust and Praise (vv. 1, 8-11, 16-18)
The Identity of Jesus (vv. 18-22, 28-36) The Message of Jesus (vv. 23-27)
Kingly Power (vv. 1-3, 5) Prophetic Word (vv. 4, 6-7) Priestly Love (vv. 7-8)
Our Eternal Dwelling Place (vv. 1-2) Dwelling Under the Wrath of God (vv. 3-11) Learning Wisdom (vv. 12-17)
The Love of God (vv. 29-34)Nothing Can Separate Us (vv. 35-39)Perceiving the Love of God (vv. 36-37)