February 24, 2025
The Story | Where Are You? | Chapter 20
Hope: The Return of the Exiles
The story of Esther is surprising—not once is God mentioned. Yet God’s silence is not the same as his absence. He works for good, even through ordinary events and with flawed people.
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Chapter 20: Esther 4:10-17
- How would you compare the Persian culture to our culture today? Why do you think some Jews chose to stay there instead of returning to Israel?
- Esther hid her identity when she entered Xerxes’ harem. When have you witnessed someone make moral compromises to blend in? Has that ever been a temptation for you?
- When in your life have you wondered where God is? How does Esther's story speak to that experience?
- How have you seen God working in the ordinary events of your life to bring good?
- Esther and Mordecai were imperfect, maybe even disobedient. God still used them. How do you feel about that? Is it the same for us today?
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Recent Sermons
Luke 1:26-38 - This Christmas, discover how God is on the move—sending Gabriel to Mary in Nazareth and inviting ordinary people into the greatest story ever told. Explore Mary’s costly yet courageous “yes” and what it reveals about the Christian life.
Luke 1:5-17 - The first Christmas bursts to life with promise and purpose—God sets His plan in motion, beginning in Jerusalem with an elderly priest and a miraculous birth announcement. Excitement is rising, and the story is just beginning.
Mark 3:32-35 - Discover why community is the most essential practice for following Jesus. This week’s passage highlights the kind of people we’re called to walk with—those who do the will of God.
Jn. 15:5-17 - Discover how staying connected to Jesus—the true vine—produces lasting spiritual fruit. Learn how a simple Rule of Life, shaped by practices like prayer, Scripture, sabbath, solitude, community, and service, helps us remain rooted in Him.
Mark 2:17 - Jesus came to call sinners—those who know they miss the mark. Following him begins with humility and self-awareness, not perfection.
Matthew 26:36-39 - Christian practices like prayer and Sabbath quiet the noise so we can hear God’s voice and face the deeper emotions He invites us to heal.
