What Kind of HERO(INE) Do God's People Have?

Esther 4

Sermon Notes

  1. Lamenting Life's Circumstances, vv.1-7
  2. Pleading for Deliverance, vv. 8-9
  3. Faith in Our God's Response, vv. 10-17
    1. Rational Faith, vv. 10-13
    2. Confident Faith, v.14a
    3. Humble Faith, v. 14b
    4. Bold Faith, vv15-17

Discussion questions

  1. Did Mordecai believe God would never allow one of God's people to martyred? What was he confident of? See v.14; compare Gen 12:1-3; Dt. 18:15, 18; Isaiah 9:1-7; 11:1-5. Also see Mt. 10:28; 16:18.

  2. Esther talks a lot about feasting, but it also mentions fasting. What did Jesus say about both topics? (There are many examples, but see these two in particular: Matthew 9:15; Revelation 19:6-9)

  3. Ian Duguid says fasting is "a means of expressing sorrow over sin and dependence upon God" and "a statement that there is more to this life than mere physical existence." Finally, he says, "Fasting will remind us to pray over and over through the alarm clock of our hunger pangs!" Do any of those words make you think that fasting should be more a part of your regular life (and your prayer life) than it currently is?