Calvary Baptist Church Knoxville TN

Text: Esther 2:1-18

Topic: Purpose, You Are Not Forgotten

Big Idea of the Message: Though the Jewish people felt forgotten in exile, God was working in the background to protect and care for them.

Despite those moments when we feel like God is absent, we can be confident that He still loves us.

Jeremiah 29:1-14 ESV

“This letter like the Gospel of God, is a revelation of His mind and will to those who, because of their sins, and iniquities, have become the slaves of an alien power.” Handfuls on Purpose

They are personal plans

Matthew 8:1-3 ESV

Luke 12:6-7 ESV

They are good plans

Matthew 7:9-11 ESV

They are plans of blessing

The biblical definition of hope is 'confident expectation'. Hope is a firm assurance regarding things that are unseen. Hope is seen as a fundamental component of the life of a believer.

Psalm 43:5 ESV

Calling, Coming & Praying!

Seeking & Finding!

Psalm 69:13-18 ESV

To hear you

To be found by you

To restore you

To gather you and bring you back from captivity

Ephesians 2:11-22. ESV

"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb" (Rev. 7:9).

Matthew 6:9-10 "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.'"

"How can I claim the love of God who I don't see and hate my brother who I do?"

(slide) “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

Psalm 81:1,8,11,13,16

Mark 4:35-41

“To you is given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables…” (4:11-12).

MARK 4:35-36. LET’S GO TO THE OTHER SIDE

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side.” 36Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.

MARK 4:37-39. TEACHER, DON’T YOU CARE THAT WE ARE DYING?

37A big wind storm (Greek: lailaps megale) arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled. 38He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, “Teacher (Greek: didaskale), don’t you care that we are dying?” 39He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

MARK 4:40-41. WHO THEN IS THIS?

40He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith” 41They were greatly afraid (Greek: phoban megan—great fear), and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Luke 5:15-16 & Mark 6:30-32

Topic: Work, Rest, Dependence on God

Big Idea of the Message: Like Jesus, we need to make sure we’re pulling away to recharge with our Father.

Luke 5:15-16 & Mark 6:30-32 (ESV)

Psalm 108:1 “My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make melody with all my being.” King James: “O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.”

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

Exodus 33:14 “And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Luke 10:25-37

(Big Idea of the Message: God didn’t call us to only love and care for those we’re comfortable with. Everyone is our neighbor.)

Luke 10:25-37 (ESV)

Luke 10:29

who is my neighbor?

Jesus’ answer is still the same: love the one in front of you in whatever way you can.

“Do for one what you wish you could do for everyone.” – Andy Stanley

Phillppians 4:4-7

4 pRejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness4 be known to everyone. qThe Lord is at hand; 6 rdo not be anxious about anything, sbut in everything by prayer and supplication twith thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And uthe peace of God, vwhich surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 2:23: “When they hurled insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 ESV).

Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31-46 ESV

James 2:14-16

John 4:4-27

"One thing you lack: Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven."

"With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

"Our Lord is like a Dentist …. Dozens of people go to him to be cured of one particular sin which they are ashamed of… or which is obviously spoiling daily life…. Well, he will cure it all right: but he will not stop there. That may be all you asked: but if once you call him in, he will give you the full treatment.” - C.S. Lewis

"Keep nothing back. Nothing that you have not given away will ever be really yours. Nothing that has not died will ever be raised from the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin and decay. But look for Christ and you will find him, and with him everything else thrown in.” - C.S. Lewis

• How will you spend your one and only, beautiful opportunity of a life that God has given you?