Sermon
Title: A Hostile World
Text: Esther 2:19-3:15

The Story
• A cousin’s courage
• A cousin’s defiance
• A family who hunted
• An enemy’s threat
• An oblivious feast

Reflections
• The Gospel transforms the way I view people so that my goal is their good
• A Biblical, Gospel-centered worldview will always be in opposition to
society
• How people use their God-given authority is a test of character
• God’s people are not at the whims of any leader, but remain under the
the sovereignty of God alone
• When we encounter bad news, even the most faithful believer is tempted
to be anxious
• Let us never be too distracted to be numb to the brokenness around us

Obedience Seen in John the Baptist
Mark 6:14-29
September 4, 2022

Responses to Faithfulness
• Some respond in awe.
• Some respond in anger

Cost of Obedience
• Loss of a life
• Gaining a new standard of success

Submitting to Jesus as Savior leads to following the Father with complete obedience through the Holy Spirit.

• Jesus’ authority is not always received
• Jesus sends out with power and provisions
• Disciples preach repentance

Jesus’ power is not based on the response of others.

The Greatness of Jesus (Part 3)
Mark 5:21-43
August 21, 2022

• Jesus responds to the desperate
• Jesus reaches the overlooked
• Jesus reacts in His sovereign timing
• Jesus requires faith in Him alone
• Jesus reverses what sin wrecks

With gracious compassion, Jesus redeems any who cry out to Him in faith

A Royal Conflict
Esther 1:10-22

The Story
• A king’s requirement
• A queen’s refusal
• A broken reaction
• A horrible ruling

Reflections
• God’s good purposes are accomplished regardless of the actions of people
• Unrepentant sin often leads to more sin
• When accountability is low, rebellion is easy and repentance is difficult
• Only God’s Kingdom will not be shaken

The Greatness of Jesus (Part 2)
Mark 5:1-20
August 14, 2022

Brokenness led to:
• Social isolation
• Physical destruction
• Mental anguish
• Vocal despair

Jesus shows His greatness by:
• Leading with intentionality
• Challenging the darkness
• Restoring the suffering
• Redeeming the chaos

The greatness of Jesus takes brokenness and uses it for Kingdom advancement

The Splendor of a King
Esther 1:1-9

• When things seem dim, I can be confident God is working
• God alone determines my when and where
• No matter where we are on the globe, our home is not here
• My identity does not lie in the sum of my possessions
• Greatness in the Kingdom of God is not found in self-promotion but in self
denial

The Greatness of Jesus (Part 1)
Mark 4:35-41
August 7, 2022


• Jesus is sovereign Lord over my circumstances
• Jesus is near, even in the storm
• Jesus is merciful, even to those who doubt
• Jesus is trustworthy, even in the midst of fears
• Jesus is mighty against any force

Today, Jesus is _______________ to me

Kingdom Essentials
Mark 4:21-34
July 31, 2022


The Kingdom of God – the redeeming reign of Jesus - both today and forever

1. Respond to the Word of God urgently
• Jesus reveals darkness
• Jesus brings life

2. Rest in the ways of God confidently
• Sower – a faithful laborer in the harvest
• Seed – the life that produces the harvest
• Soil – the audience in the harvest
• Spirit – the unknown doer in the harvest
• Season – the commitment to the harvest

3. Run to the world boldly
• God’s purpose is certain
• God’s purpose is global

The Kingdom of God prompts a response.
Running to Jesus will enlist me in His global purpose.