Do you ever feel like things are spiraling out of control? It sure seemed that way for Esther and her people… until God showed up and turned everything around. In Esther 6, we have a powerful reminder that God has the power to turn our stories around, too.

In a world filled with noise, it can be hard to sort out who to listen to. How do we figure out the role of community, scripture, our heart, and our prayer life in the art of listening well? Today we’ll explore who the different main characters in the book of Esther listened to and how that played out. We’ll discover that if we listen for truth rather than comfort, we’ll find God’s voice speaking in creative ways.

In a complex world marked by sin and its harmful consequences, it can be hard to know how to think, act, and feel. As Mordecai and Esther respond to Haman’s destructive decree, we see some principles that can shape our response to evil, injustice, and suffering in our lives and in the world today.

Living in a land that was not their own and under the rule of those hostile to God and his people, the Jews of Esther’s day were living as exiles in a foreign land. As followers of Jesus awaiting his return, so are we. How do we live well while in exile? What does exile mean for our faith — and for the faithfulness of God?

As we study the book of Esther, we have the opportunity to see God’s care and faithfulness even in the midst of a cruel world. We will meet characters who can help us see God in our own story, and help us understand God’s devotion even when it can be hard to see.

We are a divided people. Everyone knows it to be true, but no one wants it to be true. What if oneness were one of the main goals of God's work in the world through Christ? On this tour through Scripture, we'll see the thread of oneness from Genesis to Revelation, culminating in Christ and lasting into eternity. This is God's plan: to make a people one in Christ.

In the last chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul leaves us with a number of final thoughts and instructions. He touches on giving, planning for the future, being courageous, honoring one another, and more. In his last words, however, he reinforces the main point of the letter reminding us that on account of the grace of Jesus, we should focus on what is most important: loving God and others.

Nothing can be more disheartening than putting a lot of effort into something challenging, only to realize it wasn’t worth it. Have you ever found yourself questioning whether the work you’re doing or the service you provide truly makes a difference? It’s a common thought: Does what I do in this life really matter? Let’s explore what the apostle Paul has to say about a life worth living.

“How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” The apostle Paul answers these questions in 1 Corinthians 15:35-49.

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world today. In the midst of the uncertainty, one thing is certain: because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, death does not get the final word. When Jesus comes back, we will also be raised from the dead, and death itself will be defeated. Because of our certain future, we can have hope in the present.