##Summary
In response to Jesus’ courageous obedience to save us, we are to obey courageously Jesus’ call to be his witnesses.

##Courageous Obedience (Esther 5)
- Esther’s courageous actions (vs 1-8)
- Haman’s pride and plot (9-14)

##Notes

##Summary
Jesus’ followers are to depend on God in the midst of difficulty in order to accomplish Jesus’ mission.

##Act 2: Dependence on God
- A murderous plot (3:1-15)
- Expressions of dependence (4:1-17)

##Notes

##Summary
Even when we have trouble seeing what God is doing, we are to trust that he is at work to accomplish his purposes in us.

##Act One: Setting the stage for God’s triumph (Esther 1-2)
**Prologue: the Persian court (Esther 1)**
- A feast that ends badly (vs 1-12)
- A deposed queen (vs 13-22)
##A new queen, a foiled coup (Esther 2)
- A new queen (vs 1-18)
- A foiled coup (vs 19-23)

##Notes

##Summary
The story of the book of Esther is about how God’s people are threatened by a plot of racial/national genocide, but how God uses two Israelites (Esther and Mordecai) in the Persian court to save and bring a victory for God’s people over their enemies.

##Historical context of Esther:
- The beginning: creation, God’s mandate, the fall
- ~1700 BC covenant with Abraham- charter for Israel
- ~1300 BC Exodus and promised land
- ~1000 BC Monarchy- David, Solomon, divided kingdom
- 586 BC Exile
- 539 BC Return
- ~480s BC Esther

##The story of Esther:
*Act 1:* The Persian court, a new queen, a foiled coup
*Act 2:* A murderous plot, an expression of dependence
*Act 3:* A courageous queen and a pair of feasts
*Act 4:* A sleepless night, a parade for a hero, the plot exposed, the enemy defeated
*Act 5:* Victory, obedience, and celebration

##Meaning and application for the church
- God has triumphed in the ultimate way over the enemies of his people (Satan, sin and death) through the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
- God will preserve and build his people and his church despite the evil forces that threaten it.
- In response to Esther, Jesus’ followers are to worship him for his deliverance, endure difficulty depending on him, and courageously move forward Jesus’ kingdom mission.

##Notes