1. Have you gotten started on your assignment to read the book of Esther? How’s it going?
2. What is providence?
3. What is deism? How can a deistic mindset (or, “life-by-chance”) change the way you view the world?
4. Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Does the fact that God is providential give you comfort, or discomfort? Why?
5. Do you ever feel like the fact that God has a plan, means you don’t have a part, or that your role is insignificant?
6. We need a volunteer! Can anyone give a summary of the first four chapters of Esther?  (if you’re stuck, you can look at the video we made, here.)
7. Who is the hero of the book of Esther? (answer: God). How many times does his name appear in the book?  (answer: zero.) Discuss how God’s hand is seen throughout the story, even without his name being mentioned.
8. How is the story of Esther like “The Bachelor?” How is the story of Esther NOT AT ALL like “The Bachelor?”
9. Why was there so much bad blood between Haman and Mordecai?
10. Why was it so dangerous for Esther to approach and petition the king?
11. Have you ever felt like you’re in a dark place where you had no idea what God is doing? What about now?
12. Read Phil 2:13, and Genesis 50:20. Have you ever considered that God uses people who are for him, and who are against him?
13. Do you have any circumstances where you can’t see what God’s up to that we could help you pray about?
14. Pray for one another!

Sharon: “Instead of giving me what I wanted, he gave me the faith I needed.”

1. Have you read through the book of Esther yet?
2. What was the difference between the Esther at the end of chapter 4, and the Esther at the beginning of chapter 5?  What brought about such a dramatic change?
3. Can you share about a “grand pause” in your life?  i.e., a time when you felt stuck because you just didn’t know what God wanted you to do.
4. Why do you think God sometimes doesn’t tell us right away what he wants us to do?
5. Sharon talked about a scenario of someone stuck on a lake in a thick fog, with no sense of where to go.  When you’re in a situation in life that feels like that, which of the three options Sharon listed are you most inclined to take: 1.) Panic 2.) Just pick a direction and go 3.) Just wait?  Why?  What did Esther do?
6. We need a volunteer!  Ask someone in the group to give a summary of chapters 5-7. Video recap, here.
7. What did Sharon mean when she talked about being like a Navy Seal when stuck in one of those “middle of the lake in a thick fog” type scenarios?
8. Have you ever caught yourself in the cycle that Sharon explained?: Panic, hopelessness, then God intervenes.  repeat. repeat. repeat. How do we break that cycle? How do we avoid panic and hopelessness when we feel alone?
9. Pray for one another to have good long-term memories: to remember that God is always, always faithful!

1. Have you read through Esther yet?
2. OK, last time…we need a volunteer: can someone summarize chapters 8-10 of Esther?
3. Read Proverbs 21:1. How is that verse carried out in the story of Esther?  Why is this verse so significant for us today?
4. Why did the Israelites celebrate BEFORE they won the victory? How can we learn from this?
5. What did you think about the video with all the swords? Did you like it? Did it make you uncomfortable?
6. How often to you think of yourself being in a war?
7. How often do you think about/consider Satan? Do you think he has a plan to destroy you?
8. Esther and Mordecai stood up for God, even when it was the odd and unpopular thing to do.  Why is that so hard?
9. Why is it so important to celebrate the works of God from one generation to the next?
10. Why is Easter the ultimate celebration for all Christians?
11. What is God’s ultimate plan–what is he doing? (answer: saving his people)
12. How can you play your part, in his plan?