How does the sovereign God providentially watch over His people? When we face threats to our faith, how can we be assured that God is working behind the scenes for our good according to His purpose?
1) God helps His people through His servants (8:3-14; 9:1-4; 10:3)
Life is not a bed of roses, and becoming a Christian does not turn life into one as well. God’s people still face challenging life situations and threats that attempt to erode our faith. Many a times, God uses His willing servants to help His people through these. Think about your journey as a Christian in God’s house so far. Can you recall moments where you received help from God’s servants? Share some memorable ones with your LG.
God is looking for servants who are willing to work for the good of His people. However, there are sometimes obstacles in life that make it harder for us to step out as His servants. What are some obstacles present among Christians at your life station that make it harder for them to go the extra mile to help others? How do these obstacles apply to your life too? What does the Bible say about how a believer should approach them? How do some Christians overcome these obstacles so that their acts of love towards fellow believers are not hindered? How is God prompting you to serve a fellow believer in need now? Would you commit to do something about it this week?
The LG is an important gathering to encourage and support one another through difficult life situations. Are there needs in the group that God has allowed you to see? Think of some practical steps you can take to work for the good of His people in your LG.
2) God protects His people in the midst of their trials (8:15-17; 9:5-32)
Reflect upon some of the most challenging times in your life. During those moments, what were your prayers to God like? Were there times when God did not deliver you from your difficulties immediately, and if so, what were some of your thoughts and feelings through the period? How does understanding that God is faithful in keeping His covenant with His people encourage you to hold onto Christ in your deepest struggles? [Note to facilitator: Exercise sensitivity in getting people to share.]
Read Romans 8:31-39. God’s protection does not mean that He shelters us from troubles and hardships, but that He keeps us secure in Christ even if we face the worst in life. How does this truth encourage you? Share how God used challenges and trials in your life to strengthen your faith. How did He empower you to endure suffering without losing faith? How have the scars from your adversity deepened your appreciation of the Gospel or changed the way you live? How would you encourage a fellow believer who may be going through similar difficulties?
Not all of us are going through a difficult time now, but we can prepare for it. As an LG, how can we prepare one another to face adversity while being secure in Christ’s love? Pray together for God’s protection over our brothers and sisters who are facing trials in their lives, that they will hold fast to who God is and trust in His sovereignty no matter what happens.
THE PRIDE BEFORE THE FALL (Esther 6-7)
While God’s sovereignty is good news for those who humbly rely on Him, it is bad news for those who proudly reject Him. Why is pride dangerous? How should believers deal with pride in their lives?
1) Pride is deceptive (6:4-11)
What is pride? Think of someone whom you would consider prideful. What kind of characteristics does this person have? How does his or her pride manifest itself on a daily basis?
As Christians, we are not exempted from the influence of pride. While we may not say outright that we don’t need God or that we are against Him, we could exhibit pride in subtle ways, such as self-sufficiency. How does self-sufficiency look like? Conversely, how does living in God-dependency look like? Reflect upon your life. What are the areas you tend to be more dependent on God, and others seemingly more reliant on our own strengths and abilities? We are usually more prideful in areas we are strong or successful in. Would you agree? Why? How can we grow in our
strengths and yet be humble?
Pride can manifest in a sense of superiority towards people and complacency towards the commands of God. What are some warning signs that we may be holding such attitudes? Are some of these signs currently present in your life (for example, in the way you think about people who are weaker than you in a particular area)? Set aside some solitude time for everyone to invite the Holy Spirit to come examine our hearts. Encourage the LG to use the time to repent for specific prideful moments that God reveals to us. How can the LG support one another to live a life ‘of dependence on God i.e. intentionally seek His will in how we do our work or relate with people?
2) Pride is destructive (6:12-7:10)
Take some time to think about people or public figures you know whose pride led them to some form of destruction. What are some lessons we can draw from these stories? How has pride led to the destruction of reputations or relationships? What happened to people who had to deal with the aftermath of such destruction?
How can the LG warn or alert one another to guard against pride and its destructive effects? Commit to work on a few practical ways together as a group.
Instead of being caught in pride, how can the LG spur one another on to imitate the humility of Christ (Phil 2:3-8)? Humility is not thinking lowly of oneself but valuing oneself less than others. In other words, humility is not saying, “I’m lousier than you in everything” but “I see your needs as more important than mine. How can I serve you?” How can we build a culture of valuing others above ourselves?
Title: The Faith That Dares
Text: Esther 3 & 4
Series: Behind The Scenes: The Unseen God At Work
Knowing that God is sovereign emboldens us to live faithfully for Him,
even when risks are involved. How can we live courageously for God?
1) Expect to be disrupted (4:4-11)
The fast-paced society we live in emphasises the importance of forward thinking and
planning. Students explore education pathways and career options. Adults seek out
jobs with opportunities for career progression as priority. Some are even planning
for retirement before starting work! Do you have some of these plans as well? Take
some time to think and share with one another. How would you feel if things fall out
of your control and your plans get disrupted?
If we want to live courageously for God, it is wise to expect our plans to be disrupted
by Him. This is because what God wants for us tends to differ from what we want
for ourselves. Recount an instance in your life when God disrupted your plan. It
can be something as major as a job switch, or something as minor as a change in
dinner plans to meet someone else’s needs instead of getting rest for yourself. What
happened and what did you learn about God and yourself through the process?
What may be some reasons for a person to resist God’s disruption? What may help
a Christian to be more open to God’s unexpected moves in one’s life? What would
motivate a Christian to do what God wants when it contradicts what he wants for
himself? How are do these motivations apply to your life?
2) Commit to His greater purpose (4:12-17)
Think about where you are placed currently (in your family, workplace etc). What may
be God’s purpose for placing you there? How are you living out His purpose for you?
Pray for God to bring clarity, while committing yourself to obey Him in the things you
already know He requires of you.
Some of us may be feeling inadequate to do God’s will. What are some doubts or
fears you face? Where do they come from? What does God’s Word say about how
you should perceive and deal with them? Do your feelings of inadequacy lead you to
depend more on God or to avoid Him? Why?
When you are tasked to serve God, what comes to your mind first – whether the task
is doable, or how will people be blessed by this act of service? Were there times you
felt that the task was beyond your abilities, but you still went ahead to serve? Share
what helped you to make decisions like this. How did the Spirit empower you to do
what your strength or wisdom alone cannot accomplish? How can the LG encourage
one another to honestly acknowledge fears or doubts and move forward with faith to
live for God’s purpose?
Title: The Silent Workings of God
Text: Esther 2
Series: Behind The Scenes: The Unseen God At Work
Struggling to understand what God’s doing in the current season of your life? Straining to cope with His silence? The Book of Esther might encourage you by showing how God works through seemingly ordinary occurrences and coincidences for the good of His people according to His purpose.
1. God works through those in authority (2:1-4)
Our concept and attitude towards authority is often shaped by things like our upbringing, our life experiences and what we read about in the world today. How do you view authority? What were some memorable experiences of authority figures that left the biggest impression in your life? Take turns to share in the LG.
What are some qualities you expect of those in authority? How will the absence of some of these qualities affect the way you feel about authority figures around you? When people in authority fail to make good decisions that benefit those they lead, do you find it challenging to believe that God can still work through them to fulfil His plan? Discuss. Our God is sovereign and is able to use evil and turn it for good according to His purpose. What are some ways we can remind ourselves of His sovereignty when we see or hear of authority being used negatively? If we were to experience a misuse of authority (e.g. an unreasonable boss), how should we respond in light of God’s sovereignty?
2. God works through the ordinary (2:5-18)
God can work through extraordinary signs and wonders. But most of the time, He accomplishes His purpose providentially through ordinary ways. It takes eyes of faith to identify what He is doing in the ordinary. Reflect on how God has been working in your life through the “ordinary” – how has God guided or led you in making decisions (e.g. He provides guidance from the Bible in handling life situations)? What part did you play? How does knowing that God can work through the ordinary encourage or assure you of His presence even if you never witness a miracle? How can you develop greater sensitivity to God’s presence in your daily living?
God is concerned about how we are honouring Him in the small, ordinary decisions of daily life (e.g. respecting our parents when they are being difficult or giving our best at work in less-than-ideal conditions). What are some of these decisions you’re facing today? Reflect upon an area that God has been speaking to you to obey in. What concerns do you have? What hinders you from saying yes? Resolve to start obeying today.
