SUNDAY
10:00 AM Worship & Teaching - Pastor Bob Lawrenz
Message: The Book of Esther - New Teaching Series
Esther 1:1-22 - "Vashti's Costly Disobedience"
Scripture Reading: Ezra 6:3-5
Join us as we begin a new teaching series from the Book of Esther.
The Book of Esther tells the story of a Jewish girl who becomes Queen of Persia and risks her life to save her people from a genocide plot. Esther and her cousin Mordecai outwit the villainous Haman, turning his plan to destroy the Jews into his own downfall, establishing the festival of Purim, and highlighting God's providence and sovereignty.
In Esther, all of God's unconditional covenant promises to Abraham (Genesis 17:1-8) and to David (2 Samuel 7:8-16) were jeopardized. However, God's love for Israel is nowhere more apparent than in this dramatic rescue of His people from pending elimination. "Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." Psalm 121:4
In Chapter 1, the Book of Esther opens by introducing the reader to King Ahasuerus of Persia and his queen, Vashti. Ahasuerus threw a 6-month celebration in Persia to celebrate the greatness of his kingdom. Towards the end of the feast, the king ordered Vashti to present herself before his friends so they could admire her beauty. Vashti refused! Ahasuerus was so angry that he stripped her of her royal title and banished her from his presence forever. This sets up the storyline of the book, and in Esther 2, we’ll see the King searching for a new queen.
The Book of Esther tells the story of a Jewish girl who becomes Queen of Persia and risks her life to save her people from a genocide plot. Esther and her cousin Mordecai outwit the villainous Haman, turning his plan to destroy the Jews into his own downfall, establishing the festival of Purim, and highlighting God's providence and sovereignty.
In Esther, all of God's unconditional covenant promises to Abraham (Genesis 17:1-8) and to David (2 Samuel 7:8-16) were jeopardized. However, God's love for Israel is nowhere more apparent than in this dramatic rescue of His people from pending elimination. "Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." Psalm 121:4
In Chapter 1, the Book of Esther opens by introducing the reader to King Ahasuerus of Persia and his queen, Vashti. Ahasuerus threw a 6-month celebration in Persia to celebrate the greatness of his kingdom. Towards the end of the feast, the king ordered Vashti to present herself before his friends so they could admire her beauty. Vashti refused! Ahasuerus was so angry that he stripped her of her royal title and banished her from his presence forever. This sets up the storyline of the book, and in Esther 2, we’ll see the King searching for a new queen.
TUESDAY
10:00 AM Ladies Prayer & Bible Study - Norine Lawrenz
New Year - New Study!
Attention Ladies! Our Tuesday morning's Women's Study will resume this week.
We are going to be looking into the lives of 10 women in the Bible. They may have lived a long time ago, but we find ourselves facing many of the same issues they faced. Through their trials and experiences, we see how God works in our lives daily to shape us, heal us, encourage us and grow us as we follow Him.
Men's Prayer is a time for men to come together in fellowship, and pray for those in need, though all are welcome. If you are in need of prayer and would like the men of this church to do as James 5:14 says, please do come!
"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord."
10:00 AM Church Workday - All Are Welcome!
Lend a Helping Hand!
Church workdays are scheduled on the FIRST and THIRD Saturdays of every month, from 10 AM through lunchtime.
Church cleanup days are organized to maintain a hygienic, welcoming, and safe environment for worship, ensuring the facility is clean for services. Serving together builds our church community, fosters a sense of ownership, and serves as an act of stewardship to maintain the facility that God has so graciously provided us. Whatever God gives us to do, we do it as unto the Lord.
Please consider helping to keep the building up. Maintaining this 1856 building is a service to the Lord.
Attention Ladies! Our Tuesday morning's Women's Study will resume this week.
We are going to be looking into the lives of 10 women in the Bible. They may have lived a long time ago, but we find ourselves facing many of the same issues they faced. Through their trials and experiences, we see how God works in our lives daily to shape us, heal us, encourage us and grow us as we follow Him.
God has given us 10 commandments. There are over 8 billion people on the planet, and we all struggle with those same commands. There really is nothing new under the sun (1 Corinthians 10:19).
As we look at the role these women played in telling God's story, I pray that God will meet us where we are and inspire us to grow in His grace and knowledge, that we too would be an example to others.
Please consider joining us each Tuesday morning as we magnify the Lord together, study the scriptures, pray for one another and enjoy the blessing of Christian fellowship.
As
a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea, Micah prophesied during the
momentous years surrounding the tragic fall of Israel to the Assyrian
Empire (722 BC), an event he also predicted (Micah 1:6).
Micah stated in his introduction to the book that he prophesied during
the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah, failing to mention
the simultaneous string of dishonorable kings that closed out the
northern kingdom of Israel.
During this period, while Israel was imploding from the effects of evil and unfaithful leadership, Judah seemed on a roller-coaster ride—ascending to the heights of its destiny in one generation, only to fall into the doldrums in another. In Judah at this time, good kings and evil kings alternated with each other, a pattern seen in the reigns of Jotham (good, 2 Kings 15:32–34); Ahaz (evil, 2 Kings 16:1–4); and Hezekiah (good, 2 Kings 18:1–7).
- See more at: http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/micah.html#sthash.i25F9AvV.dpuf
During this period, while Israel was imploding from the effects of evil and unfaithful leadership, Judah seemed on a roller-coaster ride—ascending to the heights of its destiny in one generation, only to fall into the doldrums in another. In Judah at this time, good kings and evil kings alternated with each other, a pattern seen in the reigns of Jotham (good, 2 Kings 15:32–34); Ahaz (evil, 2 Kings 16:1–4); and Hezekiah (good, 2 Kings 18:1–7).
- See more at: http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/micah.html#sthash.i25F9AvV.dpuf
As
a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea, Micah prophesied during the
momentous years surrounding the tragic fall of Israel to the Assyrian
Empire (722 BC), an event he also predicted (Micah 1:6).
Micah stated in his introduction to the book that he prophesied during
the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah, failing to mention
the simultaneous string of dishonorable kings that closed out the
northern kingdom of Israel.
During this period, while Israel was imploding from the effects of evil and unfaithful leadership, Judah seemed on a roller-coaster ride—ascending to the heights of its destiny in one generation, only to fall into the doldrums in another. In Judah at this time, good kings and evil kings alternated with each other, a pattern seen in the reigns of Jotham (good, 2 Kings 15:32–34); Ahaz (evil, 2 Kings 16:1–4); and Hezekiah (good, 2 Kings 18:1–7).
- See more at: http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/micah.html#sthash.i25F9AvV.dpuf
During this period, while Israel was imploding from the effects of evil and unfaithful leadership, Judah seemed on a roller-coaster ride—ascending to the heights of its destiny in one generation, only to fall into the doldrums in another. In Judah at this time, good kings and evil kings alternated with each other, a pattern seen in the reigns of Jotham (good, 2 Kings 15:32–34); Ahaz (evil, 2 Kings 16:1–4); and Hezekiah (good, 2 Kings 18:1–7).
- See more at: http://www.insight.org/resources/bible/micah.html#sthash.i25F9AvV.dpuf
SATURDAY
9:00 AM Men's Prayer - All Are Welcome!
"Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord."
10:00 AM Church Workday - All Are Welcome!
Church workdays are scheduled on the FIRST and THIRD Saturdays of every month, from 10 AM through lunchtime.
Our next Church Workday is scheduled for this Saturday, April 4th. Join us as we work around the building, both inside and outside! Every "skill level" welcome!
Please consider helping to keep the building up. Maintaining this 1856 building is a service to the Lord.
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