Question for Group Discussion based on Mark Scott’s Bible lesson for July 28, 2024
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1. Have you ever experienced a time of mourning that soon became a time of celebration? Or, in the case of a death of a loved one, mourning that became a time of happy reminiscence? Describe what happened.
Ask two people to read aloud Esther 9:18-32; 10:1-3, one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask a third person to briefly summarize the passage.
2. After the events of our last lesson (Esther 7:1—8:8), orders were written and distributed that allowed the Jews to protect themselves from the annihilation authorized by the first irrevocable order. Read Esther 8:11-13 and discuss why and how the second edict protected and empowered the Jewish people.
3. Describe and discuss Mordecai’s metamorphosis throughout the book of Esther. In Esther 2, he seemed to spend much of his time at the king’s gate. In the middle chapters, Mordecai and his people are almost killed. At the end of Esther, Mordecai is the second-most powerful ruler in Persia.
• Does Mordecai’s story arc remind you of any other biblical heroes?
• What positive attributes did God surely see in Mordecai?
4. How did Purim, which is both a festival and feast, get its name? (Hints: it is also known as the Feast of Lots. See Esther 3:5-7.)
• Why is Purim a two-day celebration?
5. What good and bad examples of the use of authority are evident in the book of Esther?
• Consider the authority you have as a Christ follower and/or as a church leader. How will you exercise the authority you have been given?
6. Based on our study and discussion, complete the sentence: “I will . . .”
For Next Week: Read and reflect on Haggai 1:5-15; 2:1-9 as we begin a unit on these three Minor Prophets: Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The theme for August is “Give Careful Thought.” You can also read next week’s supplemental texts and the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
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