Sermon Tone Analysis
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*Inscription: Writing God’s Words on Our Hearts & Minds*
*/Part 42: Finding God in Esther/*
*Esther 1-10*
*/February 6, 2011/*
*Prep: *
· Read script, ESV SB notes
Intro
Welcome!
This week is a *little* *different* than most.
We have been reading through the Bible, and have gotten to Esther.
(BTW: We are *picking* *up* our reading again, *see* *insert*.)
Esther tells the story of God *delivering* the *Jews* from an evil plot.
It takes place in around *475* *BC*, after the Jews had been *deported* from Israel and were living in what is now Iran.
· I decided that we should do this one a little different – *Jewish* *style*.
To this day Jews celebrate this deliverance on *Purim*.
Granted, Purim is in *March*, but I couldn’t wait, so we are having a little *Purim* *celebration* today.
There are many Purim traditions:
1.
*Listen* to the story of Esther, *melodrama* style – booing and cheering, which is what we are doing here.
2.
They give *gifts* to the *poor* – I encourage you to put a little extra in to the jar for Indian orphans.
3.
They have a *big* *feast* – we the have potluck.
4.
There’s one tradition we won’t follow: Ancient rabbis said you were supposed to get so *drunk* you can’t distinguish between 'cursed be Haman' and 'blessed be Mordecai.”
For that matter, latter today, I don’t want you unable to tell the difference between “Go *Packers*!” and “Go *Steelers*.”
But I don’t want you saying “Go Steelers!” at all.
*Instructions*: I’m going to pray and we will get started, but you need to know *your* *part*.
Cheer whenever you hear *Mordecai’s* name, boo for *Haman’s*, and “ahhhh” for *Esther’s*.
Prayer (Actors take places)
The meaning of esther
· Curtain call.
Q What is the *theme* of Esther?
Deliverance?
*Partially*.
I think what has made it so popular holiday among the Jews is that over the past 2,500 years, God has protected his people, from the pogrom in Russia to the Holocaust.
· But there are a *lot* of *stories* of deliverance in the Bible; something makes Esther special.
There is something very *strange* about Esther: God is never mentioned by name in the entire book.
I actually had to *caution* the *actors* not to mention God in their dialogue.
Between the lines
It’s not just that he isn’t mentioned, he is *conspicuously* *absent*.
The author is very intentional not to mention him.
This isn’t an oversight, it is *his* *point*.
· It speaks of *fasting*, which is naturally associated with prayer and calling out to God.
· It uses the “*Divine* *Passive*,” saying something happens without saying who, implying that it’s God (Esther 4:14).
Q What is the author’s *point*?
· Even when you *can’t* *see* God, he is still *there*, working *behind* the *scenes*, from Vashti’s fall to Mordecai’s eavesdropping.
In some ways, I can *relate* *more* to Esther than any other book the Bible: I didn’t see God part the *Red* *Sea*, I haven’t seen Jesus *raise* anyone from the *dead*.
· I know God is always there, working behind the scenes and *between* the *lines*, even when I can’t understand.
The *message* of *Esther*: no matter how *distant* or *silent* God seems, he is *there*, and he is working.
And because he is, we know that our lives our *not* a *tragedy*; they have a *happy* *ending*.
In the words of the NT:
*Romans 8:28 * 28 ¶ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
It doesn’t say *everything* is *good* – *Haman’s* *plot* was not “good,” but that God is behind the scenes *arranging* all things *for* *good*.
Even if our lives our *filled* with *sorrow* and *pain*, we know that in *eternity*, God will *redeem* it all, and *transform* it into good.
· He is like a *master* *weaver* weaving *temporary* *joys* and *sorrows* together for a greater purpose that is for our good.
*2 Corinthians 4:16-18 *So we do not lose heart.
Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.
For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.
Called according to his purposes
But notice the very important *qualifier*: “who *love* him, who are *called* according to his purposes.”
This isn’t a *blanket* *promise*.
· This *isn’t* because God *doesn’t* *love* everyone or *want* to work good for everyone (he *does*) but that he *can’t*.
God is everything that is *truly* and *eternally* *good*.
If you don’t *desire* him, he has *nothing* *else* of *eternal* *value* to give you.
place your hope in God!
· To put it all *together* – place you *hope* in *God*; he *loves* you, he is *watching* out for you, he is *there*.
I hope that as you go through *challenges* in the next *week*, *month*, and *years*, you will remember this *silly* *drama*, and remember that God is *there*, even when you can’t *see* or *feel* him.
\\
Potluck meeting:
I want to talk very briefly about the *communication* *cards*.
Q *How* *many* of *you* have been filling them out?
I know we all hate *busy* *work*, so I wanted to give you all a glimpse of how *effective* they have been.
In the three weeks of having all of you collect cards:
I have been able to send about *10* *emails* and notes to first and second time *visitors*.
· *10* people have asked about *membership*.
· *4* people have asked about the “*Foundations* of *Faith*”
· *7 *people have asked about *community* *groups*
· *5 *people have asked about *serving*.
*Prior* to us all filling out cards, in the same three weeks we would maybe have *1-2 people* ask about all of the above in that same time.
Additionally, we have always had room for *prayer* *requests*, and we would received (and pray for 1-2 a month).
Since the new cards, it has been 3-4 a week.
· All that to say, *thank* *you* for serving with your time.
It takes a little effort, but it is well worth it.
Furthermore, *as* *God* *knows* that we will *take* *care* of those he sends to us, he will *send* *more* our way.
*Keep* it *up*, keep *praying* for us, and *pray* and *fast* *tomorrow*.
\\
Facebook:
· I am looking forward to our “Purim-styled” study of Esther, complete with a play, but there is one tradition we won’t keep...(link to blog post about Purim celebration)
Communication card:
· Get more info about LYW
· Stay for potluck
· Talk to one person you don’t know
*Objectives of sermon:*
· Remind us that God is there, even when we cannot see him.
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