Central Assembly
August 8, 2021 | Pastor Don Tucker | Take Courage!
August 8, 2021 | Pastor Don Tucker | Take Courage!
Locations & Times
Central Assembly
1301 N Boonville Ave, Springfield, MO 65802, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:45 AM
Take Courage!
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7 ESV
The Story
Esther Chapters 1-7
The Setting
The palace, in Shushan/Susa, capital of the first Persian empire formed by Cyrus the Great, long after the captive Hebrews are allowed to return to their homeland.
The Characters
Xerxes, the reigning king
Vashti, the stunning queen
Haman, the story’s antagonist
Mordecai - Jewish DP # 1
Esther - Jewish DP # 2
The Plot
Xerxes’ royal extravaganza
Vashti’s refusal
Xerxes’ revenge
Search for a new queen
Esther Chosen
The Crisis
Mordecai standing firm
Haman hating Mordecai
Haman setting a trap
Who has the ear of the king?!?
THE MODEL OF COURAGE
The Real Circumstances
No guarantees of her position
Key indicators were against her
Her potential consequences were extreme
Her success was life or death
THE CHALLENGE TO TAKE COURAGE
...who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14b NIV
And if I perish, I perish. Esther 4:16 NIV
OUR CALL TO TAKE COURAGE TODAY...
Consider Mordecai’s challenge: This could be your moment, your reason for being
Your Esther Moment may call you to
• Seize the opportunity
• Take a chance
• Risk it
• Go for it
• Step up
• Make the call, the decision
• Follow your heart - even to say no
• Do the right thing
• Do the courageous thing
• Do the godly thing
The temptation of our Esther Moment may be to
Minimize our own capacity:
• I’m not able
• I’m not smart enough
• I’m not trained enough
• I’m not good enough
Think only of ourselves:
• Wait for something bigger, better, even more public
• Choose not to engage, to stay secure
Taking courage to ...
• Say no - bullying, abuse
• Abandon dishonesty, unfairness
• To end the decision your making, the path you are walking
• Face change
• Just say yes
• Take courage to stay the course!
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD! Psalm 31:24 ESV
But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.
2 Chronicles 15:7 ESV
The Story
Esther Chapters 1-7
The Setting
The palace, in Shushan/Susa, capital of the first Persian empire formed by Cyrus the Great, long after the captive Hebrews are allowed to return to their homeland.
The Characters
Xerxes, the reigning king
Vashti, the stunning queen
Haman, the story’s antagonist
Mordecai - Jewish DP # 1
Esther - Jewish DP # 2
The Plot
Xerxes’ royal extravaganza
Vashti’s refusal
Xerxes’ revenge
Search for a new queen
Esther Chosen
The Crisis
Mordecai standing firm
Haman hating Mordecai
Haman setting a trap
Who has the ear of the king?!?
THE MODEL OF COURAGE
The Real Circumstances
No guarantees of her position
Key indicators were against her
Her potential consequences were extreme
Her success was life or death
THE CHALLENGE TO TAKE COURAGE
...who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? Esther 4:14b NIV
And if I perish, I perish. Esther 4:16 NIV
OUR CALL TO TAKE COURAGE TODAY...
Consider Mordecai’s challenge: This could be your moment, your reason for being
Your Esther Moment may call you to
• Seize the opportunity
• Take a chance
• Risk it
• Go for it
• Step up
• Make the call, the decision
• Follow your heart - even to say no
• Do the right thing
• Do the courageous thing
• Do the godly thing
The temptation of our Esther Moment may be to
Minimize our own capacity:
• I’m not able
• I’m not smart enough
• I’m not trained enough
• I’m not good enough
Think only of ourselves:
• Wait for something bigger, better, even more public
• Choose not to engage, to stay secure
Taking courage to ...
• Say no - bullying, abuse
• Abandon dishonesty, unfairness
• To end the decision your making, the path you are walking
• Face change
• Just say yes
• Take courage to stay the course!
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD! Psalm 31:24 ESV