Ice Breaker If Rebecca was a dessert, what would she be and why? Main Idea: We must be active listeners to contend against apostasy Jude 11–16 Bible app link Discussion Questions What stood out to you, made you think, or was something that you like, or remember from the sermon? What are some of the hidden reefs (hidden dangers) being preached in churches and religions today? Why do you think people don’t see them? ...

Big Idea: Believers in Christ need to remember the judgment of God on apostates, and be able to identify them through their ungodly behavior and lifestyle, and contend with them concerning the faith. Jude 5-10 Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. 8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. ...

Main Idea: As children of God, it is necessary to be alert and ready to stand on truth and proclaim the truth in the midst of opposition and persecution. Read Jude 1-4 (1) Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: (2) May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. (3) Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. (4) For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (ESV) ...

Big Idea God often allows difficulties to expose the orientation of your heart. Read: Esther 5:1-14 Bible app link Discussion Questions Describe, in your own words, God’s sovereignty and discuss why this doctrine is viewed as either troubling or comforting. How should we view God’s sovereignty, especially when difficulties come? Describe a time when you followed a plan that was determined by your will rather than God’s Word. How did this turn out for you (and others)? How did Esther display courage in this text? Discuss what the Bible teaches about courage and how this virtue should impact your life. What are some of the dangers of living for your personal joy and happiness? How can you avoid these things? In what ways can we feed idolatry in our lives rather than forsaking it? Next Steps Think about the difficulties you’ve experienced in your life and then consider how God has used those things to shape and sanctify you. Write down three lessons you’ve learned through the difficulties you’ve faced. ...

Big Idea God doesn’t need you, but He desires to use you for His purpose. Read: Esther 4:1-17 Bible app link Discussion Questions Describe a time the Lord directed you to do something, but you were full of fear rather than faith and did not obey. Why is Esther 4 a good chapter for many of us who have been in this position? How does the gospel fuel obedience to God in the life of a believer? Mordecai didn’t hide his grief but displayed it publicly for all to see. Why do we tend to conceal our grief or struggles rather than sharing them openly? What does the Bible say about being honest with each other in our struggles? We are often hopeful that somebody in the church will step up to meet a need or create an outreach ministry, why do you believe we continually hope someone else will do what we see needs to be done? Verses 15-17 uncover a substantial reversal from earlier in Esther’s story. Identify and discuss what this reversal means for Esther’s development and how it applies to you personally. Next Steps God desires to use you, not because you are perfect, not because you are highly gifted, not because you are intelligent, wealthy, well-educated, or skillful. God desires to use you because He is full of grace and mercy—it is an honor to be used by the King of Kings. This week read and meditate on 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, then journal your thoughts about how this passage applies to you. ...

Big Idea Evil rises in the world around us, but God is always going before us. Read: Esther 3:1-15 Bible app link Discussion Questions What was the most impactful thing from the text and the sermon this week? Has there ever been a situation in your life when you’ve been passed over and someone less deserving was promoted? How did you handle the disappointment? What are some dangers you must be aware of that can poison your heart in those situations? The king’s servants said Mordecai transgressed the king’s command when he refused to bow to Haman. Do you believe Mordecai was right or wrong in refusing to bow? Explain your answer from Scripture. Read verses 7-11. What does the text reveal about King Ahasuerus? What should we learn and apply from his response? How does this inform your decision making of what of leaders you look for or the kind of leader you yourself want to be? ...

Big Idea Compromise with the world will always complicate the life of God’s people. Read: Esther 2:1-11 Bible app link Discussion Questions What was the most impactful thing from the text and the sermon this week? Mordecai and Esther were caught by years of compromise and became like the Persians. Discuss some of the ways are you most tempted to compromise with the world? Verse six focuses our attention on the fact that the Jews were exiles in Persia. What are some similarities believers share with exiles and in what ways is God’s grace given to exiles? Esther gained favor throughout this narrative (see, vs. 9,15,17). What can we assume about Esther from the text? How does this apply to our lives in this world? What character trait of Esther is revealed in verses 10 and 20? How does that trait impact the story of Esther and what can we learn from her example? Next Steps This week, read 1 Peter 2:1-10; Revelation 1:6; Colossians 1:13; and Ephesians 4:1 and consider what it means that you are a citizen of two kingdoms and what that means for how you live daily? What responsibilities and hope has God given you? ...

Big Idea God is faithful to His promise, even when it seems He is absent. Read Esther 1:1-22 Discussion Questions What was the most impactful thing from the text and the sermon the past two weeks? There has been a massive increase in the number of people who do not believe in God and claim no religious affiliation. Why do you believe so many people have a hard time believing there is a God? What can we do to help others know God? God is noticeably absent from the book of Esther, but He’s also very present and working behind the scenes to accomplish His purpose. Discuss what you learned during a time in your life when God seemed absent to you, but in hindsight you could see that God was working behind the scenes. One of the purposes for describing the elaborate scene in chapter one is for the readers to understand the greatness of the king and the pride that enveloped his life. Talk about how does pride manifests itself in your life? Sometimes the outcome of the event contains the reason for the author including the event itself. After the king listened to Memucan’s advice (Esther 1:16–20), what do we now learn about Vashti? What do we now learn about Ahasuerus? The king surrounded himself with “wise men who knew the times” (v.13). Talk about whether their advice was good or foolish? Discuss the kind of people you surround yourself with and look to for godly counsel. Prayer Focus As you pray this week, be sure to thank God for giving you His wisdom in Scripture so that you can wisely navigate life in a cursed world. Also, ask God for the strength to follow His wisdom and reject the strong pull of the wisdom of the world. ...

Big Idea People need to hear about the promise of forgiveness through faith in the living Savior. Read: John 20:19-23 Bible app link Discussion Questions What was the most impactful thing from the text and the sermon this week? John wrote that the disciples were locked in a room “for fear of the Jews” why were they afraid and what significance did Jesus’ message of peace have for them? Jesus sent His disciples to continue the mission He was given by the Father and promised to give them the Holy Spirit. In what ways does the Holy Spirit make us effective in continuing the mission of Christ? In what ways do we struggle to accept the promise of forgiveness through faith in Jesus today, and what steps can we take to overcome those struggles? How can we share the promise of forgiveness with others in our communities, especially those who may be skeptical or resistant to the idea? Next Steps In your devotional time this week, consider the depth of forgiveness you’ve received through faith in Christ. One way to accomplish this is to write a list of your sins each day in your journal. Then, after writing down those sins, write the word FORGIVEN in bold letters over that list. ...

Ice Breaker What’s one skill or hobby you’ve always wanted to learn, but haven’t had the chance to yet? Big Idea Jesus prays for the disciples because the Father delights to help His children. Read: John 17:6-19 Open Bible app Discussion Questions What was the most impactful thing from the text and the sermon this week? What did Jesus pray for his disciples in this passage? Why do you think these requests are significant? How are we sanctified? Jesus prayed openly in front of His disciples so that they could hear what He was requesting for them from the Father. What are some benefits of hearing someone carry your burdens to Father in prayer? Jesus prays for his disciples’ joy. How can our relationship with God and our faith in Jesus bring us joy, even in difficult circumstances? Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure and the mission they would carry out. What are some truths that we can apply concerning the relationship between prayer and any God-honoring endeavor? Next Steps Ask a brother or sister you encounter this week from CrossPointe how you can pray for them and then stop what you’re doing and openly ask God to meet their need at that moment. Praying for someone when they can hear it is a way to foster the kind of relational intimacy God desires among His people in the church. ...