Bethel Community Church Orlando

ARE YOU SURE // WEEK 4 // Measured by Love

We are discussing how we can know with certainty that we are saved. So, how we can be sure that we are followers of Christ? 1 John 4 says that our relationship with God is measured by our love for others. Love is how others see God in us.

ARE YOU SURE // WEEK 3 // The Love of the World

What dominates your life? Is it the love of the Father, or love of the world? John describes the world as it is arrayed in rebellion against God. He defines this as the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life. John then teaches that the way to overcome the world is by embracing the love of the Father.

ARE YOU SURE // WEEK 2 // You Don't Know God If...

In 1 John 1:5-10, John identifies three signs of someone who doesn’t know God—even though they think they do. John says that you don’t know God if you sin willfully and habitually, you say you have no sin, and you have no confidence before God because of your sin. John says that being unaware of the sinfulness of your heart is a sign you don’t know God. The clearest sign that you are growing in grace is not that you no longer sin, but that you are more aware of how much sin pervades your heart.

ARE YOU SURE // WEEK 1 // Certainty through Experience

The book of 1 John is written to anyone wondering, "How do you know that your experience with God is genuine?" Over the next few weeks, we'll be taking a closer look at answering this question.

ESTHER // WEEK 8 // GOD PROTECTS

Mordecai’s life has been spared, but the death sentence for all of God’s people is still in effect, and it cannot be reversed. What are Esther and Mordecai going to do with the power that they now have? They became missionaries in a pagan culture, and they were used by God to rescue the Jewish people. Today, God calls Christians to be missionaries in a pagan culture to share the gospel of Jesus. 

ESTHER // WEEK 7 // THE KING'S WRATH

At Esther's second banquet, the queen makes her request to King Xerxes – to save herself and the Jewish people from death. She also reveals Haman as the enemy, and Haman is hanged on the gallows that he had made for Mordecai.

ESTHER // WEEK 6 // GOD'S PROVIDENCE

God is sovereign; He knows the future; and He’s at work. Even when we can't see it or understand it, we should not question the providence of God. God is never mentioned in the book of Esther, yet we can see how He is at work through the lives of the people in the book. God is working everything out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose. God is in control; God is good; and He is present with us.

ESTHER // WEEK 5 // IDENTITY

Haman found his identity in idolatry. He was consumed with power, never repented, and his life ended tragically. The idols where he found his identity were liars. In contrast, Esther has a change of identity, but her life doesn’t end in tragedy and misery. She is not perfect, but she is noble. Haman was concerned with himself. Esther was concerned with others, even to the point of losing her life for them. 

ESTHER // WEEK 4 // OUR MEDIATOR

Esther served as a mediator between her people and Xerxes, but Jesus serves as a mediator between God and His people. Esther had to come to King Xerxes on his throne, but our King Jesus got off His throne to come to us. Esther was willing to die for her people, but Jesus actually died for His people. And He’s alive and seated on the throne of heaven where He always welcomes us into His presence.

ESTHER // WEEK 3 // I WILL NOT BOW

Despite the way people are often characterized, people are not good or morally upright by nature. In this portion of Esther, everyone seems to have their own best interests in mind. First, Esther was hiding that she was Jewish. Next, two of King Xerxes' servants plot to assassinate him. Then the king's nobleman, Haman, wants to kill all of the Jews because Mordecai is a Jew and refused to bow to Haman. Finally, Xerxes gives Haman the power to murder the Jews because Haman is going to pay the king a percentage of the Jews' belongings. Only be God's grace are we kept from being consumed by self-interests, greedy, praise-seeking, or angry when we don't get our way.