Esther: Finding Favour (Esther 2:1–20)

Service for Sunday June 28, 2020. Preacher: David Elliott

Video

Sermon Audio

Notes

Text: Esther 2:1–20

Q: How do you find favour with people and with God?

F _______________ IN SCRIPTURE

Gen. 6:8; 39:21, Ruth 2:10, Neh. 2:5, Dan. 1:9, Luke 1:30, I Sam 2:26)

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52)

FAVOUR = to be respected and _______________ by others because I live my life with godly ____________.

A ______________________ (Esther 2:7, 12–13)

So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! (Ecclesiastes 9:7-8) (NLT)

V ________________ RESTRAINT (Esther 2:10,20)

Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. (Proverbs 13:3)

Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.  (Proverbs 10:19) (NLT)

O ____________  (Esther 2:15)

Intelligent people are always ready to learn.  Their ears are open for knowledge. (Prov.18:15) (NLT)

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. (Proverbs 19:20)

U _____________________ (Esther 2:20)

Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honour. (Proverbs 15:33)

R _________________________

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 17:17) 

God showed how much he loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. (1 John 4:9–10)

You find __________ with the Father by putting __________   in His Son.

Digging Deeper

(For use in personal/family devotions or with your care group)

Q1: What is your favourite ice cream… sports team…music group…relative?  Why?

Q2: If a person sprains their ankle they tend to “favour” that joint when they walk.  What does “favouring” mean in this example?  Can you apply this to your spiritual walk?

Q3: Read Proverbs 1:1–7.  What does this passage say about being open/teachable and how that attitude might have a positive effect on your life?

Q4: Pastor David said that outward appearance can reflect an inward attitude.  Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why? 

Q5: Study Hebrews 11:32–40.  What does this passage have to teach us about favour?

Q6: Who are some people in your life that have sacrificed in order to invest in you?  

Q7: Which of the specific areas of favour do you sense you need to work on? Why?  How?