Quick Studies Joshua Esther

45 high-impact studies with reproducible resources.

Months had gone by. The time and energy I had spent teaching the Pentateuch to my son was well worth it. We had finally finished the first five books of the Bible. My son was receiving a first rate Bible study. Or so I thought. Much to my disappointment, a brief question and answer session revealed that my boy couldn't remember the events of Abraham's life. What happened? We read a chapter of the Bible each day, beginning with Genesis all the way to Deuteronomy. We reviewed the major biblical events at the start of each day. What did I do wrong? He could answer the questions to the Westminster Shorter Catechism without any problem. Why couldn't he remember the Bible? Then it struck me. He needed a catechism of the Bible. And so did I. How many times have I found myself trying to recall the specific events of a biblical event, only having to reread the story. Many people are this way. We easily forget information if we are not vigilant in reviewing it. This catechism of the historical books of the Old Testament is the result of months of plodding study. Each day I read one chapter of the Bible to my two oldest children, and they memorized the answers to several questions. By the time we had finished the book of Joshua, my children knew the book as well as the kids who were raised in the Puritan era. We went on to the book of Judges. Once a week we returned to the book of Joshua to review the questions. When we arrived at the end of Judges we continued on to Ruth. Judges was added to our list of books to review weekly. The problem was solved. We will need to return to the book of the Law eventually. But for now we have proceeded to the New Testament. Lord willing, in a few months, a catechism of the Gospels and Acts will be completed and available for purchase. Catechisms have been used throughout the history of the church to communicate God's truth.The human mind is too often like a leaky bucket of water. Information we once had stored has disappeared over the course of time. As a weightlifter must train consistently to keep the gains he has made, so it is with the spiritual athlete. God has given us many tools to grow our spiritual life. Bible reading and prayer are two essential duties of every Christian. There are helps that we have relating to both that many before us did not have. This catechism is just that: a tool, a help. It is written so that children as young as five are able to easily memorize the answers. It is also a great way for adolescents to learn the Bible. And if you are like me, an adult with children or grandchildren who finds it more difficult to remember things than it used to be, this short book will be a benefit. So it is for everyone, the young and the old. It is for Sunday School teachers studying an historical book of the Bible with their class. It is for homeschool parents who desire a solid, biblical education for their children. It is for the head of the family for use at the family altar. And it is for God's child who desires to have a stronger relationship with Him through the knowledge of His Word.Stephen Wuori is from Massachusetts. He has served God as a missionary in the Amazon jungle and Ecuador where he lives with his wife and four children. He enjoys reading theology, biographies, and history, and roughhousing with his children. The following is a brief excerpt from this catechism on the book of Esther.IntroductionWhen was the book of Esther read? At the Feast of PurimWhat was the Feast of Purim? The commemoration of the great deliverance of the Jews that God brought about through EstherWhen do the events of this book take place? About 30 years before the events of the books of Ezra and NehemiahChapter 1What was the king of Persia, Ahasuerus, doing? He made a feast and showed his richesWhat was another name for King Ahasuerus? XerxesWhat did the king command? That queen Vashti come to him, but she refusedWhat did Ahasuerus do? He rejected her as queen

God Fulfills His Promise It had been centuries since God promised to give Abraham and his family the land of Canaan. Now the time had finally come. The Lord—accompanied by Joshua, His veteran commander—leads His people to take possession of their promised inheritance. We find in the book of Joshua powerful reminders for a people prone to forgetting—reminders of what God taught His people about Himself and what it means to be a citizen of His Kingdom. LifeChange LifeChange Bible studies will help you grow in Christlikeness through a life-changing encounter with God’s Word. Filled with a wealth of ideas for going deeper so you can return to this study again and again. Features Cover the entire book of Joshua in 16 lessons Equip yourself to lead a Bible study Imagine the Bible’s historical world Study word origins and definitions Explore thoughtful questions on key themes Go deeper with optional projects Add your notes with extra space and wide margins Find the flexibility to fit the time you have

The books of Ruth and Esther recount two of the most memorable stories in all of Scripture: Ruth, a displaced widow in search of a new home and loving husband, and Esther, a courageous queen intent on saving her people from imminent destruction. Plumbing the theological depths, this guide explains the biblical text with clarity and passion—leading us on a journey to discover the God who hears the cries of his people and remains faithful to his promises. Over the course of 12 weeks, each study in this series explores a book of the Bible and: Asks thoughtful questions to spur discussion Shows how each passage unveils the gospel Ties the text in with the whole story of Scripture Illuminates the doctrines taught in each passage Invites you to discover practical implications Helps you better understand and apply God's Word

Everyone loves a transformation story. Rags to riches. Plain to beautiful. Weak to strong. Esther's story is that, but it is much more. It is a thought-provoking study of God's invisible hand writing silently and unseen across the pages of human history. Perhaps most of all, Esther's story is the account of godly attributes like courage, dignity, wisdom, and strength?attributes that blocked an evil plot, overthrew an arrogant killer, and replaced terror with joy in thousands of Jewish homes. Author Chuck Swindoll interweaves the ancient, real-life story with insight not only into the virtues of Queen Esther, but also into how the qualities that formed and empowered her can be ours. Esther is the second volume of Charles Swindoll's best-selling series, which examines great lives from God's Word and reveals the strengths and weaknesses that make God's men and women both great . . . and human. Many of the most beloved biblical heroes were ordinary folks. Shepherds. Fishermen. Servants. Widows. Even harlots and petty thieves. One by one, they changed the course of history. Swindoll explains that these men and women did not become great in their own strength but were empowered by God when they surrendered their lives to Him. To live such a life that God considers great is within the reach of everyone who submits to Him.