BACKGROUND PREPARATION It would be useful to read through the first four chapters of Esther to give some background to this part of her story. You will also need a piece of flip-chart paper with an outline of a queen on it, marker pens, a packet of small Coca- Cola bottles, a packet of Mentos, a bunch of recent newspapers, scissors and some glue.
BOOM!
5 mins
This is a messy way to kick off your session. Line up your bottles of Coca-Cola with the lids off. The task is simple – drop a Mento into the bottle and wait for the reaction. Your group can either do it one at a time or altogether, and I’d suggest that this is an outdoor activity – it could get sticky!
Say: it might be just a mint but it can make all the difference. The story of Queen Esther is about one woman’s courage that made a difference to so many.
Read all about it!
10 mins
Ask your group to think about injustice and what it means to them. Talk about how we see injustice in the news. Then ask your group to find headlines and stories in the newspapers and ask them to cut them up and stick them onto flip-chart paper. If you have time, talk together about the stories and then put them to one side – you’ll need them again a bit later.
A royal risk?
15 mins
Take some time to give the group a short synopsis of the story of Queen Esther so far from the first three chapters. Before you read through chapter 4, produce a piece of flip-chart paper with a large outline of a queen on it (make sure it’s big enough to write stuff inside and not too big that you can’t write other stuff round the edge). Ask your group to read through chapter 4, either together or in groups, and as they do this, ask them to identify these two things:
• What were some of the difficulties that Queen Esther was facing?
• What made her strong and courageous?
After you’ve read through the passage, write the difficulties outside the outline of the queen and what made her strong and courageous inside the outline. Looking at the flip-chart paper and the group’s reflections of the passage, ask them what stands out for them about Queen Esther and where God fits in the picture.
Explain: Queen Esther finds both herself and her people in fear of death because her husband, the King, has decreed that they should all be killed. Esther’s people are reacting how you would imagine, they are distressed and wailing. Esther knows that she needs to speak to the King but she is risking her life by doing that too. It’s not looking good at all but Esther turns to God in prayer and fasting for this situation.
Right place, right time
15 mins
Say: we might well find ourselves in a situation where it’s clear that people are being treated unfairly, and we might well be one of them. It makes the news when people are being unfair, but we don’t often read about the people who stand up for injustice. Like Queen Esther we may well find ourselves in a position for ‘such a time as this’. Spend some time with your group thinking through these questions:
• Have you ever been in a situation or are there situations now where you wanted to speak out, but find it hard to?
• What encouragement can you take from the story of Queen Esther and how she dealt with her situation?
• Do you think that we should pray that God will put us in places ‘for such a time as this’? Are we looking to be proactive about injustice as well as reactive?
Go back to your flip-chart queen picture and ask your group to think about their lives. Ask them if they were to draw an outline of themselves, what are the difficulties and tricky situations that they face and what gives them strength and courage. If you have time your group might like to draw their own outline and fill it in.
Close
10 mins
We might not find ourselves in lifethreatening situations like Queen Esther, but God is completely faithful when we face a difficult situation and need to speak up and speak out. Be encouraged by the determination of Queen Esther, knowing that God is always close.
Finish the session in prayer; thanking God for his faithfulness in all situations and praying for courage for ourselves and for those who speak out for themselves and others in difficult situations. You might want to use the newspapers from the earlier activity and write over the stories of injustice with words of courage and hope that have inspired you from this story of Queen Esther. Encourage the group to read the rest of the book of Esther – to see that God remains utterly faithful and justice prevails.
KEY POINT #1
Esther is prepared to put herself at considerable risk, even death, to have a chance of saving her people, but her trust is in God. She may well be out of favour with the King, but not with God.
KEY POINT #2
Esther’s wise uncle Mordecai speaks those powerful words over Esther, ‘You have come to your royal position for such a time as this.’ God puts people in places for a purpose, to take risks and speak out. Sometimes those situations can be tough but we can have full confidence that God is faithful and can use us to make that difference.
