Esther - Part 2: In The Mess

October 25th, 2026

MICRO CHURCH GUIDE
October 25, 2026

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Dwell: A Month of Prayer
This month, we’re intentionally focusing on prayer—slowing down, seeking Jesus, and learning to dwell in His presence. Every weekday, we’ll send a short devotional straight to your phone to help you pause, pray, and turn your attention to Him. Join us as we make space to dwell with Jesus and grow deeper in prayer together. Text DAILY to 94000 to join us!

OneLife Students United Night, October 28th
Our Middle & High School students from both campuses are coming together for a United Night! Get ready for a night filled with games, food, student-led worship, and a truth-filled message. Since we’re meeting the week of Halloween, feel free to wear a fun, friendly costume if you’d like. Grab your friends and join us at the Ball Road Campus from 6:30–8:15pm for a night of connection, fun, and unity!

Baptism
If you’ve given your life to Jesus but haven’t gone public with your story through baptism, now is the time to take that step! Baptism is an opportunity to publicly declare your faith, celebrate God’s work in your life, and take the next step in your journey with Jesus. We would love to walk with you through this process, answer your questions, and help you experience the joy of declaring your faith through baptism.
Mark the baptism box on your Connection Card, and we’ll help you get started!

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Bottom Line: God is working in the mess

Esther 2:1-2 NLT

But after Xerxes’ anger had subsided, he began thinking about Vashti and what she had done and the decree he had made.So his personal attendants suggested, “Let us search the empire to find beautiful young virgins for the king.

Esther 2:5 NLT

At that time there was a Jewish man in the fortress of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair. He was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei.

Esther 2:7-8 NLT

This man had a very beautiful and lovely young cousin, Hadassah, who was also called Esther. When her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her into his family and raised her as his own daughter.As a result of the king’s decree, Esther, along with many other young women, was brought to the king’s harem at the fortress of Susa and placed in Hegai’s care.

1. My circumstances don't have to be good for God to be working through them.

Esther 2:9 NLT

Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly. He quickly ordered a special menu for her and provided her with beauty treatments. He also assigned her seven maids specially chosen from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.

Esther 2:15 NLT

Esther was the daughter of Abihail, who was Mordecai’s uncle. (Mordecai had adopted his younger cousin Esther.) When it was Esther’s turn to go to the king, she accepted the advice of Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the harem. She asked for nothing except what he suggested, and she was admired by everyone who saw her.

Esther 2:18 NLT

To celebrate the occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther’s honor for all his nobles and officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts to everyone.

2. Don't overlook the ordinary because you're waiting for the extraordinary.

Esther 2:19-22 NLT

Even after all the young women had been transferred to the second harem and Mordecai had become a palace officialEsther continued to keep her family background and nationality a secret. She was still following Mordecai’s directions, just as she did when she lived in his home.One day as Mordecai was on duty at the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthana and Teresh—who were guards at the door of the king’s private quarters—became angry at King Xerxes and plotted to assassinate him.But Mordecai heard about the plot and gave the information to Queen Esther. She then told the king about it and gave Mordecai credit for the report.

3. Just because you haven't seen the reward doesn’t mean God has forgotten your faithfulness.

Esther 2:23 NLT

When an investigation was made and Mordecai’s story was found to be true, the two men were impaled on a sharpened pole. This was all recorded in The Book of the History of King Xerxes’ Reign.

4. God is often preparing the answer before I know there is a problem.

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START TALKING:

What is a mess that many would look at and say "there's no way anything happens in that mess" but you are able to move through it and get things done?

START THINKING:

Read Esther 2:1-2. What does this passage teach about anger, what others notice when we are angry or dealing with it, and what we should do when we are angry?

Read Esther 2:5-9, 15, and 18. What were the ordinary circumstances that were being used by God to set Esther up for the problem God already knew was being solved?

Read Esther 2:19-23. What reward might Esther or Mordecai have been expecting as a result of saving the king's life? What did they get instead?

START SHARING:

When have you seen circumstances that actually weren't good - they were simply bad - but you can see where God was (or even is) moving and redeeming those bad circumstances?

What are some ordinary circumstances that you have seen God move in during a mess? They weren't the bad circumstances and they weren't amazing and miraculous. They were simply ordinary.

START DOING:

Read Esther 2:20. She was "still following" or "continued following" - her faithfulness never wavered no matter how big the mess became. What mess are you facing now and what do you need to do this week to "still follow" and trust God is working in your mess? What practical steps will you take to remain faithful?

When you don't yet know the problem God is already solving in your mess and He seems silent, what do you need to do and what will you do?

How can an experience you have already had in this area become part of your story when you think about your "one" and intentionally sharing your faith with them to invite them to experience Jesus, too?

START PRAYING:

Pray for the mess each person shared, whether it was in the past or in the present. Pray that each person will trust that God is moving even when the circumstances aren't good. Pray that each person will trust that he is moving, even when it seems ordinary. Pray that each person will remain faithful, trust that God is moving in the mess.

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CONNECTION CARDS
Be sure to fill out the online Connection Card to let us know next steps, prayer requests, or other information you'd like to share, click here.
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MULTIPLICATION
Share spiritual/missional conversations you've had where you live, work, and play:
- Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
- What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
- How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
- How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
- Who in your life do you think could be disciple-able or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
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WHAT'S NEXT?
- Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?
- Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?

Posted in Micro Church Guides