Bethany Lutheran Church

Esther approaches the king, risking her life. Meanwhile, God begins to unravel Haman’s power and protect His people. This is not a story of self-salvation but of faith acting in love. Esther’s courage flows from her trust in God’s providence, not in her own power. This is about faith over fear. Esther 5:1–8; 7:1–6 (ESV)On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for t

Mordecai uncovers a plot, and Haman's plan to destroy the Jews is revealed. Esther hesitates, but Mordecai challenges her with the famous words: “Who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” God works through the everyday roles and positions He gives us. Esther is not a superhero, but someone God has placed in a particular setting for a purpose. So are we.Esther 4:6–17 (ESV)Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate, and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people. And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him t

God is never named in the book of Esther — and yet He is all over it. Esther becomes queen through a series of unlikely events. God's hidden work through the ordinary, even in secular settings. God's grace is not always spectacular but always present — especially in weakness and mystery. Esther 2:5–11, 15–18 (ESV)Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away. He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was tak

The work of the Spirit doesn’t end with individual empowerment — it creates a Spirit-filled, united, and mission-driven Church. The Spirit gives diverse gifts for one shared purpose, binds believers together in unity, and equips us to be Christ’s body in the world. 1 Corinthians 12:4–13 (ESV)Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same

The Holy Spirit is not silent — He speaks, convicts, and guides. This spirit invites us to cultivate listening hearts, discerning the Spirit’s voice through Scripture, prayer, and community. Explore the Spirit’s ongoing role in shaping our daily direction and decisions. Acts 13:1–4Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.Romans 8:14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.John 16:12–15; 17:20-23“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth,

 Ezekiel 36:26–27, Acts 1:4–8, John 14:15–17, 25–27 The Spirit didn’t arrive unexpectedly — He was promised by Jesus and foretold by the prophets.The Holy Spirit is the living fulfillment of God’s plan to dwell within His people, continuing Jesus' presence and power in the world. Ezekiel 36:26–27 (ESV)And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.Acts 1:4–8 (ESV)And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Fathe

On Pentecost, the Spirit is poured out with power, transforming the fearful into the bold. The Spirit is not just a gentle helper — but the fire and breath of God that equips the Church for its mission. Acts 2:1–13 ESVWhen the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamite

When Jesus finished his Sermon on the Mount, the people were astonished with what they had just heard. What if Jesus’ words were meant to do more than shock us? What if Jesus’ words are actually meant to be taken seriously and applied to our daily lives? What would your life look like if you took Jesus’ words seriously? Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV)“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,    whose trust is the Lord.He is like a tree planted by water,    that sends out its roots by the stream,and does not fear when heat comes,    for its leaves remain green,and is not anxious in the year of drought,    for it does not cease to bear fruit.”Matthew 7:24-29 (ESV)“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built

Jesus said, “When you pray.” This means Jesus assumed that his followers would be people shaped by prayer. Many Christians see prayer as only asking God to do things for them. But what if Jesus invited his disciples to pray, not so much for other people's sake, but so that we may be transformed by being in an intimate relationship with him? What if Jesus was serious about prayer because he knew that without it, we may never experience the transforming love of the Father? Chronicles 20:6-12 (ESV)and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand bef

“You have heard it said” is a phrase Jesus uses throughout his Sermon on the Mount. With those five words, Jesus was challenging his hearers' entire worldview. And he is doing the same thing for us today. We live in a divided world, inside and outside the church. What if Jesus was serious about his command for his followers to love their enemies? What would that look like in your life? Romans 12:14-21 (ESV)Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him s