As I prayed about what to preach this year, I felt compelled to address several cultural issues with our church family. Topics like toxic masculinity, sensual promiscuity, political hypocrisy, and ethnic superiority have crept into every corner of society—and the church isn’t immune. But I didn’t want to turn the pulpit into a weekly soapbox. I wanted a way to speak truth into these issues while keeping the focus on God’s Word.
That’s when God, through my Bible reading plan, brought me to the Book of Esther.
What struck me immediately was how many of those very issues are present in Esther’s story. The culture is out of control. The leadership is erratic, self-indulgent, and often dangerous. People are objectified, dehumanized, and discarded. And yet, what’s most surprising is this: Esther is the only book in the Bible where God’s name is never mentioned.
But just because His name isn’t mentioned doesn’t mean He’s absent. Esther reminds us that even when we can’t see God directly, He is still at work—even in the shadows.
Through this series, we’ll see how God uses ordinary people in unlikely positions to accomplish extraordinary purposes. Esther and Mordecai didn’t start out as spiritual superheroes. They were just willing. And through their courage and conviction, we see how God’s providence weaves through even the darkest times.
Here’s a preview of where we’re headed each week:
- Aug. 10 – The Unmentioned God in an Unconstrained Society (Esther 1:1–22)
- God’s people lived in a land led by drunken, objectifying, and dysfunctional rulers. Even when He isn’t honored, God is still orchestrating His plan.
- Aug. 17 – No Accidental Positions (Esther 2:1–18)
- A pagan king chose a new queen based on appearance, but God positioned Esther exactly where she needed to be.
- Aug. 24 – Do the Right Thing, Regardless of the Consequences (Esther 2:19–3:6)
- Mordecai chose integrity, even when it brought risk. We must resolve to do the right thing, no matter the cost.
- Aug. 31 – Those People (Esther 3:7–15)
- Haman’s hatred was rooted in racial pride. Ethnic superiority is always unfounded and ungodly.
- Sept. 7 – If You Don’t Do It, Someone Else Will (Esther 4:1–17)
- Mordecai challenged Esther to speak up. God’s will moves forward—with or without us.
- Sept. 14 – Steward Your Influence Well (Esther 5:1–14)
- Esther acted with boldness and wisdom. Influence is a gift to be used with faith and discernment.
- Sept. 21 – Those Who Expect Honor Never Receive It (Esther 6:1–14)
- Haman plotted honor for himself but saw it go to Mordecai. True honor comes at the right time in the right way.
- Sept. 28 – Digging a Hole for Yourself (Esther 7:1–10)
- Haman’s plan backfired. Unchecked rage does damage—to others and to ourselves.
- Oct. 5 – Plead on Behalf of Others (Esther 8:1–17)
- Esther could have stayed silent. Instead, she used her position to protect those in danger.
- Oct. 12 – Disarming the Enemies (Esther 9:1–19)
- What was meant to destroy God’s people actually advanced them. God still disarms what threatens His work.
- Oct. 19 – Ordinary People with Extraordinary Causes (Esther 9:20–10:3)
- After all the chaos, God’s people remembered how He used willing individuals to accomplish His purpose.
Esther’s world isn’t so different from ours. God’s people were living on the margins of a godless society, wondering if faithfulness still mattered. But through their obedience in critical moments, God preserved His people and displayed His power—even when He remained unmentioned.
Our prayer for this series is that you’ll see that God is still working, even when the culture is chaotic, even when the stage feels godless, even when you feel small. Because He’s still the King—even in the shadows.
