Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther

Teacher: Darrell Rott

1. Worship:
   • What do the many lists of Ezra and Nehemiah tell us about God? What are His characteristics and attributes?
2. Esther:
   1. What is interesting and valuable to you in Esther?
   2. The story lead to the establishment of the Jewish Festival of Purim to remember how God rescued them.
   3. What do you do to celebrate and remember what God has done for you?
3. Nehemiah:
   1. What did you find in Nehemiah?
   2. Leadership. Prayer.
   3. The story is about the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem for protection, security, separation and identity.
   4. What are we/you doing to build walls of spiritual protection, security, separation, and identity for us and our children?
4. Ezra:
   1. What spoke to you in Ezra?
   2. God stirred the heart of Cyrus, priests, and Levites, neighbors…
   3. Rebuilding the temple.
   4. “utterly shocked” (9:3) Intermarriage issue; literal or metaphor?
   5. “But now we have been given a brief moment of grace… He has given us a protective wall in Judah and Jerusalem.” 9:8-9
   6. What are we/you going to do to rebuild the church in Boulder after Covid?

Listen to the book of Ezra from BibleGateway: ESV, KJV, MSG, NIV, NKJV

Short Outline of Ezra from Today's English Version

• The first return from exile (1:1 – 2:70)
• The Temple is rebuilt and dedicated (3:1 – 6:22)
• Ezra returns with other exiles (7:1 – 10:44)

Listen to the book of Nehemiah from BibleGateway: ESV, KJV, MSG, NIV, NKJV

Short Outline of Nehemiah from Today's English Version

• Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem (1:1 – 2:20)
• The walls of Jerusalem are rebuilt (3:1 – 7:73)
• The Law is read, and the covenant is renewed (8:1 – 10:39)
• Further activities of Nehemiah (11:1 – 13:31)

Listen to the book of Esther from BibleGateway: ESV, KJV, MSG, NIV, NKJV

Short Outline of Esther from Today's English Version

• Esther becomes queen (1:1 – 2:23)
• Haman’s plots (3:1 – 5:14)
• Haman is put to death (6:1 – 7:10)
• The Jews defeat their enemies (8:1 – 10:3)