CELEBRATION

Leader Thoughts

This week in the book of Esther we see the celebration of remembering that takes places because of God’s rescue of His people. We are called in many places in scripture to be people that remember what God has done. This is not only encouraging for our own souls but it can be encouraging for our families and those around us. In our groups this week we want to take a moment and remember what God has done in our lives. There will be less questions this week for more time to share and open up as a group. Here is a great blog post by John Piper that talks about remembering.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————— One of the great enemies of hope is forgetting God’s promises. Reminding is a great ministry. Peter

and Paul wrote for this reason (2 Peter 1:13; Romans 15:15).
The main reminder is the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). But don’t be passive. You are responsible only for

your own ministry of reminding. And the first one in need of reminding by you is you.

The mind has this great power: It can talk to itself by way of reminder. The mind can “call to mind.” For example, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases” (Lamentations 3:21–22).

If we don’t “call to mind” what God has said about himself and about us, we languish. O how I know this from painful experience! Don’t wallow in the mire of godless messages. I mean the messages in your own head. “I can’t . . .” “She won’t . . .” “They never . . .” “It has never worked . . .”

The point is not that these are true or false. Your mind will always find a way to make them true, unless you “call to mind” something greater. God is the God of the impossible. Reasoning your way out of an impossible situation is not as effective as reminding your way out of it.

Without reminding ourselves of the greatness and grace and power and wisdom of God, we sink into brutish pessimism. “I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you” (Psalms 73:22).

The great turn from despair to hope in Psalm 77 comes with these words: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds” (Psalms 77:11–12).

This is the great battle of my life. I assume yours too. The battle to remind! Myself. Then others.

Home Group Guide

OPENING

What is one of your happiest memories as a child? What makes it so great for you?

SCRIPTURE

Say something like: This week we heard about the rescue of God’s people in the book of Esther. We see the celebration of Purim even celebrated today in remembering of what God has done. Today we want to take time to share stories of what God has done in our own life.

Read Deuteronomy 6: 10-15

Why do you think it’s so important that the Jewish people not forget what God has done?

Do we sometimes forget what God has done in our life? What does this look like?

APPLICATION

Would you be willing to share a story of something great that God has done in your life? Or even your own testimony of salvation?

How do we praise God for what he has done in our life? Do we do this?

PRAYER

In your prayer time together ask each person to take God for something he has done in the other peoples lives in your group. I encourage you to even be systematic and ask certain people to pray words of praise for others stories they just heard.

Children Conversation

What are three Biblical truths that you want your children to know before they leave your home? How are you teaching them these? Showing them these?