Liberti Church Carrara Sermons

What God gives to us, is never just for us. Esther gives us a model for how God’s people are to steward power, wealth, and influence - using these not for themselves, but the flourishing of others.

Forgiveness is the gospel on display in our relationships. Receiving the grace of God is never something we graduate from, but something we grow deeper in.

Haman spent his life grabbing after applause and power, only to discover that the staircase of self-glory led not to a throne, but a gallows. At the climax of the story of Esther, we see that one of the bedrock principles of the entire universe is this: pride leads to destruction and humility leads to life.

What do we need to know when we are struggling to make sense of life? That God is in control, God is not behind schedule, and God gives grace to the humble. We can begin to rest when we realize that we don’t need to know the future, if we know the heart of the One who does.

What are you living for? Who are you listening to? As we see Esther's plan and Haman's plan begin to unravel, we also see that the answer to these two questions shape the trajectory of our lives.

Mordecai is a long way from home, in more ways than one. Esther is beautiful yet broken, and has something to hide. Compromise is everywhere and everyone has got problems. But no one is beyond the reach of God’s transforming grace. In this way, Esther helps us to see ourselves; we’re all compromised by our own sin and victimised by the sins of others. And just like Esther, God is not done with us yet!

We live in a world where power is misused and flaunted. Oftentimes, God seems hidden to us. It can be difficult to trace His plan when life dishes up unexpected twists and trials. But God’s hiddenness does not mean His absence. The Book of Esther invites us into a story where things aren’t always what they seem. A story of “coincidences” that are actually providential setups for great reversals. There is a King who rules over every earthly king & power. And when we cannot make sense of our circumstances, we learn to trust in His promises.

Acts 20:17-27

Philippians 3:1-11

Acts 19:21-41

Acts 19:11-20

Acts 19:1-10

Acts 18:24-28

Acts 18:18-23