The Contest and the Crown
Esther is the epitome of a prodigal saint. She abandons God to compete for the fleeting pleasures of fame and fortune . . . and she wins, too. But in this message "The Contest and the Crown," Stephen reminds us what she loses in the process.
The Curtain Rises
On the surface, Esther's life is a real Cinderella story. But as Stephen takes us behind the trappings of her new-found royalty, we'll discover that things aren't nearly as good as they seem. Join him now his message "The Curtain Rises" to discover what's really been going on behind the scenes.
Just Above the Royal Throne
Sometimes when we make heroes out of the human characters in biblical stories, we forget who the real hero of the Bible is. So before we even get past the introduction of this study of Esther, Stephen makes sure we have our eyes focused laterally rather than horizontally. As we'll discover in today's message, the real King of Persia isn't seated in the palace . . . He's seated just above the royal throne.
When Holiness Becomes Obvious
There is an unbreakable bond between our private testimony before God and our public reputation before others. Holiness never stays hidden.
Holy Advertisements
We don't just bear the name of Christ when we become Christians. We bear His reputation as well.
Another Man's Treasure
Jesus Christ is the most precious gift in all of history. But is He precious to you?
The Sacred Life
Everything about the Old Testament temple hailed God's holiness. The sacrifices. The lampstands. The priestly attire. The incense. Everything was set apart for His glory. So what about you?
Holy Cravings
There are plenty of gray areas when it comes to Christian living. There are quite a few matters of conscience as well. But in 1 Peter 2:1-2, Peter reminds us that some things are black and white.
Some Things Should Never Change
Push back the walls of family love until they include your neighbor. Then, push back the walls even further until they include strangers. Then, push back your walls as far as they'll go until they include your enemies. That's Stephen's message from 1 Peter 1:22-25.
Ransomed!
The gospel isn't about golden streets and pearly gates and unfathomable earthly wealth. It is about the inexhaustible riches of Christ's sacrifice, won through suffering and obedience. How much is the blood of Christ worth to you today?