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Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah: Persian Period and Restoration
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Lesson OneDiaspora Stories (Esther 1–7)16 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Esther 1–7
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In | The Timeline
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In | Diaspora
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In | Diaspora Stories and Heroes
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In | Nehemiah 9
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In | Workbook: Nehemiah 9
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In | The Importance of Vindication
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In | Plot #1: Guilt and Reconciliation
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In | Plot #2: Dishonor and Vindication
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In | Plots Converge in Jesus
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Behind | Building a Home in Egypt
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Behind | iMap: Post-Exile Diaspora
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In Front | Modern-Day Dishonor and Vindication: Louis Zamperini
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In Front | Workbook: Modern-Day Dishonor and Vindication - Louis Zamperini
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson TwoOverview of Esther (Esther 8–10)14 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Esther 8–10
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In | Workbook: A Royal Beauty Pageant
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In | Chiasm in Esther
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In | A Book of 10 Banquets
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In | The Hiddenness of God
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In | Workbook: Echoes in Esther
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In | Inner-biblical Echoes in Esther
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In | Esther and Joseph
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Behind | Workbook: Editions (and Additions) of Esther
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Behind | Esther and the Canon
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In Front | Signs and Esther
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In Front | Workbook: The Hidden Hand of God in Your Life
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson ThreeThe Character of Esther (Esther Review)14 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Esther
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In | Workbook: The Courage of Esther
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In | What Else Is Esther About?
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In | Workbook: Narrative Liturgy
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In | The Gospels as Narrative Liturgy
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In | The "Meaning" of Stories
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In | Esther and Character Formation
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Behind | Workbook: The Historicity of Esther
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Behind | The Historicity of Esther
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In Front | Christianity Today: Moments of Crisis
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In Front | Crisis, Character, Calling, Competence and Community
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In Front | The Holocaust and Bible Interpretation
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FourEzra15 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Ezra
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In | Workbook: Ezra 1 and Exodus
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In | Ezra's Place in the Bible Story
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In | Introduction to Ezra
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In | Workbook: Introducing Ezra
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In | A Difficult Scene in Ezra
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In | Ezra 10
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Behind | iMap: Exile and Return
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Behind | Second Temple Period
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Behind | Persian Kings and the Bible
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Behind | The Persian Empire
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In Front | Purity and Assimilation Today
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In Front | Workbook: Purity and Assimilation in Your Life
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Lesson FiveNehemiah17 Activities
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Getting Started
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Lesson Text: Nehemiah
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In | Workbook: A Persian Cupbearer
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In | Introduction to Nehemiah
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In | Workbook: Comparing Three Prayers
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In | Workbook: Nehemiah's Leadership in Action
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Behind | Collective Identity
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Behind | Setting the Stage for the New Testament
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Behind | A Temple State
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Behind | The Walls of Nehemiah
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Behind | Tensions Between the Samaritans and Jews
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In Front | Nehemiah and Leadership
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In Front | Affairs of State and Favor with Those in Authority
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In Front | Workbook: The Best Citizens and the Biggest Threat
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In Front | Eschatology as "The Already" and "Not Yet"
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In Front | Workbook: Guiding Questions - Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah
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Wrap-Up
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Getting Started
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity|1 Assessment
Participants 8
Lesson 2, Activity 14
Wrap-Up
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Hopefully you’ve seen how biblical the book of Esther is—even if God isn’t specifically named. And that seems like a really good take away for many of us. Just because God isn’t apparent doesn’t mean He isn’t present. Reading Scripture helps train us to recognize God in what others might call coincidences and in the ways that our lives follow the story lines of those in Scripture.
Well, Esther has more to teach us. She is more than a momentary deliverer. She is a person of character and leadership. Let’s take the next lesson to see how she developed in the crucible of crisis.