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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
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Lesson 3, Activity 1
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Take a moment to consider Esther’s development over time. We can look back and see her courage, but was that simply a trait she always had? Was she always confident and strategic? Was she a “natural, born leader?”
The answers to these questions may surprise you. Esther is a case study in a life that made significant progress as she walked through the doors of destiny. She was probably surprised at the person she became.
Let’s go back through the story and pay more attention to who Esther was before and after crisis.