INTRODUCTION: Share your experience with and hopes for the More Life Center.

READ: Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Begin the time by praying together.

DISCUSS
1. Why was Mor’decai wearing sackcloth, fasting, weeping and mourning? (Esther 4:1-5)
2. What did Mor’decai want Hathach to ask of Esther? (Esther 4:6-8)
3. What would Esther risk if she does this? (Esther 4: 10-11)
4. How does Mor’decai try to convince Esther? How does he try to threaten her? inspire her? (Esther 4: 12-14)
5. (Esther 4:15-16) Esther gets over this hurdle. Why do you think she changes? Is it the threat? The way he speaks to her heart? Or is it something else?
6. Esther had issues between her Jewish and Persian identities. Do you ever have identity issues between your multiple identities?
7. Have you ever had a time when you wanted to distance yourself from fellow Christians? What motivated that? Was it an ambition? Shame? Share what was going on in your heart.
8. Why do you think Esther asked for and dedicated herself and her maids to a three-day fast?
9. Have you ever received “help” that felt like “harmful help”? How might we guard against that in our efforts to be Pro Bono Christians?
10. Think of a time when someone called out the best in you and you brought it out. Who was it? Was it a person or community? What did they do? How did you respond?
11. What “common good” Christians in current or historical times encourage you to join God in doing good regardless of how it lands on you?
12. Do you have an idea of your unique next-level ministry for such a time as this? Please share.

PRAY: Seriously Lord, bring on the new heavens and a new earth. That one where the wolf and lamb feed together, and where the lion eats straw like the ox, and the serpent eats dust. Bring about that holy mountain where there is no hurt or destruction. And while you are bringing that about, equip us to join you in your business of doing good even if it hurts us.

SHARE AND PRAY:
- Share one need for which you would like prayer today.
- Invite the Holy Spirit to guide your time
- Listen to the Lord for guidance in how to pray for one another and then pray
- Take time to pray for one person at a time.