Esther: For Such a Time as This

September 14, 2025

We are honored to welcome Dr. Mark Wilbanks back to the pulpit at Aspire Church San Marco. Dr. Wilbanks faithfully served as our pastor from 1985 to 2002. During his 17 years of leadership, Aspire experienced a season of remarkable growth, good health, and significant expansion of our facilities and property. His tenure left a lasting spiritual and structural legacy that continues to benefit our congregation today. Now retired, Dr. Wilbanks brings 47 years of pastoral ministry experience, having served churches in Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Georgia and two seminary degrees, including a Doctor of Ministry. Mark is also the author of Along the Journey, a collection of essays, stories, and devotionals drawn from his life in ministry. He and his wife, Kimberly Perrin Wilbanks, have been married for 45 years. They now live in Birmingham, Alabama, and are the proud parents of Andrew (married to Lindsay, with three children) and Jordan (married to Beverly, with one son).

Passage

Esther

Small Group Questions

Use this outline for personal reflection, as a couple or family devotion, or with a small group.

HANGOUT

What’s a story from your life—or from history—where someone’s attempt to fix things ended up making them worse? Why is justice often more complex than it appears?

HEAR

Read Genesis 34:1-7

What stands out to you about how this incident is described? What do you think we’re meant to feel as readers?
What do we learn about Dinah’s situation? What information is missing? How does this affect your understanding of the story?
How do Jacob and his sons respond at first, and what does their reaction show about them?

Read Genesis 34:8-24

Why do you think Shechem and Ham or make the proposal they do? Is this a genuine attempt to make peace or something else?
How do Jacob's sons respond, and what might their deception reveal about their sense of justice?
In what ways does this passage show the risks of compromise—especially regarding identity, family, or faith?

Read Genesis 34:25-31

What are your thoughts on what Simeon and Levi did? Was it justice or revenge?
Jacob rebukes his sons not for the violence itself, but for risking the family’s safety. What does this imply about Jacob’s priorities at this moment?
What’s missing in this entire chapter that’s found in most other chapters of Jacob’s story? (Hint: where is God?)

HUDDLE

Justice is crucial, but human justice—without God’s wisdom—often results in harm. Where do you need to seek God's view on justice right now? Where are you tempted to handle things on your own? Talk about it, pray together, and ask God to guide you to act in both truth and grace.

Daily Reading

This week’s reading plan focuses on the story of Esther. As you read, invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you about the times in which you live and how He may be inviting you to respond in faith.

Day 1: Esther 1
Day 2: Esther 2
Day 3: Esther 3
Day 4: Esther 4
Day 5: Esther 5
Day 6: Esther 6 & 7
Day 7: Esther 8 - 10

Think Deeper

Have you ever had a “for such a time as this” moment?
Has God ever shown Himself to you during a moment of desperation?
Are you currently in a situation that calls for you to act in faith?