Anglican Church Of Nigeria Weekly Sunday School/ Bible Studies Manual For July 7, 2019 : TOPIC – SOME BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF GODLY LEADERSHIP : Deborah and Esther.
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Study 2/15 July 7 Trinity 3
SUB THEME: SOME BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF GODLY LEADERSHIP.
TOPIC – Deborah and Esther.
TEXTS : Judges 4: 1-9; 5: 2, 6-9; Esther 2: 7-10, 15-2 2.
MEMORY VERSE : Judges. 5:2
AIMS : To enable participants to ;
i. state briefly the personality traits of Deborah and Esther ;
ii. identify some qualities of Deborah and Esther which distinguished them in
leadership;
iii. appreciate these qualities in godly leadership today .
INTRODUCTION
Deborah was a prophetess, judge, poet, warrior, housewife, and ‘mother in
Israel’. She took up an apex leadership position at a time when her people were
passing through terrible oppression under the Canaanite king, Jabin. In the
face of a very critical challenge, Deborah accepted Barak’s request to
accompany the soldiers to battle.
Beautiful Esther was, by divine providence, elevated to become queen to the
Persian king Ahasuerus. At the heat of oppression and the threat of
annihilation of her people, Esther courageously braced up to the challenge,
damned the possible consequences, negotiated and secured deliverance for them.
Both women exhibited unusual courage and boldness at critical points in Israel’s history.
STUDY GUIDE
1. a. From our texts, how would you describe Deborah and Esther?
b. What outstanding personality traits may have brought them into
limelight? Judges 4:4-5, 8-9; Esther 2:15, 19-20, 22; 4: 6.
2. Highlight and discuss their leadership traits and actions as well as the
successes they achieved. Judges 4:5-7, 12-16; 5:6-9; Est.4:5-10, 15-1 6.
3. a. What did each risk or give up for leadership? J ud4:5, 9a; Es. 4:11, 16 .
b. What is common to both as situational leaders? J osh.1:9; Phil.2:3 ;
Heb.11:6.
c. What leadership challenges can we discern from the lives and roles o f
Deborah and Esther?
Church of Nigeria 2019 Bible Study
CONCLUSION: Both female leaders were selfless, loved their people more than
themselves and greatly desired the liberation/deliverance of their people even
at a great cost to their own lives and well-being. They were leaders worthy of
emulation. As leaders, how much are you willing to give up or risk for God’s
people?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT : God can use anybody who is available and willing to
achieve His divine purpose.