March Madness: A Cinderella Story
Pastor Erickson preaches from Esther 4:14 and 1 Corinthians 1:27, using the Cinderella teams of March Madness to show how God uses overlooked people and how Mordecai discipled Esther for such a time as this. He calls every believer to become a disciple maker, to see worth in people, and to bring family, coworkers and neighbors into the house of God.
The message in 6 points
God chooses the overlooked
Reading 1 Corinthians 1:27 and Esther 4:14, he opens a call to discipleship through March Madness, when Cinderella teams that nobody picked knock off the giants. God puts overlooked people in position to do great things.
56:30Esther and her cousin Mordecai
Esther, an orphan who becomes queen, is one of the greatest Cinderella stories, but it would not exist without Mordecai, who raised her and kept teaching her the faith. Scene by scene he walks through Vashti, the search for a queen, the plot at the gate and Haman's decree.
1:02:56For such a time as this
Mordecai tells Esther she may have come to the kingdom for such a time as this. She chooses courage, fasts and prays, goes before the king, and God's people are delivered, a deliverance still celebrated at Purim.
1:15:26Three truths from Esther's journey
God positions ordinary people for his purposes and works all things together for good. His strength is made perfect in weakness, and he works in us both to will and to do, so if he opens a door he gives the ability to walk through it.
1:21:33Be a gatherer this Easter
Every believer is called to be a disciple maker. He asks the church to hand out invitation cards and bring people to Easter and the family and neighbor Sundays after it, because lives are changed when people get into the presence of God.
1:27:59Disciple makers stay in the background
Mordecai, like the coach who believed in a young Stephen Curry, stayed behind the scenes raising someone else up. He thanks those in the church who disciple others and calls everyone to see worth in people the way Jesus saw worth in them.
1:32:22
In his words
“It gives all of us hope that we don't have to have some great apostolic Pentecostal pedigree to do something great for God.”
“God doesn't just give you a task and let you figure it out for yourself. He works inside of you, giving you the will, that's the desire, and the do, which is the ability to carry it out.”
“Don't you know that Jesus saw enough worth in you that he said, I'm willing to die for you.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
1 Corinthians 1:27-28
27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
King James Version.
Esther 4:14
14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
King James Version.
Esther 2:17
17And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
King James Version.
Ephesians 2:10
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
King James Version.
Esther 7:3
3Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
King James Version.
Romans 8:28
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
King James Version.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
King James Version.
Philippians 2:13
13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
King James Version.
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