The Bible App is completely free, with no advertising and no in-app purchases. Get the app
Church for Imperfect People
Esther-1 -- When Life Looks Nothing Like Your Plan -- 8/2/2026
Have you ever looked at your life and wondered where God was? You’re not alone. In the book of Esther, God’s name doesn't appear once, but His fingerprints are on every page. In this series, we'll learn how God showed up in what looked like an ordinary story—and it might change the way you see your own.
Locations & Times
9 NE 1st Ln, Lamar, Mo, 64759, USA (Old Lamar Bowling Ally)
9 NE 1st Ln, Lamar, MO 64759, USA
Sunday 9:30 AM
About Church for Imperfect People (CHIPs)
CHIPs is a church that serves Lamar, Mo., and Barton County with a vision of doing anything short of sin to reach people who don't know Christ. We love gathering weekly to worship God and experience a powerful message, and we're so glad you could join us today! Visit https://www.chips.church/ to learn more about our church and mission statement and connect with us! To make the most of your visit, we encourage you within the YouVersion Bible app to mark Church for Imperfect People as "My Church" to get alert notifications for all things CHIPs! Tap the link below to get started! Can't attend!? We invite you to like us on Facebook and STREAM AS YOU ARE!! with our Facebook Live feed and previous messages available on-demand!
https://www.bible.com/organizations/07ca8077-e76d-436b-8b95-80f213ec63fcToday's worship set:
Song 1: Desperate by Jamie MacDonald
Song 2: The Blessing by Elevation Worship
Song 3: God I'm Just Grateful by Elevation Worship
Song 1: Desperate by Jamie MacDonald
Song 2: The Blessing by Elevation Worship
Song 3: God I'm Just Grateful by Elevation Worship
Sometimes the places where God seems hardest to find are the very places He’s most at work.
Just because God feels silent doesn’t mean He’s absent.
Just because God feels silent doesn’t mean He’s absent.
On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him … 11to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. Esther 1:10-11 NIV
But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger. Esther 1:12 NIV
When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa ... Esther also was taken to the king’s palace … Esther 2:8 NIV
Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval … So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. Esther 2:17 NIV
God can use the very thing you’d never choose.
Even if God feels absent, it doesn’t mean He’s not working.
Even if God feels absent, it doesn’t mean He’s not working.
During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate … two of the king’s officers … conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king. Esther 2:21-23 NIV
Providence: when God uses ordinary moments to bring about His supernatural will
Faithfulness is never wasted.
Faithfulness is never wasted.
TALK IT OVER:
Read Esther 2:21-23. How do you see God at work in this passage? How did God work through Esther’s faithfulness in the past and Mordecai’s faithfulness in the present to bring about a specific outcome?
Share about a time when life changed without your permission. How might God have been working in the situation, even when it felt disappointing or difficult?
Even if God feels absent, that doesn’t mean He’s not working. If you’re in a season where God feels quiet, how can you choose to lean in? How might your faith be built in the silence?
Read Esther 2:21-23. How do you see God at work in this passage? How did God work through Esther’s faithfulness in the past and Mordecai’s faithfulness in the present to bring about a specific outcome?
Share about a time when life changed without your permission. How might God have been working in the situation, even when it felt disappointing or difficult?
Even if God feels absent, that doesn’t mean He’s not working. If you’re in a season where God feels quiet, how can you choose to lean in? How might your faith be built in the silence?