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CCCI Sermon Preview

CCCI Sermon Preview

By: Justin Young
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Episodes
  • Esther 1-2

    Esther 1-2
    Jun 6 2026
    “1 ¶ This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush:2 At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa,3 and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.4 ¶ For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty.5 When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa.6 The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones.7 Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality.8 By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.9 ¶ Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.10 ¶ On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas—11 to 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.12 But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.13 ¶ Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times14 and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.15 ¶ “According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.”16 ¶ Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes.17 For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’18 This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.19 ¶ “Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.20 Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”21 ¶ The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed.22 He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.1 ¶ Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her.2 Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.3 Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them.4 Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.5 ¶ Now there was in the citadel of Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish,6 who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin king of Judah.7 Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.8 ¶ When the king’s order and edict had been...
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    9 mins
  • Acts 21:1-14

    Acts 21:1-14
    May 30 2026

    “1 ¶ After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Kos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara.


    2 We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail.


    3 After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo.


    4 We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.


    5 When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.


    6 After saying goodbye to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home.


    7 ¶ We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for a day.


    8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.


    9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.


    10 ¶ After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.


    11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ”


    12 ¶ When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.


    13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”


    14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”” (Acts 21:1-14)
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    2 mins
  • Acts 20:25-38

    Acts 20:25-38
    May 23 2026

    “25 ¶ “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.


    26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.


    27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.


    28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.


    29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.


    30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.


    31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.


    32 ¶ “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.


    33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.


    34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.


    35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”


    36 ¶ When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.


    37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.


    38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.” (Acts 20:25-38)
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    2 mins
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