Crossroads: A Study of Esther and Jonah for Boldly Responding to Your Call

Real People, Real Faith)

by Jodie Niznik

Discover how to live out your unique calling from an unlikely biblical pairingAt first glance, Esther and Jonah don't have much in common. Esther is an orphan girl, out of place in royal courts, who nonetheless becomes queen and saves her beloved Jewish people. Jonah is a reluctant prophet who ran as hard as he could from God. And when he finally gave in and his efforts eventually saved his enemies, he did nothing but complain.While Esther and Jonah endured wildly different circumstances and had distinctly singular callings, they were both appointed by God. They were placed in a certain time and space in history. God carried them through unique experiences and gave them specific gifts. Despite their opposite attitudes of willingness, their lives are proof of the great things we can accomplish when we follow God's call.In this nine-week inductive Bible study, Jodie Niznik invites you to learn that you too are uniquely equipped and called by God for a particular assignment in a specific time and place. Now you stand at a crossroads, and the choice is yours. Will you choose to boldly respond like Esther or will you fight your calling like Jonah? With thoughtful questions and practical exercises, Niznik will gently help you examine your life through the lens of Scripture and take brave, bold steps forward into the life you long for!

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2021

About the author

Jodie Niznik has served in pastoral ministry for over twelve years in the Dallas, Texas, area. Her calling and passion is to equip people to take the next step in their journey with Jesus. She is the author of Choose: A Study of Moses for a Life That Matters and Crossroads: A Study of Esther and Jonah for Boldly Responding to Your Call.

Reviews

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esther and Jonah are shorter books in the Bible that both pack a punch. However, I never had really compared Esther and Jonah in my mind. So I was interested to read a Bible study that would be dealing with both of these books. I found that this study also caused me to put myself into both Esther's and Jonah's shoes and think about what I would do in their situations. "There are days when we make bold, brave, and admirable decisions to follow God’s leading like Esther did. And then there are days when we run the other way like Jonah did. Even though they lived centuries ago, their lives have much to teach us about following God’s calling on our lives today." I would like to think that I react as an Esther, but in reality, there are many days that I react as a Jonah.

Crossroads, by Jodie Niznik, is a nine week study, and the weekly material is broken into 5 sessions. Each week includes a practice for the week, an introduction to prepare you for the material that you are reading, and then three study sessions. Along with valuable insight and study material written by the author, there are also scripture references, and questions to answer as you work through the study. The author encourages you at the beginning of the study book to do what you can each week, but to prioritize reading the scripture. Then, answer as many questions as possible. I like that she puts the scripture reading as top priority.

I always enjoy going through a Bible study, and there are always two things that I look for. The first is digging into scripture, and the second is life application. Crossroads has both of these things. There are scripture references throughout, and I especially liked the practice for the week. For example, the practice for week 3 is loving the vulnerable. There is a prayer included to pray each day, and a reminder at the beginning of every session. I thought that was unique.

Here are a few quotes that stood out to me from this study:

"Haman may be serving this enemy by bringing death and destruction, but his plans do not
succeed because God is in control. And Jesus, through his life, death, and resurrection, ushers in the ultimate victory. Through faith in him we are given life, and abundant life at that. The enemy may be prowling around ready to pounce at a moment’s notice, but our God is bigger and we can rest in the truth that he has won the battle against our adversary."

"Pride is not honored in God’s eyes and eventually he will set things right."

"It’s a good reminder for us that God is always working and acting but he is on his own schedule, not ours. Ten years feels long. So does two plus months. But even if it feels slow to us, we can’t forget that God is moving."

"We, too, have been called by God. Just like Esther and Jonah, we have been providentially placed in a time and place in history to do things that only we can do."

"We are chosen by God to do many things over the course of our lives. In order to constantly follow where he leads, we need to maintain a vital and loving relationship with him."

If you are looking for a Bible study that provides life application, digs into scripture, and has thought provoking questions, then Crossroads would be a good fit for you. It would also be a great study to work through with a small group for accountability.

I received a copy of this book through the Read with Audra Blogging program, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Teresa Kander · Rating 4 out of 5]

full review soon