Beautiful You! (Inside and Out!): A Study for Women on the Book of Esther—And so Much More! Leader’S Guide

By Lisa Veach

Would you like to be part of a womens Bible study that is fun, interactive, focuses on issues women face today, and also helps you grow into the beautiful, fullfilled woman Christ desires you to become? Then Beautiful You! (Inside and Out!) is the study for you!
Beautiful You! (Inside and Out!) focuses on womens desire to look externally beautiful with a study and fashion show that helps you discover your body build and the fashions that will enhance you! You will learn which clothing colors make you shine. A cosmetic party, beautician, and games are all included to help your external package look very attractive!
More importantly, Beautiful You! (Inside and Out!) digs deeply into the book of Esther and Gods word, giving you tools for: solving lifes problems; forgiveness and possible reconciliation; solving conflict; a biblical understanding of sin and evil; discerning the qualities of potential friends or a husband; and learning how to walk with God in an intimate, honest relationship that results in the breaking of bondages, healing of past hurts, forgiveness and freedom for your soul, and the daily joyous presence of God and His guidance!
Enter into this study and start the journey on becoming a beautiful, fulfilled woman of God- inside and out!
* The Bible study leader will need the Leaders Guide. Each participant will need the accompanying Bible Study Workbook.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Aug 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973629085

Lisa Veach

Lisa Veach is a wife, mother of two sons, and a grandmother of three darling granddaughters. She and her husband, Dr. Aaron Veach have served in churches for over thirty years. Lisa has a gift for teaching and has taught all ages, often augmenting or writing the curriculum. She has a passion to help people come to know Jesus, grow in Him, and develop a walk of love and integrity with Him. You may contact her on her web site at Life for the Soul.

Book preview

LEADER’S GUIDE

Beautiful You!

(Inside and Out!)

A Study for Women on the Book of Esther—

And so Much More!

39991.png Find your real identity in Christ

40000.png Be released from past bondages

40005.png Develop a beautiful and confident inner self and exterior presence

Lisa Veach

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Copyright © 2018 Lisa Veach.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-2907-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-2908-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018906076

WestBow Press rev. date: 8/21/2018

Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

A Message to Group Leaders

Guidance for Group Leaders

Lesson 1 Weekly Setup

Introduction

(Ice Breakers and Video)

Lesson 2 Weekly Setup

Why Jesus?

(Finding Your Identity)

Lesson 3 Weekly Setup

Party Time!

(Priorities)

Lesson 4 Weekly Setup

Characteristics of Love

(Looking for Godly Characteristics in a Man and in Myself)

Lesson 5 Weekly Setup

Agape

(A Godly Perspective on Pain and Evil)

Lesson 6 Weekly Setup

A Beautiful Fragrance

(Transformation: How? Color Analysis)

Lesson 7 Weekly Setup

Bonding

(Steps and Cautions to Forming a Permanent Relationship)

Lesson 8 Weekly Setup

Unfaltering Conviction

(Resolving Conflict)

Lesson 9 Weekly Setup

Haman’s Plot against the Jews

(Countering Satan’s Schemes Designed for Our Bondage)

Lesson 10 Weekly Setup

Esther’s Choice

(Keys to Solving Problems)

Lesson 11 Weekly Setup

Esther’s Intervention

(Cosmetic Party!)

Lesson 12 Weekly Setup

Haman’s Source of Self-Worth

(Self-Worth and Working through Forgiveness)

Lesson 13 Weekly Setup

Coincidence or Divine Intervention?

(Desiring Significance and Finding God’s Will)

Lesson 14 Weekly Setup

Esther’s Request

(The Holy Spirit; Styles and Body Types)

Lesson 15 Weekly Setup

What a Turn-around!

(Live Life God’s Way; Beautician)

Lesson 16 Weekly Setup

The Thirteenth Day of Adar

(Developing and Growing in a Relationship with God)

Lesson 17 Weekly Setup

Victors!

(Living Beautifully and Victoriously in Christ)

Appendix

Notes

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank a number of people who helped make this study book and its companion possible.

Thank you to Annie Addington, Sarah Cruz, and Ashley Weeks Clark, all of whom approached me with the desire to have some type of study aid for young women.

I appreciate the encouragement and guidance of writers Judy Dipple, Patricia Marshall, Midge Raymond, and Dean Rea as I tried to navigate through this new venture of writing.

I appreciate David Veach giving a little of his valuable time to help Mom out on a new computer system!

I appreciate Marissa and Sarah Arroyo and Cara Taylor helping me with a few technical components on the computer.

Thanks so much to R. B. May for some editorial and technical assistance.

Thank you to Cindy Birkinshaw, Barbara Carse, and Gloria Hawkins for taking the time to read and make constructive comments. You and your comments are appreciated!

I greatly appreciate Debra Norland’s careful reading and valuable editing comments. Thank you so much for your copious time and expertise! Debra, you helped me finish this book and its companion. Thank you so much!

Teresa Madson, from Christian Discount Books in Jacksonville, Oregon, graciously allowed me to purchase and borrow some books in order to retrieve some extra information that I needed for publishing. Thank you, Teresa!

Thank you to Jason Addington and Ashley Childs for graciously and generously giving of your time and expert computer advice so I could finish the books. I so appreciate the help you both gave me. Jason, I could not have done this without you! Thank you so much!

I appreciate the staff at WestBow Press for all their assistance. This includes Tim Fitch, Venus Gamboa, and my editors. I greatly appreciate the refining input given by these editors.

Special appreciation goes to Eric Schroeder and Jordan Ling, both from WestBow Press. Mr. Schroeder answered numerous questions quickly, with accuracy, and with a positive, helpful attitude. Mr. Ling was a valuable editorial asset. I appreciate the time, clarity, and graciousness with which he answered my questions. Thank you so much!

I greatly appreciate all the love and support from my husband, Aaron. He read through the manuscript several times, making numerous editing comments. When these were complete, he designed several new ways to format the material. Thank you, Aaron, for all your emotional, intellectual, and hands-on support! You made the difference in completing this Bible study.

Of course, the most important One to thank is our wonderful Lord, without whom this would not have been written. He is the one who created all of us. He is the one who gives the inspiration and equipping for each task. He is the one who knows when each book is to be written and whose lives it will touch. May this touch your life and do all that He desires to accomplish!

To God be the glory!

Lisa Veach

Preface

Shortly after my husband and I were called to a new pastorate, I became aware that most of the young ladies in that church had low self-esteem and a poor self-image. As I prayed for these ladies in their teens and twenties, God gave me the idea of a creative study on the book of Esther. Because I was the director of music and also taught a young couples class, the study did not materialize at that time. Some years later, several youth leaders came to me with the same concern I had observed. They asked for ideas as to how to help the young ladies. God again brought back to my mind this study on Esther.

This study has several lesson topics specifically for younger single ladies, but they are presented in such a way as to be beneficial for women of all ages.

Esther’s identity was strongly rooted in her faith in God and the agape love of her cousin, Mordecai. Because of her own self-image as a servant of God and her faith in Him, she became a beautiful woman inside and out. This resulted in God’s use of her to accomplish a dangerous and critical task for Him and His people.

As women (and men), we will find our true identities and God-ordained purposes in a relationship of love and obedience with the God who created us.

It is my hope and prayer that this study will be a tool God uses to help mentors of women and youth leaders guide ladies of various ages to discover:

◆ who we really are in Christ;

◆ how to grow and learn to walk with Him in a relationship of love, trust, and obedience; and

◆ how to develop the full potential of womanhood Christ has put within us.

I am well aware that this is not a definitive work on the many areas addressed in this study. I pray it will lay a good foundation, along with a strong infrastructure, from which women will continue to grow:

◆ in Christ,

◆ in their own self-identity, and

◆ in their relationships with others.

I pray women will be set free from past hurts and injustices, becoming whole in Christ and discovering and fulfilling the God-ordained purposes for which they were created.

Praying God’s healing and growth on all who enter into this study,

Lisa Veach

A Message to Group Leaders

Thank you for choosing Beautiful You! (Inside and Out!) as a study guide for ladies. I pray it will be a teaching tool that will bless them—and you also!

This study was originally designed for young ladies in their teens through their thirties, but I believe it will benefit women of all ages. I realize this is a significant age span, but it has much information that will be beneficial to women of all ages. A few topics, especially those in Lessons 4 and 7, are designed specifically with younger women in mind. One of these topics is looking for godly characteristics that one desires in a potential mate, friend, or oneself. Some of you may already be married, and so you may wonder if this is relevant. Do you have a daughter, granddaughter, or young lady you are mentoring? This lesson may give you some ideas to share with them in their selection of a husband. It may also give all of us some ideas about how to be better wives and friends.

You will want to prayerfully consider the age span in your group. Is God guiding you to a close age span? Or do you feel that He would have a wider age span so that more wisdom can be shared with the group? Prayerfully ask His guidance.

There are seventeen weeks of planned lessons. Several lessons may extend into the next week if there are lengthy discussions. Each lesson studies part of the text of Esther and uses it to springboard into topics relevant to women today. Some of these topics include finding a Godly identity, a biblical perspective on pain and evil, resolving conflict, forgiveness and reconciliation, learning how to grow in Christ, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. These are in the parentheses in the table of contents. Sprinkled throughout the lessons are games, a party, a fashion show (which helps ladies determine their body type and which styles look best on them), color draping, nutrition, a cosmetic party, and more! These activities are designed to help the ladies develop a good self-image, grow in Christ, and develop a relationship with Him that allows them to continue growing. They are also designed to help improve their exterior package so they can present themselves as beautiful and confident, both externally and internally.

The Leader’s Guide has all the lesson preparation plans, questions for each lesson with the answers in italics, and leader comments to read or share. The Bible Study Workbook only has the questions with space to write the answers. You may want the ladies to take their books home and write out the answers in the allotted spaces before each weekly meeting. This will help them begin studying and grappling with the various concepts on their own. Then they can share their ideas when the questions are asked each week by the leader.

At the beginning of each lesson is a Weekly Setup. Early each week, carefully read the Weekly Setup so you can purchase and prepare the activities for each lesson. Some weeks have little preparation, and others have a lot. The activities are fun, are part of your lesson, and will help reinforce what is to be learned. Plan ahead so that you will be ready.

There are a number of scriptures to look up each week. Many are within the book of Esther. Have the ladies read the various scriptures. You may want to print out the location of those that are not in the book of Esther. Pass these out before the study so that various ladies will have them ready to read for the rest of the group. If someone doesn’t feel comfortable reading out loud, allow them the freedom to refrain.

I’m sure you will want to review each lesson to be well prepared. I know you will also want to be praying for your ladies. As we pray, God’s Spirit moves and works in amazing ways! Consistently pray and watch for Him to work in their lives.

May God bless and guide you as you mentor these ladies. May you all grow in Him and become more beautiful—inside and out!

Blessings,

Lisa Veach

Guidance for Group Leaders

◆ Each lesson will last about one and a half hours. If you add in thirty minutes for fellowship and refreshments, plan a two-hour block of time in which to meet and study. The exceptions are Lessons 5, 7, and 12, which are a bit longer. You may want to start those lessons on time and have refreshments while you study.

◆ The length of each lesson will be determined in part by how much discussion your group enjoys. You may need to move the lesson along. Or, if you feel the discussion is important to the group, allow it to continue and guide it to a resolution. If you do run out of time, you may wish to pick up at that spot the next week.

◆ You should guide each lesson. Only you have the leader’s information, so it is best if you read all the questions and allow the ladies to answer them. Supplement the answers with your supplied answers as they are needed.

◆ Always read the information after LEADER. Most of this information is not in the Bible Study Workbook. Sharing it will greatly enhance the lesson.

◆ The Bible Study Workbook has questions with space for the answers after each question. It is best to have the ladies take their books home and write out the answers to the questions there. The answers to each question can then easily be discussed as a group.

◆ The ladies will need to bring their books and their Bibles to the Bible study every week.

◆ There are many scriptures in each lesson. You may ask someone to volunteer to read as you come to each scripture. Or, you may want to go around the circle of ladies, having each one read the next scripture as you come to it. Some people feel uncomfortable reading out loud. Assure them they do not have to read; they may just listen. At a later point, they may decide to read.

◆ Prayer is an important part of our growth in Christ. Each study opens and closes with prayer. Watch for guidelines within the Weekly Setups that will slowly help the ladies grow in the area of prayer.

◆ Above all, ask God to guide both your preparation and the teaching of each lesson.

May He richly bless you,

Lisa Veach

Weekly Setup

Lesson 1

You will need the following items:

1. A regular meeting place that will be comfortable and free from interruptions. The best location is a participant’s living room that is large enough to hold the number of ladies in the study. Plan to meet for seventeen to twenty weeks.

2. A table or counter for refreshments.

3. Paper plates, napkins, cups, and utensils.

4. Beverages.

5. A CD player.

6. A CD of Christian music.

7. A TV and a video or DVD player for the movie.

8. Beautiful You! (Inside and Out!), Leader’s Guide. Be sure to review the lesson.

9. Beautiful You! (Inside and Out!), Bible Study Workbook. You will need one copy for each lady.

10. A movie on the life of Esther. Suggested movie: Esther: The Girl Who Became Queen. This is a VeggieTales movie.

11. Your Bible.

12. Bibles for the ladies who may need one.

13. Contact information sheet. This is in the appendix at the end of the book. You may photocopy it. Be sure to fill it out, or have your ladies fill it out so you can contact them.

Advertise, inviting those ladies whom you feel God would have you invite to the study. For the first week, ask the ladies to bring a beverage and some kind of refreshment: popcorn, chips, licorice, or whatever they like to snack on while watching a movie. (After all, even though we are trying to become beautiful ladies, inside and out—and to most of us, that means slim—we still need to have fun and balance!) Obtain the VeggieTales movie Esther: The Girl Who Became Queen.¹ Have it set up and ready to watch for a quick, fun, review of Esther’s life.

Play contemporary Christian music as the ladies arrive. Involve them in getting snacks set out and ready to eat. When they have all arrived, have them sit in a circle in a comfortable setting. (Turn the music down or off.)

As the leader, open and close with prayer during the first lesson.

Lesson 1

Introduction

Open with Prayer

Icebreakers

LEADER: Let’s go around the circle, say our name, our favorite color, and our favorite activity. To make it a little harder, say the names of the ladies who spoke before you—in order. Thus, the first person says her name, favorite color, and favorite activity. Before the second lady begins, she says the first lady’s name, then her own, her favorite color, and favorite activity. The third lady says the first lady’s name, the second lady’s name, then her own name, favorite color, and favorite activity. (Continue in this format. If the ladies already know each other, you may want them to repeat the previous ladies’ favorite color and/or activity.)

Now that we have gotten to know each other a little bit, let’s go around the circle and share one more thing: the most embarrassing moment you have ever had! (Leader shares first.)

(Leaders, you will need about fifty minutes to get refreshments and watch the DVD, so be aware of your time.)

Introduction

LEADER: Now that we’ve revealed some embarrassing things about ourselves, let’s talk about any heroes or heroines we might have. Do you have any heroes or heroines? Anyone you really admire? What is it about them that you admire? (Encourage several of the ladies to share the names and characteristics of those people they admire. You may need