April 3
The Book of Ruth
Ruth's Noble Choice
"I will go" Ruth 1
Ruth was a Moabite woman. A descendant of Lot. Was from Bethlehem Ephrathah. The Moabites were not always friendly to the Israelites.
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though yo uare little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth t Me The One to be Ruler in Israwl,
Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though yo uare little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth t Me The One to be Ruler in Israwl,
Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.
Famine caused Naomi's family to move
Many say that their moving was a lack of faith. If God provides, why not
Have faith and stay?
Many say that this is why Naomi's husband died.
Jewish tradition states that they were punished for leaving from greed.
Naomi's sons married "sinful women" according to the Law of Moses
1 Kings 11
Moabites were Idolaters
The sons died and Naomi was left with 2 daughter in laws
Naomi said God was punishing them, and she wants to go back to Bethlehem
Many say that their moving was a lack of faith. If God provides, why not
Have faith and stay?
Many say that this is why Naomi's husband died.
Jewish tradition states that they were punished for leaving from greed.
Naomi's sons married "sinful women" according to the Law of Moses
1 Kings 11
Moabites were Idolaters
The sons died and Naomi was left with 2 daughter in laws
Naomi said God was punishing them, and she wants to go back to Bethlehem
Naomi told the daughters to go back to their families
Orpah left, but Ruth stays
Orpah left, but Ruth stays
Ruth's choice for staying was a noble one. Not forsaking her mother in law.
Ruth then becomes a procelite to Judeism, that is, she left her religion for Naomi's.
Naomi which means pleasant, says to call her Mara now which means bitter.
Naomi which means pleasant, says to call her Mara now which means bitter.
Deuteronomy 28:15-19
They came back at the beginning of the Barley harvest-which sets the stage for Chapter 2.
Your choices always come with consequences…
Good choices= good consequences,
Bad choices= bad consequences.
Good choices= good consequences,
Bad choices= bad consequences.
Mark 10:29-30
As long as we remember Gods words, we will chose correctly.
Have you made the choice to follow God?
Have you made the choice to follow God?
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April 10
Ruth 2
Ruth's Lowly Service-
"Let Me Glean"
Boaz was a relative of Naomi's Husband.
Ruth asks to go and glean the fields. (to gather the leftovers)
Leviticus 19:9-10
Ruth asks to go and glean the fields. (to gather the leftovers)
Leviticus 19:9-10
When you reap the harves of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your filed, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.
Any you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.
Now when Ruth went to glean she ended up in Boaz's field. Accident or God's will? Was He watching out for them?
Boaz asked about the woman. Boaz was a Godly man.
The Kindness of Boaz, he told her to stay in his fields, no men will bother you.
He fed her lunch and supplied her with water.
He also told his men to purposely leave extra for her.
The Kindness of Boaz, he told her to stay in his fields, no men will bother you.
He fed her lunch and supplied her with water.
He also told his men to purposely leave extra for her.
When she asked why she has found favor in his eyes, he told her that she made
The noble choice to leave her family to take care of Naomi.
The noble choice to leave her family to take care of Naomi.
Righteous Characters in this chapter are:
Ruth- humility
Leave everything, home, family, religion
Ruth- humility
Leave everything, home, family, religion
Boaz- extremely kind to this foreign woman.
Naomi-faith restored
No more doubts.
No more doubts.
1 Peter 5:5-7 states God gives Grace towards those that are humble.
Cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you.
Cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you.
Are you willing to humble yourselves before God?
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April 17
Ruth 3
Ruth's Tender Plea
"Take Your Maidservant"
Marriage provides security for the women.
Judges 14:1-2 talk about arranged marriages
Deuteronomy 25:5-10 describes a levarite marriage
God's providence that an idolater would become an ancestor to Christ.
God's providence that an idolater would become an ancestor to Christ.
To uncover a mans feet, is typically a euphamism for sexual impurity:
In Ezekiel 16 and
Genesis 19:32-35, this does mean such.
But for Naomi to suggest such was totally out of her character.
She did what Naomi told her to do.
She did what Naomi told her to do.
Ruth startled him.
What her actions meant were
Take your maidservant under your wing.
Spread your cloak over your maid.
Marry me, I am a near kinsman.
What her actions meant were
Take your maidservant under your wing.
Spread your cloak over your maid.
Marry me, I am a near kinsman.
But Boaz knew of a closer kinsman.
If he didn't, Boaz would marry her.
If he didn't, Boaz would marry her.
Boaz wanted to protect her honor. Wanted to let her know about the other kinsman.
He wouldn't let her leave at night, plus told the workers not to tell that she was there.
He gave her barley to take back to Naomi.
Possibly as a Dowrey?
To thank her?
A cover for Ruth's being out?
A gift from a man to his future bride?
He gave her barley to take back to Naomi.
Possibly as a Dowrey?
To thank her?
A cover for Ruth's being out?
A gift from a man to his future bride?
Naomi says not to worry, for Boaz will take care of this matter.
What are our lessons learned today?
The noble character of Boaz
Sense of propriety, kindness, duty and reputation.
Sense of propriety, kindness, duty and reputation.
Character is what God knows you to be, Reputation is what people think of you.
You are blessed when the two are the same!
You are blessed when the two are the same!
The integrity found in Boaz is not in us as much anymore.
To be honest, show love and be merciful and kind to all people.
To be honest, show love and be merciful and kind to all people.
People knowing how you would respond in every situation.
Is your reputation among people the character you want God to know?
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April 24
The Challenge of Following Christ
Matt 8:18-22
Matt 8:18-22
1)The Hasty Scribe- one must be taught to count the cost
2) The Reluctant Disciple- one must be willing to pay the price.
The hasty scribe didn't realize that in order to follow Jesus,
It meant he had to leave all else behind. There would be no roof
Over their heads most nights, and he would have to leave his family.
You need to count the costs.
Luke 14:25-43
Can you finish what you start?
Luke 14:25-43
Can you finish what you start?
You don't have to be homeless today to follow Jesus, but you must
Be willing to love Him more than anything else in the world.
Including your own family.
Be willing to love Him more than anything else in the world.
Including your own family.
In order to do this, it may require a radical change in you.
You may have to quit your job, leave certain friends behind
Or even change your whole lifestyle.
You may have to quit your job, leave certain friends behind
Or even change your whole lifestyle.
Luke 24:46-47
Acts 3:19
Acts 8:22
Acts 17:30
All teach the importance of repentance.
Acts 3:19
Acts 8:22
Acts 17:30
All teach the importance of repentance.
We need to be reminded there is a cost to following Jesus, but
The reward is far greater than the cost.
The reward is far greater than the cost.
The reluctant disciple -
We must be willing to pay the price.
Willing to put Him above our families
We must be willing to pay the price.
Willing to put Him above our families
Luke 14:26
Love your family less than you love Him
Love your family less than you love Him
Matt 10:34-37
Matt 2:46-50
Don't let your family stand in the way of your serving God.
Matt 2:46-50
Don't let your family stand in the way of your serving God.
Acts 14:21-22
It won't be easy
2 Tim 3:10-12
It won't be easy
2 Tim 3:10-12
Too many of us today are too concerned about family obligations than
About coming to church.
About coming to church.
Luke 10:38-42
We are so busy, we have no time or energy to serve the Lord.
We are so busy, we have no time or energy to serve the Lord.
Matt 6:31-33
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
1 Peter 2:9-10
we are the chosen generation
we are the chosen generation
Discipleship today is practiced only when convenient
Two problems in todays churches,
We taught the gospel without teaching the costs,
Once we became disciples, we forgot the price to follow Jesus.
We taught the gospel without teaching the costs,
Once we became disciples, we forgot the price to follow Jesus.
Salvation is a free gift, but it comes with a high cost,
Which is a paradox because Jesus paid the ultimate price so He can GIVE us salvation.
We cannot EARN salvation.
Which is a paradox because Jesus paid the ultimate price so He can GIVE us salvation.
We cannot EARN salvation.
It is our duty to do what He has asked of us because of the price He paid.
