Redemption: The Book of Ruth

"Redemption Accomplished"- Ruth 4- December 3, 2017
We often have a hard time seeing God's big purposes at work in our lives. We learn from Ruth 4 that even when hardship looks random in our lives, it is for a grand purpose and God is working behind the scenes even when we can't see it. Naomi's hard and bitter life seemed aimless, yet by the end of the book she is holding a grandson who would become the grandfather of king David, a man who would foreshadow the coming Shepherd-King Jesus.

"Redemption Promised" - Ruth 3- November 26, 2017
Have you ever felt that a certain situation in your life was irredeemable? This is how Naomi once felt about her and Ruth's predicament in life. Yet in God's grace, we see in Ruth 3 that God is still working to bring about redemption even in the most unlikely of ways. We discover that Boaz is a possible kinsman redeemer and we're left in suspense as to whether this story will have a good or bad ending. But, like our own lives, we know no matter how grim things look at the moment, there is an awesome God working behind the scenes.

"Redemption Possible?"- Ruth 2- November 12, 2017
Many people don't understand how a holy God could ever love them since they're so sinful. Yet as believers, it is easy to begin assuming God's love is a given and to begin taking it for granted. In Ruth 2, we find a providential encounter between Boaz and Ruth and see a worthy man showing remarkable grace to an undeserving foreigner. Aside from giving us a picture of biblical manhood and womanhood, this account also teaches us the importance of staying amazed over God's grace to us in Christ.

"Redemption Necessary"- Ruth 1- November 5, 2017
"If God is good, he is not God. If God is God, he is not good" were the lines in a play by Archibald McLeish. In our study of the book of Ruth, we encounter Noami, a woman whose life has been wrecked by tragedy. After the loss of her husband and two sons and the lack of grandchildren through them for a ten year period, Naomi is bitter toward God. She asserts that God is God and yet she cannot see that he is good when his ways seem bitter. In a surprising turn of events, Naomi's Moabite daughter-in-law determines to stay with Naomi, come what may. Out of the dark history of Judges and the dark circumstances of Naomi's life, God shines a bright light on a baby to be born in Bethlehem of Judah, who would be in the family line of King David...and King Jesus.