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Why we are doing Bible study...

Why we are doing Bible study. The Takeaway Today: ONLY THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD CAN TRANSFORM EMPTINESS INTO HOPE. Ruth finds herself basically homeless, caring for her mother-in-law, in a foreign land with no prospects. All of this fell into place.

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Why we are doing Bible study...

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  1. Why we are doingBible study...

  2. The Takeaway Today: ONLY THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD CAN TRANSFORM EMPTINESS INTO HOPE.

  3. Ruth finds herself basically homeless, caring for her mother-in-law, in a foreign land with no prospects...

  4. All of this fell into place...

  5. She goes to glean in the field“As it turned out...” she gleans inBoaz’ fields. [God’s way of showing off]

  6. Boaz is a “man of standing” in the community

  7. Even his field hands bless him when he arrives

  8. Naturally, he notices Ruth and asks about her... Her humility impressed the foreman

  9. “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord God of Israel under whose wings you have come to take refuge...”

  10. Related to issues of care and protectionDirectly connected to language of Covenant

  11. Boaz asks her to lunch, lets her eat from his own plateThen sends her home with an “ephah” of grain (30-50lbs)

  12. Naomi & Ruth hatch a risky plan... Everything hinges on the “Kinsman-Redeemer”

  13. Ruth realizes two things: 1) She is entirely dependent upon grace2) She will have to take a risk and be vulnerable

  14. The Threshing Floor Incident(gasp)

  15. Ruth gets dressed as a bride and anoints herselfShe lays at Boaz’ feet until he wakes up---freaked out,I might add

  16. Then she opens herself up for scandal, rejection...

  17. "Spread the corner of your garment over me, for you are the kinsmen-redeemer."she proposes... strongly.

  18. Boaz is both moved and flattered. He appears to be older than her. His heart is moved by her risk taking and her heart.

  19. He tells her he will marry her after negotiating with the closest relative.Then he sends her home with a load of grain for Naomi (who is now full)

  20. The Transaction: Land had to remain in the family (Covenant)Boaz finds the closest relative at the city gates

  21. Then he refuses to buy the land and marry Ruth out of fear of his own family’s inheritanceThe exchange of the shoe was the passing of the title (10 elders)

  22. Ruth bears a son.. Obed, who is the father of Jesse, who is the father of David.

  23. No one in this story acted in totally admirable ways. Grace happened not because of their actions, but in spite of them

  24. Romans 5:1-115 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

  25. 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.

  26. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

  27. 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

  28. Because of the actions of Christ, we have the opportunity to experience the kind of grace that can only come from the chesed, the “faithfulness” of God.

  29. The Story of Christina

  30. So, are you ready to come home?  Are you ready to realize the two things that Ruth realized: that you are entirely dependent upon grace, and that you have to risk vulnerability in order to fully receive it?

  31. Naomi found herself in a situation at the end of all of her desperation where she felt cursed and abandoned.  She wasn't sure what she had done exactly to merit God's disfavor, but she was sure that she did.

  32. Because of God's love, Christ has a special relationship with us like no other.  He has been given the power and the ability to draw all of Creation to his saving presence, and Jesus was and is willing to do whatever it takes to redeem you.

  33. Only the faithfulness of God can transform emptiness into hope.

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