RUTH FOOD FOR THOUGHT WITH INSIGHTS, DEC 20, 2020 PDF VERSION
Food For Thought (WITH INSIGHTS)
For the week of December 20, 2020
(Questions and Scriptures for further study & discussion)
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ANNOUNCEMENTS ⇨ Christmas Eve Services At the DI campus; December 24, 4 and 6:30pm. Channel District campus; December 24, 11am. BP Campus; December 23, 5* 7**, 11pm; December 24, 11*am, 1, 3*, 5* 7, 11pm. *Childcare Provided **Masks Required We encourage you to pre-register for the service you plan to attend. www.stfchurch.com ⇨STF On Sunday, December 27, all campuses will meet online only. All campuses will meet together at the Ballast Point Campus on January 3 for a Campus Connect Sunday service. Michael Rivera, our middle school director, will be preaching on our mission statement: “We exist to help people find and follow Jesus Christ.” |
READ RUTH 4
1. When have you recently had to wait on a matter to be settled? Why is it hard to wait with contentment about the unknown?
(Naomi herd Ruth’s report of the night and received Boaz’ gift of barley. Ruth had not returned ‘empty-handed.’ Naomi could call herself ‘empty’ no longer. She trusted God and Boaz. She and Ruth were filled with hope. Now, they only needed to wait. Naomi was certain, “Wait . . . for the man will not rest until the after is settled today.” Although we may not see God, we can be assured that He is there, working behind the scenes, providentially orchestrating events in ways that will ultimately result in blessing for us and others, and glory to Himself.)
2. What does “redeem” mean? What was required for Boaz to accomplish redemption at the city gate?
(Redemption is the action of gaining (or regaining) possession of something in exchange for payment, or clearing a debt. Also, it is the act of making something better or more acceptable, a deliverance or rescue. Spiritually it applies to deliverance from sin; salvation’ the action is saving or being saved from, error or evil. At the gate, Boaz needed the other relative to arrive, the witnesses to tether, the first offer of redemption to be rejected and the desire, provisions and ability for Boaz to redeem the family to himself.)
3. What do the people’s requests to God for Ruth and Boaz say about their faith and community?
(The people seek the Lord for what only He can do. They rightly believe He is pleased to recognize Ruth the Moabite into their community of faith. They want their community to continue to grow in fait and strength. The seek the best for Naomi, Ruth and Boaz through this marriage and for the next generation by praying for children.)
4. How was Ruth’s desire (spoken as a vow in 1:16-17) fulfilled beyond all her expectations, and what can you praise God for giving you beyond your expectations?
(In 1:16-17, Ruth desired and pledged to remain with Naomi for life — in her location, people, God and burial. Now, through marriage to Boaz, this desire was more of physical reality than they could have imagined (1:11-13))
5. How are your perspectives expanded when you connect believers today through faith in Jesus Christ back to David, to Obed, to the women’s prayers for blessings, and to the promises of God in the Garden of Eden? (See Matthew 1:1; 2 Samuel 7:8-16; Ruth 4:17; Genesis 3:15.)
(Not even the author of Ruth saw clearly what we see beyond King David: the coming of the Lord Jesus, our King and our Redeemer. Our individual lives only last a short time, and so often we are consumed by immediate events. Rarely do we take time to consider the big picture. More than in Boaz or Obed or others after them, we now know that redemption is fully realized through Jesus Christ. At the cross, at unfathomable cost, Jesus accomplished redemption for all who believe. He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine”(Eph 3:20). As with Ruth and Naomi, when God weaves our lives in His great story, His ultimate purpose lies far beyond our lives and lifetimes.)