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FAMILY NEWSPOTLUCK TODAY: It is the first Sunday of the month, so we are having our pitch-in dinner today after services, so stay and enjoy a good meal and fellowship with us. If you did not bring anything, that is no issue — we have plenty. HIGHWAY CLEANUP — SEPTEMBER 21: One of our services to the community is to clean up the highway in front of our building — covering roughly two miles of road from the city limits to the Casino. We do this three times a year, and the more people we have, the faster it goes. Plan to spend several hours on the 21st starting at 10:00 AM until we get done — last time it was about 1:00. Please put this on your schedule! PRAYER LIST AND THE LONG HAUL: We have the cards that Donna prepares for us for new and immediate situations, but there are a large number of folks connected to the church here who have ongoing problems with health, mental illness, aging problems, family issues, and terminal conditions, who need to get constant notes from us to let them know we care and that they are not forgotten. Do not let Donna's cards be the only ones people receive. The prayer list gives you a starting point. TODAY'S LESSON
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Great story of love, loyalty, purity, providence
II. THE SETTING AND BACKGROUND
B. Shows how God works in tough times. C Verb “redeem” used 20 times in this book A. Israelite moves to pagan country with wife and 2 sons.
III. PRODIGAL SON HAD ATESTIMONYTO SHARE
1. He and his two married sons die.
B. Ruth refuses to leave Naomi — Ruth 1:16 (famous quote)2. Leaves his wife with two pagan daughter-in-laws. a. Wife says her new name is Mara — bitter
b. Tries to send the girls back to parents A. We all have a story to tell — Paul in Galatians 1:13
IV. NAOMI TACKLES LIFE AS A WIDOW
B. Prodigal son knew about testimony — Luke 15:18 – 19 C. The boy became a man — growth gives testimony. A. Ruth offers to scavenge crops (2:2) — Dangerous
V. RUTH'S CHARACTER ATTRACTS SOMETHING BETTER.
B. God leads her to Boaz — a relative of Naomi 1. 2:9 – Gives Ruth protection
2. People know about what Ruth has done (2:11 – 12) 3. Ruth's and Naomi's needs are met — God has more A. 3:10 – 13 — Ruth did not violate her morals.
VI. WE NEED RUTHS IN TODAY'S WORLD AND IN THE CHURCH
1. The townsmen have noticed.
B. Boaz does everything local custom demands.
1. Ruth 4 — Jumps through the hoops
2. Romans 13:7 3. Honors Naomi's dead husband 4. Gives Naomi new life in the community (4:14 – 17) A. Affect change without immorality or compromise
1.Titus 2:3 – 5
B. Loyal and dedicated to the Lord's work — let him guide
2. Willing and able to function within our culture 1. Women at the tomb: 2 Timothy 1:5; Philippians 4:2; Acts 18
2. Lydia (Acts 16:40) *There is a Bible study, which was given before this sermon, that deals with some background information to the book of Ruth. THE BACK PAGETHE CHURCH AND LABOR DAYThis is “Labor Day” weekend. In the past, this weekend has been a celebration of the “working man” in his struggles with abusive and exploitative employers in the United States. While organized labor may have sometimes become corrupt, its origins were for a good cause and had connections to belief in God. Early labor leaders began their meetings with references to the fact that Jesus cared for the working people of his day and reached out to those who were oppressed and in many cases enslaved. Christ devoted most of his time and energy to the poor, the working class, and the common people — not the rulers or religious leaders. The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 – 7 was preached to the multitudes, not the religious leaders and politicians. Mark 6:34 tells us Jesus “was moved with compassion” toward the common people. The book of Philemon was written by Paul to a man who had been a slave owner and who had his slave run away. Both the owner and the slave had become Christians. Paul said to the owner that the former slave, Onesimus, had been a liability to the owner “but now would be profitable” because he had become a Christian. He urged Philemon to take Onesimus back, not as a slave “but above a servant, a brother beloved.” The church moves us to break down the barriers that divide us and focus on the real value our faith puts on every man. In 1 Corinthians 11:17 – 22 Paul chastises the congregation because they continued to maintain their divisions into the worship hour. In Galatians Paul expressed amazement that the church there allowed human values to infiltrate the church (Gal 1:6) and goes on to say that in the church “there is neither bond nor free …” for you are all one in Christ Jesus. It is this unity and concern for people who labor and struggle that we bring to the people of this area, so we do our fair booth, our food pantry, and our coat give away to serve; and our preaching and teaching deals with life and the struggles we all have. — John Clayton |
