Week 6, Chapter 9: The Faith of a Foreign Woman

Week 6, Chapter 9: The Faith of a Foreign Woman

Associated Scripture: Ruth 1-4

Discussion Questions:

1.       What does Ruth’s story reveal about the love of God? God loves us all!  HE loves those who become an image of his unconditional love.  God’s living presence in a relationship overcomes differences that otherwise create division and disharmony.  Where the world says it is impossible…God says it is possible to his perfect will.

2.       What does Ruth’s story reveal about how God views all people groups?  What does that mean for you?  Acts 10: 35 says “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”  God works through all people.  He accepts all who worship HIM!!

3.       Both Ruth and Naomi suffered tremendous loss.  Why does a  good and gracious God allow tragedy to come upon those who love him?  God wants us to turn to him.  He can use that tragedy to change your life even more.  Think about the last time you suffered…did you turn to God?  When you did, didn’t you come that much closer to him??

4.       When difficult times come, what causes you to continue to hope in God?  This is for each of you to answer personally.  Take the time to reflect on your time.  For me, there is no other way but to turn to God and continue to have faith in him for the answer to my pain or questions or concerns.  I know that if I hand it to God, even when I do so hesitantly, the answer will come through him. 

5.       Ruth left her home to follow Naomi and to follow God.  How is God asking you to follow him?

6.       In what way do Ruth’s actions and responses challenge you?  Encourage you?

7.       What steps can you take to become a more selfless, loving person?

The last three questions are for each of us to answer internally.  I am completely encouraged by Ruth in this story so long ago.  She was so close to God…even though she did not know the “why” answer to what had just happened in her life, she continued to have faith in the Lord.  It really reminds me of my Memmy.  My great-grandmother Memmy was so very close to God.  Her name was Ruth.  Makes me smile.  She read her bible every night.  I really do not think she ever turned away from the Lord.  I really miss her. 

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrWqEBq5mzA

1.       As you read chapter 9 of The Story, what were some of the losses that Naomi and Ruth faced?  How did each of them respond to these painful experiences?  They both lost the person(s) that they loved dearly.  Naomi lost her husband and her sons.  They, she and Ruth had nothing.  Naomi had no one in the land of Moab.  They had no land or protections.  They had nothing.  Naomi initially was a very bitter person, not knowing why this happened to her..  She does continue to show love and compassion.  Ruth decided to stay with her mother-in-law and Naomi continued to take care of Ruth.  It sure is human to react the way Naomi did.  God is there during such frustrating times though…we must remember to turn to him.

2.       Naomi was a person of faith, but she also questioned God and was deeply honest about her struggles (Ruth 1:19-21; The Story, p. 122).  In what ways did Naomi’s losses impact how she viewed God and his work in her life?  She really felt as though God and punished her for some reason; however, she continued to love the Lord.

3.       Boaz was a man of amazing character and wisdom (Ruth 2-3; The Story, pp. 123-126). What can we learn from Boaz’s interactions with his workers including Ruth?  Boaz was kind.  Boaz’s mom was the outsider too.  Boaz, strong wealthy man in Bethlehem, mother was the prostitute Rahab the Canaanite prostitute that provided coverage for Joshua’s spies!  He was once an outsider too!!  He knew what it felt like to be an outsider and extended a hand to help this outsider!

4.       Throughout Chapter 9 of the Story we get glimpses into Ruth’s character as well.  What are some of the exemplary aspects of her heart, attitudes, and behavior?  How might Ruth be a role model for people today?  Ruth was very courageous.  She was ready to work, and get food!  She took over watching over Naomi.  She chose to be with her mother-in-law and follow her God.  She constantly thought of Naomi.  Ruth consistently remained the same.  She had a great reputation for how she treated all people….and we could follow her example and be the same.   Ruth followed Naomi’s advice and trusted her and trusted God!!

5.       Near the end of Chapter 9 of The Story (Ruth 4: 1-10), Boaz offers another family member the opportunity to pay for and redeem the land of Naomi’s dead husband and his two sons.  When his other family members realize it will cost him a great deal and gain him nothing financially, he declines.  At this point, Boaz pays for all the property and allows the name of Elimelech (Naomi’s husband) to be remembered.  Give examples of things God calls Christians to do that cost us a great deal and do no pay off much (in the life or eyes of the world).  John 15: 18-26.  You will not always be thanks for all the good that you will do!

6.       How did Jesus’ life model service and sacrifice for people who really had nothing with which to pay him back? Jesus did not expect payment in return.  His whole life was about love, sacrifice, and service.

7.       When you think of how Naomi’s life went from Mara (bitter) to Naomi (beautiful), what were the ways God extended grace to this faithful woman?  Who needs you to come alongside of them to remind them that they are loved (or beautiful) and what is one action you can take this week to extend God’s grace to this person?  We can never do enough to do for Him what he did for us.  We can take our talents and use them to express our generosity through these talents!

8.       Read movement 4 of the Story (p.11).  What is the big theme of this movement?  When all hope was lost, God still provided. She continued to be faithful and was rewarded in the end!  Read Matthew 13!!

Week 5, Chapter 8: A Few Good Men and Women

Week 5, Chapter 8: A Few Good Men and Women

Associated Scripture: Judges 2-4; 6-8; 13-16

The past three weeks have been tough...I'll do better with Chapter 10 which is this week.  Let me go and post my very brief notes for Chapter 9 also--they will be brief....I'm sorry....

Discussion Questions:

1.       What does God’s choice of Deborah as judge during this time reveal about God’s view of women?  God believes women are created as equal as men…that women were just as good as doing God’s work as men.  This was during times when women were certainly not treated equally.  Heck—women have always struggled to keep up with man but really—we are just as good if not better;)  Remember God’s original view on women…  Genesis 1:27 “So God created man (both male and female) in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.”

2.       Why does God often use weak and uncertain people like Gideon to do his work?  By using the weakest of people, it proves that you really only need God to get through the hardest of tasks!  God gives these “weak” people and gave them the strength they needed to help bring others to God as well.

3.       If you ever feel uncertain about your gifts and abilities, how could the story of Gideon encourage and strengthen you?  All Gideon needed was his faith in the Lord.  And, that is all you need.  Turn to God.  Ask him to help you.  Allow him into your life. 

4.       What reasons can you give for why the Israelites kept repeating their downward cycle of sin?  Doesn’t it seem like we are in that cycle now too?  The Israelites would be saved…given a little time and they would drift from the Lord and God would have to save them again.  They kept turning to other gods or forgetting what God had saved them from to begin with…I guess it is how we were created. 

5.       What was the root cause of Samson’s fall?  What was the result? The root cause of Samson’s fall was his weakness to the temptation of the flesh. Eventually his lust for women would be his down fall, as Delilah would find out the secret to his strength and his strength would depart from him and ultimately result in his death.

5.

6.       What are the strongest temptations that you face?  How do you fight such temptations?  We will always have the temptations of the world we live in; yet, we must keep God at the forefront to fight such worldly temptations.

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0EfQ501j9c

1.       Through The Story we have discovered that God loves to use surprising people to accomplish his will.  As you read about Deborah, Gideon and Samson in this chapter of The Story, how is each of them a surprising choice to be a leader of God?  Deborah was the fourth and ONLY female judge of Isreal.  She gave God all the praise that came her way.  Gideon was a farmer who God made a warrior and a judge.  Samson was born to parents who could NOT have children.  Each of these people were “ordinary” people that were given extraordinary tasks through God.

2.       Contrast how God saw Gideon and how Gideon saw himself (Judges 6:11-16; They Story, pg 108)  How does this breathe hope into our hearts in the moments we feel God could never do great things through us?  Gideon did not see himself as a strong person but God told Gideon he would have the strength he needed to win the war.  God did great things through Gideon.  WE see ourselves, often, as weak.  But God does not see you that way.  Make sure God is with you.  Try to see what your value is through Christ.  You can say yes to God—you can conquer through him.

3.       In the continual cycle that occurs in the time of the Judges, God’s people kept embracing the sins, religion and behaviors of those who lived in the land before they conquered it.  In what ways do Christians today embrace the sin, practices, and culture of our day and end up sinning and feeling distant from God?  How can we identify the temptation to be conformed to the world’s sinful ways to avoid this pitfall?  WE do so much today that is not considered priorities.  Things like…not aligning our lives with God or not knowing the Bible—THE BOOK OF INSTRUCTION.  We constantly fear of offending others with our beliefs via political correctness…If you put God first, your life will align as it should.  We do need to avoid the temptation of falling into the world’s sinful ways—those ways greatly accepted as the norm.

4.       One of the recurring themes in this chapter of The Story is that a new generation would rise up that did not know God and what he had done for his people in the past.  When they forgot, they wandered.  The same tragic thing can happen in our generation.  What practical things can we do in our homes and in the church to help the next generation know and remember what God had done in the past so they will hold on to him in the future?  Really we must continue to have Christ in our daily lives.  After all, Christ is the reason we even exist.  Let’s align our lives with Christ and have that relationship with him that we know we should have.  For me, I need to remember to bring Christ into daily conversation with my children.  Pray often.  Follow his example.  In the church, we can reach in to the church but we must also reach out to others.

5.       There seems to be consequences when we refuse to follow God’s way.  Why do you think we continue to repeat the same sin patterns even though we know the outcome will not be good?  Simple answer really:  we are human.  We were made this way.    God puts these challenges in front of us to bring us closer to him. 

6.       Where would you be today if God had never allowed his discipline to wake you up to the reality of sin and drive you into his arms?  Personal question for each of us but I know I would not have what I have today without Christ being in my life.  God has truly blessed me. 

7.       How did God strengthen Gideon and help him press through his fears as he faced the mighty armies of Midian?  How does God do the same thing today when we feel inadequate and fearful? Judges 8: 9-16.  God stayed with him through the hard times.  Can you imagine not having God to turn to during difficult times??   

8.       Have you faced a situation when the odds were against you and other said, “NO way!” but you held God’s hand and pressed on?  How did the situation turn out and how was God glorified?  What area in your life is God presently trying to get you to the place where you embrace the fact that he is enough?  Personal…