Faithful #3 – Advent 2022 – Study Questions

Kyle Bartholic   -   December 8, 2022

Advent 2022 #3 – Ruth  – Welcome to the family.

Ruth 1-4

 

INTRODUCTION:  The book of Ruth takes place in the period of the Judges. This era for Israel was a turbulent cycle of great instability caused by their sin and rebellion, then periods of great stability caused by God’s salvation and rescuing of his people through the Judges he raised up. Overall, this time period lasted around 340 years. Judges 21:25 describes this era, “There was no King in Israel… and everyone did what was right in their own eyes.” It kind of sounds like our own time a little, huh? Well, it was during this period that Naomi and her husband, Elimelech found themselves. A famine had caused them to move to neighboring Moab, where they found wives for their two sons. Then Elimelech dies, and to add insult to injury, Naomi will also loses her two sons. She is a widow with two daughters-in-law (Ruth and Orpah) living as a foreigner in a foreign land. This is a tragedy in every way, shape, and form. It is also a story about regular people going about their lives and the power of regular obedience. It also reminds us that God’s hand is over human history to both care for ordinary people and bring about his eternal purposes.

 

God’s love is expansive, a fact that Ruth’s inclusion in the family line of Jesus only highlights. The tragedy that has fallen upon Naomi and her family is crushing. Yet, God is faithful, and his love is loyal. He will deliver Naomi, albeit through Ruth, a foreigner. But the implication throughout is that God is watching over his people and that he brings to pass what is good. The book is a book about God. He rules over all and brings blessing to those who trust him.[1] As we walk through Ruth’s story, we come to see a powerfully important truth, God is present in our everyday lives, even when we don’t feel like it.

 

 

 

GETTING STARTED – As you begin your group time this week, talk about a time in your life when you learned the power or importance of obedience to the instructions of wise people in your life. This could be a lesson learned in childhood or as an adult. It could be a positive memory of a time you saw obedience payoff. Or, like so many of us, a lesson you learned the hard way.

 

 

IN THE WORD –   Let’s dig back into the passage. It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.

First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)

 

Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.

Here are some good questions to help make observations in this chapter:

  1. What happened in the narrative? Note any major events, characters, or
    themes?
  2. What do you learn about the main characters in this section? How does the author describe
    them? How do they describe themselves?
  3. Is there a conflict or high point in the passage?
  4. What surprises are there?

 

 

 

Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?

 

 

 

Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?

Some questions for application:

  1. Are there aspects of Christianity / following Jesus that I don’t think are very important? If so, what are they, and why would God as us to be obedient in them?
  2. What are one or two areas of regular obedience that I can be more intentional about this week?
  3. How have I seen obedience to the regular things of God bring blessing or prove wise in my life? Who is someone in my life that I can share that story with?
  4. Is there someone in my life that I can ask to help keep me on track with obedience to God in a particular area of my life?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] Cundall, A. E., & Morris, L. (1968). Judges and Ruth: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 7, p. 231). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.