CCC Podcasts

Summary: God’s redemptive fullness, as represented in Ruth’s marriage to Boaz and the birth of her son Obed, arouses both praise and witness in us.

1.  If you were with us Sunday, we did a “praise exercise” where we lifted our hands and said, “Praise the Lord” at each remembrance of God’s blessing.  Describe how you felt doing this exercise in our church community.

2. As your week progresses, take anywhere from 5-15 minutes each day to simply participate in the same “praise exercise” we did Sunday.  Journal and discuss your feelings as you process this time with the Lord.

3. Take a minute, in community, to evaluate and discuss your personal witness.

4. What specific areas are you and your group being challenged to step out of your comfort zones to witness the good news that God has a son too whose name is Jesus?

5. When your life reflects the ups and downs similar to those found in Ruth’s story, where do you turn and how does it impact your praise and witness?

Summary: one of the ways to understand redemption is with the idea of purchasing from bondage, which is what we see in Boaz’s actions here.  As people bought by God, we begin to understand and experience true belonging.

1. What has the setting moved to the city gates?  What is it necessary that Boaz’s action is verified and affirmed by the town elders?

2. Why is it a good thing that Boaz “buys” Ruth?  What does it mean that WE are purchased by God?

3.  The passage highlights two aspects of redemption: it’s done out of the redeemer’s desire and it’s done at great cost.  Discuss the desire and cost of both Boaz and Christ.  What are the implications for your life?

4.  IN what ways does God’s redemption overflow from your life with blessing?

Summary: Boaz redeems Ruth not because he has to, but because he wants to.  In this picture of love, we’re directed toward a God who loves and redeems us with the same heart.

1.  In Ruth 3:1-6, we see Ruth and Naomi acting on God’s Word to them in the guardian-redeemer law of Israel.   Are we active or passive when it comes to responding to God’s promises?  How can you tell?

2.  What do you imagine God speaking over you?  How do you know?  Do you struggle to believe them?

Check this link for God’s own words over you in Christ.

Summary:  We don’t know what’s around the next bend of our lives, but we know the Lord is at work and that He – our redeemer – will provide, allowing us to “harvest from the sheaves” of his grace.

1.  What part of your journey are you on?  Do you feel lost, settled, excited?  What would it look like for God, the One who is still working in your life to demonstrate His love, to give you a tangible sign of grace?

2.  Are you resisting the Lord’s invitation to draw near?  Are you held back by fear, condemnation, or…?  God, in Christ, welcomes you to his presence, his table (Ruth 2:14), even though we are not worthy to be there.,

3.  Boaz provides generously for Ruth, scandalous gleaning as a sign of his love and provision.  Is there a place where you’ve given up seeking, knocking, and asking God (Luke 11:9-13)?

What are you deepest needs?

Summary:  Ruth goes out to glean, to survive, but she ends up reaping an unexpected harvest.  Grace!  Has she sown?

1. In what ways did Ruth sow what was right and good?  Why does it catch Boaz’s attention?  How does he respond?

2.  Paul writes, in Galatians 6:7:  “A man reaps what he sows.”  Disciples of Jesus sow to please the Spirit of God instead of their own fleshly desires.  Where and how are you sowing love and faithfulness?

3. How has God shaped the contours of YOUR life for particular sowing and reaping?

4.  What, ultimately, are we promised to reap in Christ?  How is it that reaping eternal life is not “earning” salvation?

Summary:  How do you respond to times of trial and suffering?  Ruth shows deep love as she clings to Naomi, walking by faith and not by sight.

1.  Who or what does your soul cling to in times of trouble?  What’s the one thing you can’t live without?

2. How was Ruth’s action a demonstration of love?  Of faith?

3.  How does Ruth’s love point ahead to Jesus’ love?  In what ways can we respond to Christ’s love by walking in this same type of faith?

Summary:  Following a season of devastating loss, Naomi experiences unexpected love.  We see that love sows for a harvest, even in what looks like barren soil.  Do you believe God can change your script?

1.  Reflect on a time when someone loved you deeply and it changed you – your heart, your course of action, your circumstances.  How would you describe this love?

2. Are you prepared to be a conduit of God’s love toward others?  Is God calling you into new areas?

3. Hope grows up as love is sown.  What’s the difference between wishful thinking and biblical hope?  Do you have Hope that God can change your script?

Summary: Ruth begins in a season of loss. For Naomi, the fields are razed; the crops are bare. How does God call his people to walk through loss? What can we stand upon, even amid devastation?

1. What words come to mind to describe some of the most painful losses in your life? What words did Naomi use in Ruth 1?

2. Her grief is not a godless grief – she knows that God is a limitless God, able to do all things. And even when we don’t understand, we can stand on the fact that He acts in unfailing love.

3. How do our own limitations – our inability to see the big picture – help to build our faith and give peace?

4. Do you believe that our story ends well? How does this impact walking in loss?

Summary:  Do you want God’s living waters to flow more freely and fully in your life?  Come to God and drink, and then give generously, an outflow, to others.

1. Each person of the Trinity is a steward of something… of what?  What are we called to steward?  (1 Pet 2:9)

2. Am I a person of praise?  Where do I turn when I am empty?

3. What are the areas of outflow in my life?

Summary: “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry”.  God’s care for us, in Christ, is better than we can imagine.

1. When you reflect on your 16th birthday, how important was getting your license?  Feel free to reflect on this time in your life with the group.

2. When you consider this Psalm, what comes to mind when you imagine the Lord’s eyes being on you and his ears attentive to your cry?  Does this evoke a negative reaction in your heart or positive?  Or both?  Why?

3. Whom do you think David is referring to when he uses the term “righteous”?  Explain.

4. What are some specific circumstances where you and/or the group can enter into the world of the “broken-hearted” and be a conduit of rescue for those who are “crushed in Spirit”?

5. We all “manage” our sin to some extent at different points in our lives, what comes to your mind when you consider areas you’ve personally managed your own sin?  Have you ever spent time reflecting on this issue?

6. In what specific way have you observed yourself or others being apathetic to yours(their) need for rescue?