Christ's Fellowship Church of Lawton is a Reformed Baptist Church in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention. https://cfclawton.org/

Christ's Fellowship Church of Lawton is a Reformed Baptist Church in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention. https://cfclawton.org/

Christ's Fellowship Church of Lawton is a Reformed Baptist Church in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention. https://cfclawton.org/

Christ's Fellowship Church of Lawton is a Reformed Baptist Church in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention. https://cfclawton.org/

Christ's Fellowship Church of Lawton is a Reformed Baptist Church in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention. https://cfclawton.org/

As we come to the end of the story, all of God's purposes are finally revealed. What began as a story of famine, sorrow, and death ends in fullness, joy, and life. There's a happy ending for Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz, and we come face-to-face with the reality that all of God's designs are for the good of His people.

But what about us? What does this story say to us? How do we cope when our story has an unhappy ending? The story of Naomi and Ruth answers this question. As it transcends the simple story of three people in Bethlehem, this scripture points beyond itself to God's ultimate good in sending His Son to save sinners.

Christ's Fellowship Church of Lawton is a Reformed Baptist Church in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention. https://cfclawton.org/

As we arrive at the climax of the story we see our three main characters taking risks. If we remember our theology, however, we'll see how Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz's belief in the sovereignty of God actually allows them to take these risks. They can do this because they know God is working all things for their good and for His glory. And if we can grasp this truth ourselves, then we also can live courageously in the most risky of situations.

Christ's Fellowship Church of Lawton is a Reformed Baptist Church in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention. https://cfclawton.org/

"What if...?" It's a simple, yet profound question. "What if I hadn't met my spouse?" "What if I'd chosen a different profession?" "What if I hadn't gotten sick?" A trillion small, even insignificant decisions and events that have led you to where you are and who you are today.

Is it all thanks to chance? Dumb luck? Bad luck? Not according to the Scriptures. And what we see in our story today is that all of these events, even down to the most minute detail, are guided by the providential hand of God.

That can be a scary thought for some people, many even reject it, but as we look at this text we see not only a sovereign God who works all things according to His own will, but also a God who is all-wise, all-powerful, and who loves His people. He is a God who is working all things for the good of His people and for the praise of His glorious grace.

Christ's Fellowship Church of Lawton is a Reformed Baptist Church in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention. https://cfclawton.org/

When we examine the lives of giants of the Christian faith, we often see men and women plagued by troubles and sadness. How did these exemplary figures persevere under the weight of depression they often experienced? They all believed in the goodness of a sovereign God who was working all things for their good and His glory. This is the theme of the book of Ruth: despite intense suffering, there is a God in Heaven who works, in even the most ordinary, everyday circumstances, to bring about the greatest good for His people. Naomi is such a saint, and as we traverse this book, we'll see how an understanding of, not only God's bitter providence, but also His sweet providence, will transform her from bitter to joyous.

Christ's Fellowship Church of Lawton is a Reformed Baptist Church in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention. https://cfclawton.org/

Christ's Fellowship Church of Lawton is a Reformed Baptist Church in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention. https://cfclawton.org/