At some point in our life, we all ask, “Is God Real?” No one escapes it and, at some point, everyone has to answer it.  In this message, we will talk about that question and how it was answered by the Apostle Paul in Acts. 17:16- 33

This year if feels like Easter has been taken away from us – but no one can take it from us because it already happened (nearly 2000 years ago). Our salvation and hope is sealed in Jesus Christ and His resurrection.

Today’s message is about The Power of Contentment.  By studying Ruth 4:13-22 we will gain an understanding into the power that comes from being satisfied in Christ and rejecting an entitled attitude of entitlement.

As Christians we often talk or sing about being ‘redeemed’.  What does that mean? Are we nothing more than game tickets turned in for a cheap prize? Even worse, is Christ just a token exchange for us?  We will allow the Old Testament story of Ruth to show us the power of redemption and how we too can avoid a hopeless wrong  ending if place our faith in Christ, daily.

When we find ourselves in times of waiting, where we can’t understand what God is doing and how or when He is working... what are we to do? We are to wait. Waiting is not wasted time, it is purposeful in the hands of a redeeming God. While we wait we trust. It is faith that pleases God. One of the things we rest in is that God is working during our waiting.

People who talk of chance as a causal agent for good or bad things happening in our life disclose a level of atheism by rejecting God as sovereignly in control. We must sweep the church clean of the notion that God is not involved in all things, including the afflictions, calamities, and trials we face. By looking at the story of Ruth, we see that God is in control of all circumstances and situations.

Loss in life is the deepest pain we will feel. Suddenly, all the things we once valued seem meaningless when we no longer have someone we love. In this message, Pastor Josh identifies how we can handle grief ourselves and how we can help those around us who are hurting.

No one had to grapple with the reality of God’s silence as much as Naomi in Ruth’s story today. There are seasons of silence from God in our lives, but He is always active and present. In this message, we will look at the first six—tragic—verses of Ruth and identify four reasons God can feel silent and what our reaction should be.

Love is often thought of as nothing more than a feeling, and as long as both parties “feel love” then the commitment continues. When the feeling fades, love dies. But that is not biblical love. Love is not short-term; God loves us for the long-haul and we are told to love like God, being faithful, full of mercy, quick to forgive. In the book of Ruth, we see the theme of Hesedlove and an example we are to have in our own relationships.

You cannot forgive before the Holy Spirit moves on your heart to help you grasp the full gravity of forgiveness. Forgiveness is not easy, free, or cheap. It costs something. It cost Christ His life. You need the Holy Spirit’s help. You are the one carrying the burden of forgiveness alone, which is too much for anyone to bear without the help of God. In this message, we talk about the process of seeking and granting forgiveness from God and others.