PATHWAY CITY CHURCH

It is extremely crucial to continually refresh our minds with the truth of the Gospel and be awestruck by its beauty. It functions as a form self-examination to see what our lives are built on and built with. Today, we embark on journey to revisit the famous parable of the wise and foolish builders with a Gospel-centered perspective. When the storms of life overwhelm us, what is the reason for the hope that we have to remain firm and withstand the elements?

Jesus addresses an important issue in the 10th chapter of the Gospel of Luke: confusion of worship with service. In Martha's frustration with having to serve alone, Jesus redirects her heart toward worship by pointing to Mary who was listening at His feet. We learn that though toiling for the kingdom is a noble necessity, we must not confuse it with worship and devotion; these two are meant to exist in harmony at the core of our being in Him. Jesus wishes us not to neglect dwelling at his feet for our engrossing works. We are also reminded that we were made for Him and by Him, therefore, our fellowship with Him should be first and foremost.

What do you do when your theology clashes with reality? How do you hold to the conviction that God is good when life stinks? We're going to hear in today’s message some of the things that sometimes go unsaid about our struggles, our depressions, when we feel so alone and have no ready answers. To help us, we will turn to the Psalms, where the raw emotions of real people who just hit the wall are expressed, and where deep reservoirs of truth are found that can help you through. And what we'll see is that just when we think God is nowhere to be found, GOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. Psalm 73 is our passage and the title is “Comparison Is The Thief of Joy.” Theodore Roosevelt is known for potentially saying that statement. And it’s biblical. Psalm 73 is a psalm that starts out with a man named Asaph, who’s convinced he’s been given a raw deal in life. Anybody relate? Ever care to ask if it even pays to serve God? When you did the right thing, but got the back of the hand anyway. Have you ever been betrayed? Ever been gossiped about? Who did you in financially? Who put the screws to you? Who did something unfair to you at work? Maybe it happened at home with a parent or grandparent, your husband or wife or best friend. If you've ever had something happen to you that was out of human control but seemed so unfair that you don't understand how a good God could let it happen, then you need to sit awhile with a choir director named Asaph. Asaph was one of three directors who worked under King David. He was one of the great worship leaders in the OT. And he's about to get as real as it gets.

The parable of the Prodigal Son offers a moving demonstration of the Gospel. It is also the third parable Jesus tells in order to emphasize a crucial point. In his seemingly convoluted response to the pharisees' judgement over the sinners he associated himself with, we witness a son leave out of rebellion and return due to the kindness of his father. Today's message implores us to identify God and ourselves in this story; to refresh our minds of the grace He lavishes upon us and upon those that have gone astray.

Have you ever been the outcast? The person who was rejected by your family, excluded from your friend group, or divorced by your spouse? You are not alone.

The Samaritans were an outcast people, and one Samaritan woman was even outcast by the outcasts. Unlike the other women who would make the daily walk to the well each morning before the blazing heat of the day, this woman went to the well alone at noon because she was rejected, dejected, and unwanted.

Amazingly, the only person who sought her out for a relationship was Jesus Christ. Jews did not befriend Samaritans, men did not befriend women, and holy people did not befriend unholy people. Nonetheless, Jesus knew that she needed a healthy, holy, helpful relationship.

Perhaps an abuse victim whose father was either dead or a deadbeat, this woman had been divorced five times and was living with a man who did not give her the honor of making any marital commitment to her. Perhaps Jesus would have been the first man in her life to give to her instead of take from her.

This scene reveals a number of hope-filled promises:

(1) Until our relationship with Jesus is healthy, none of our other relationships will be. (2) Just like our bodies need water, our souls need worship. (3) Worship is not just part of what we do, it’s always what we do. (4) Who or what we worship not only gets us into trouble, worship is what also gets us out of trouble. (5) Under every issue is a worship issue. (6) Jesus is prepared to cross any line to have relationship.

We conclude our study of the Book of Ruth with one central goal in mind: a lasting legacy. We have been able to glean from the timeless lessons this story offers as we prepared our hearts to encounter the ultimate Redeemer. Moreover, an overview of what God has been teaching us through this book elevates our perception of work and gives us an awareness of God's desire to bless us through it so that we might bless others. Finally, we learn that Ruth and Boaz knew they were living for something greater than themselves. They were honoring an enduring promise, prepared to be the answers to their own prayers, and most importantly, leaving behind a lasting legacy.

In our study of the Book of Ruth, we are warned against bitterness, encouraged toward boldness, and reminded of God's generous provision. As Ruth executes Naomi's risky plan, we encounter a striking interaction between her and Boaz. They demonstrate how men and women ought to treat each other when pursuing a relationship; risking everything, facing great obstacles, and willing to lose, all for the sake of love.

This week's study explores the definition of the godly man and the godly woman. In the second chapter of the Book of Ruth, Boaz lavishes Ruth with the fruits of his field. In the same way, God lavishes His grace upon us through Jesus Christ. The biblical man not only reflects but manifests the beauty of the Gospel in everything that he does. The biblical woman recognizes grace and finds her identity with in it. Her beauty lies in her loyal and faithful heart. Together, they model the relationship between Christ and the church because their loving-kindness flows from their righteous standing with God rather than their outward appearances or possessions.

  As we move into the second chapter of the Book of Ruth, we witness yet another beautiful illustration of the Gospel. The favor and kindness with which Boaz treats Ruth is parallel to the one God shows us through Christ Jesus. We also begin to see the superior standard the Bible sets for men and women. It calls us to be more than great--to be the embodiment and demonstration of God's everlasting love.

Suffering is part of the human experience; even as Christians, God does not exempt us from it, however, He does sustain us through it. Today's message gives us a review of the first chapter from the Book of Ruth and how, from the beginning, God's faithfulness is displayed in the lives of two women experiencing great loss and suffering. Their story encourages us to seek God's face and discern what He has to say as well as what He desires to do in us and through us when we find ourselves amidst troubles.