Pleasant Garden Baptist Church Podcast (Sermons)

(More) Bad News of the Gospel of Ruth

Ruth 1:1-5

1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.  

2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 

3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.  

4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 

5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

(More) Bad News of the Gospel of Ruth reminds us that:

1. In our sinfulness, we can rationalize all kinds of bad decisions (1:1).

2. Bad decisions too often birth bad decisions (1:4).

3. Even our bad decisions can be the seedbed for God to work (1:5).

The Bad News of the Gospel of Ruth

Ruth 1:1-3

1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 

3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.

The Bad News of the Gospel of Ruth reminds us that:

1. Difficult circumstances tempt us to trust a different gospel (1:1).

2. We make grave mistakes when we forget our identity (1:2).

3. We shouldn’t be surprised when painful consequences follow our poor decisions (1:3).

Ruth: A Gospel for Then and Now

Ruth 1:1 (ESV) 

1 In the days when the judges ruled…

Judges 21:25 (ESV)

25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

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The Context of the Gospel of Ruth reminds us: 

1. In our fallen nature, we drift from God.

2. The lessons of the past should help us make sense of the present and prepare for the future. 

3. Even at our worst, God comes for us.

Key questions that reveal my trajectory:

1. Am I reading? Am I in the Word?

2. Am I praying? Am I committing time to prayer?

3. Am I confessing? Do I see my sin?

4. Am I giving? Does God have my time and money?

5. Am I doing? When God nudges through the Word, prayer, or a person, do I listen?

6. Am I sharing? Do others around me know of my walk with Jesus? 

The Gospel of Ruth

Ruth 1:1

1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.

What we will learn from the Gospel of Ruth: 

1. Ruth reveals and revels in the sovereignty of God.

2. Ruth displays the faithfulness of God in the most difficult circumstances.

3. Ruth illustrates the redemption storyline of the Bible.  

4. Ruth invites us to learn deeply from real life characters.

5. Ruth reminds us that God loves and honors women.

6. Ruth captures the true beauty the Bible.

Pauses

Psalm 46:10

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalm 46:10 ESV

In the pause, rest.

In the pause, wait.

In the pause, let go.

Prayer

Deacon Ordination Service

1 Timothy 3:8-13

Acts 6:1-6

Who are our Deacons at PGBC?

1. Our deacons are Saints (1 Timothy 3:8-13).

1 Timothy 3:8-13

8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 

9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

10 And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. 

11 Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. 

12 Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 

13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.  

2. Our deacons are Supporters (Acts 6:1-6).

Acts 6:1-6

1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 

2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 

3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 

4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 

5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 

6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

3. Our deacons are Servants (1 Timothy 3:8).

Charge to the Deacons

1. Listen Attentively

2. Pray Fervently

3. Speak Boldly

4. Serve Willing

The Gospel at Christmas: Immanuel: God with Us

Matthew 1:21-23

21 “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”

He came to save you (1:21).

He will be with you (1:22-23).

3 Truths about Jesus being with you:

1. We need Jesus to be with us.

2. In Jesus, God came all the way to us.

3. Jesus came to be with us.

The Gospel at Christmas

Matthew 1:21-23

21 “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 

22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”

He came to save you (1:21).

He will be with you (1:22-23).

3 Truths about Jesus coming to save us:

1.       We need to be saved.

2.       Only God can save us.

3.       Jesus came to save you from your sins.

Interview with Grayson & Abby Marshall