The Summit Church Denver

As we kick off our Advent series, we see how the great wait of the Bible commences in the very beginning, and how this wait helps us make sense of our own.

We love stories of redemption and we see this theme in the songs we sing, the books we write, the movies we create. In this portion of Ruth, we look at an interaction where we see how how hard Boaz is willing to work in order to redeem Ruth, and see how this story of redemption is one for us to receive with great joy. (Ruth 4:1-12)

After getting glimpses into the character of both Naomi and Ruth early in this story, we finally have the opportunity to learn about the character of Boaz. As we study who this man is, we not only see the kind of man that we should admire, but also emulate in an age where healthy manhood is often ignored. (Ruth 3:6-18)

Any story of great love has a moment of great risk. In this week's portion of the story of Ruth, we see Ruth's willingness to risk everything for love, and we learn what it looks like to risk well for love in our own lives as well. (Ruth 3:1)

Through a very normal, unglamorous conversation between Ruth and Naomi, we see how God starts to turn this story around and provide practical hope, not just for these two ladies, but for us as well.

We see the first true interaction between Ruth and Boaz - a beautiful scene where one of the most important people in this community takes notice and protects the least important. We consequently ask ourselves how a scene as unusual and challenging as this one should change how we live our own lives.

Ruth 2:8-16

At this turning point in the plot, we see that it's in the mundane routine of life that love is at its best. As Ruth loves and serves Naomi, God is graciously working behind the scenes to bring about good.

The natural objection to the life of love that is pictured in the opening chapter of Ruth is "what happens when this doesn't work out?" Not experiencing the kind of love we long for when we give our heart away is incredibly painful. We dive into what it looks like to rightly lament in response to the disappointment and pain that comes with love.