Week of Oct 9th "Ruth meets Boaz"

Lesson 3
Ruth Meets Boaz
Ruth 2-3:5
GOD IS OUR PROVIDER

This week we reviewed the beautiful masterpiece found in 1:16-17, then dove into the study of Chapter 2 and the first few verses of Chapter 3.

We get a new feeling here.  It is scene two in our drama, and what a change in scenery.
Scene one included death, famine, travel, depression, separation, loss, bitterness, poverty...
Scene two is something altogether different: barley harvest (abundance), hope (Naomi's new perspective), protection (Boaz protects Ruth), honorable sacrifice (Ruth taking risks by going to glean for her and Naomi's welfare).

Ruth suffers from the weight of being a Moabite woman in Israel, a widow, poor, really having no status - and alone except for Naomi.  YET she is honorable, virtuous, hard-working, confident, obedient.

In fields gleaning barley, she is noticed by Boaz, the landowner, who is also from the clan of Elimelech, and therefore one of the kinsman-redeemers.  Boaz, being a Godly man, takes interest in her welfare, offering her drink, food, protection, and blessings.

Ruth took great risk in going to glean, during the time of the Judges, when "everyone did what was right in their own eyes" - she could have been insulted or harmed.

Boaz, as an honorable man, kept an honorable workplace.  He protected and respected his workers.  We can be sure that this was not the case in all of the fields in the area at this time in history - a time of lawlessness.  So just the fact that Ruth is in Boaz's fields shows how God protects His followers.  Our sovereign God not only arranges for Ruth and Naomi's welfare, but beyond that, He plays the role of matchmaker to ensure the continuation of the lineage in the family - one that we know becomes very important indeed.

Some further optional questions:
--Have you ever noticed God working in your circumstances?  Have you ever said, this is more than a "coincidence"?  If not, take a close look, God is working through you, in what may seem like random details of your life, He is there.

--In what ways do you care for God's people - those who have needs?

--In what ways do you show gratitude towards those who provide for you or offer you protection?

--What similarities can you draw between Boaz and Jesus, our redeemer?

--Would you have the courage to do as Ruth?  To respond, as she does in verse 5 "I will do whatever you say"?  Why or why not?

This week's homework will conclude our study of Ruth!

Week of October 2nd

Just a note that this week's homework (Lesson 3) is a bit longer than the first two lessons - three pages of questions.  May you be blessed as we continue to learn from Ruth and Naomi!!

 Lesson 2 Ruth 1:15-22

This past week's lesson involved only seven verses.  BUT OH, the depth of those precious words from our holy book!
We studied Ruth 1:15-22.  This short passage of scripture contains so much for us to examine.
First of all, we see Orpah leaving - "going back to her gods and her people".  Immediately in verse 15 we see that Orpah is making her choice partially based on her religious beliefs.  She is going back to HER GODS.
Ruth, in contrast, does not choose this path.  She chooses the road that will lead her to complete reliance, trust and faith in the one true God, the God of Israel.  And she does this without anger.  In contrast, she does this with her chin up, her eyes fixed upon the God of Heaven.
All three women are facing dire circumstances.  They have nothing; they are destitute and poor.  Historically, at that time, women could rely only on men's protection and property for their well-being.  Naomi has no male family members remaining, therefore she is essentially cut off from society.  Yet, Ruth clings to her. 

Some extra insight from

Henri Rossier...

Naomi's daughters-in-law accompany her, moved by the thought of returning with her to her people (Ru 1:10). But this good intention is not enough, for nothing less than faith will do in order to enter into relationship with grace. The behavior of Orpah and of Ruth illustrates this principle. In appearance there is no difference at all between them. Both leave with Naomi and walk with her, thus demonstrating their attachment to her. Orpah's affection is real: she weeps at the mere thought of leaving her mother-in-law; and full of sympathy, sheds still more tears when she finally leaves her. Orpah, the Moabite, also loves Naomi's people: “They said to her, We will certainly return with thee to thy people.” But it is possible to have a very amiable character without having faith. Faith makes a gulf between these two women who are so similar in so many ways. Confronted with impossibilities, the natural heart draws back, whereas faith is nourished on impossibilities and so increases in strength. Orpah gives up a path which has no outcome. What could Naomi offer her? She was ruined, stricken by God, and filled with bitterness; did she yet have sons in her womb to give as husbands to her daughters-in-law? Orpah kisses her mother-in-law and returns to her people and to her gods (Ru 1:15).

Here at last the secret of the natural heart is unveiled. The natural heart may attach itself to God's people without actually belonging to this people. A woman like Naomi surely is worthy of awakening sympathy, but that is not the sign of faith in operation. In the first place faith separates us from idols, causes us to give up our gods, and turns us to the true God. This was the Thessalonians' first step in the path of faith, too (1Th 1:9-note). Orpah on the contrary turns away from Naomi and the God of Israel in order to return to her people and her gods. Confronted by this difficulty, she shows that she is unable to endure the test. She indeed weeps as she leaves, but she does leave, just like that charming young man who went away sad, unable to decide to separate himself from his possessions in order to follow a poor and despised Master.

Ruth's case is quite different. What precious faith she displays: full of certainty, resolution, and decision! No objection can change her mind. How clearly faith sees its goal! She listens to Naomi's words but her decision has been made, for she knows only one path, which for her is the necessary path. What are nature's impossibilities before faith's necessities? Ruth neither allows herself to be deterred by the prospect of not finding another husband, nor even by the Lord's hand stretched out against her mother-in-law; in the obstacles that mount up she sees only so many new reasons for clinging to her decision. Naomi is everything to Ruth, and Ruth cleaves to Naomi.

For me, the most stunning, inspiring, BEAUTIFUL words in this passage are found in verses 16-17!

"Entreat me not to leave you or return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God my God; where you die I will die and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you."

The more I re-read these words the more amazing they become. Ruth's commitment to Naomi is simply mind-boggling, it really doesn't make sense for her to feel this way - this is how we KNOW it is God! She is deserting her homeland, leaving for a country she does not know, with no husband, and she is professing a radical loyalty to her destitute mother-in-law!   "Where you die I will die and there be buried" (v. 17). In other words, she will never return home, not even if Naomi dies.

BEST of all is this: "Your God will be my God" (v. 16). Naomi has just said in verse 13, "The hand of the Lord has gone forth against me." Naomi is bitter, angry, alone. Yet Ruth puts all her trust in Naomi's God, she sees beyond the anger that Naomi expresses, Ruth sees a hope, she sees a future, she trusts in the one true God.  Her faith here is all-inspiring, truly awesome, a real testament to her character.  Something for all of us to strive for - to have absolute faith and a positive hope in the worst of times.

Some optional questions for further consideration:
Do you think Ruth's commitment and loyalty is commonly seen in people today?
Why or why not?
Do you feel that our culture encourages a faith in God in the toughest of times, or does it rather encourage us to look to blame others, express our anger, and embrace bitterness?
How do you respond to God when there has been great suffering in your life?
What will you do today to prepare yourself to follow Ruth's example in any future difficult circumstances?

Week of September 25th Ruth 1:1-14

Great to dive into our study this week!

The homework is light.  We encourage class members to dedicate 5-10 minutes every day to spend time in God's word and complete one or two questions in the homework.  Please remember to pray for your discussion group members who have submitted prayer requests as well.  We are prayer warriors for one another!  We have begun our class with a light study; CBS offers studies which require a bit more time and we would like to move towards those studies in the coming year.

For now, we have begun RUTH!
In this week's passage, we learned about Naomi's family's journey to Moab and the tragedy that struck the men in the family.  We see three widows begin to travel to Bethlehem, Naomi's homeland, because she had heard that the famine was over.  To be honest, Naomi did not have many other options, having no male members in her family and no hope for a continuation of the family line.  Depressed, bitter, and alone, she urges her two daughters-in-law to "go back to their people".  We see Orpah express a tearful goodbye, but in contrast, Ruth "clings" to Naomi, refusing to leave.

OPTIONAL - for extra thought - Some further questions:
Who do you relate to most in this first passage - Naomi, Ruth or Orpah?
What would you do if you were in their situation?
Do you believe Elimelech's family was being disciplined for abandoning the Promised Land?
Do you view your commitments differently when circumstances become difficult?
Are you tempted to blame God for your problems?  Why?
What truths help you focus on the big, eternal picture rather than on your circumstances?

This week's homework:
Read pp 10-11 and answer questions on pp 12-13 Ruth 1:15-22

FIRST CLASS

September 18th, 2013

FIRST WEEK OF CLASS!!

What a great blessing!  We were thrilled to see so many women turn out to study God's word. 

This is His class; He is our teacher.

In class we learned about the organization of CBSi United Kingdom:
http://cbsiuk.org/blog/

And of CBSi: 
http://www.cbsinternational.org/



This exciting ministry is growing and we are thrilled that we get to be part of that growth - glory to God!

A typical class will go as follows:
9:55-10:05 arrive, tea/coffee
10:05 Welcome prayer
10:10 Songs of Worship
10:20 Devotional - sharing - faith story
10:30 Discussion Group Time
11:30 Wrap up talk

The homework for this week is:
Read pp. 6-7, complete the questions on pp 8-9.

We encourage all class members to do 1-2 questions per day, being sure that each day they are spending time on the study.  All it takes is about 5-10 minutes per day!

Please email us if you have any questions!
cbsiswisscottage@gmail.com

New Women's Bible Study - Northwest London

Please join us as we are thrilled to begin a new

COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY (CBS) International

in Swiss Cottage - London

WHERE:  We will meet at Holy Trinity Swiss Cottage
Just opposite Finchley Road Tube Station

WHEN:  Wednesdays beginning September 18th, 2013  

TIME:  10am - 12 noon

WHO:  All women - all backgrounds - all ages - all denominations

WHAT: We are a group of diverse women who meet weekly for discussion, worship and teaching time. CBSi is an international organization that provides an interdenominational Bible study for the community - in over 73 countries around the world.
Our women's group will be studying Ruth, Esther, and 1John this year.
A typical class will begin with worship music, a short devotional, discussion in small groups (on the lesson we have completed at home using a Bible and the study book or questions), and a wrap-up talk. There are occasional social & fellowship opportunities to gather following the class, in a relaxed setting.

HOW TO JOIN:  For more information or questions, please email: cbsiswisscottage@gmail.com

Bible Study starting in September!! Please join us!!

PLEASE JOIN US!

 Our Bible study group will begin meeting on Wednesday September 18th, 2013



In the meantime, we'd love to hear from you!!  If you have questions, or want more information about our group, or you are interested in serving on our leadership team, please contact us at:

cbsiswisscottage@gmail.com





Our class will meet:

Wednesdays 10:00 - 12:00
during term time (mid-September through mid-June)




We will meet AT:

Holy Trinity Swiss Cottage
Holy Trinity Church
Finchley Road
London NW3 5HT

Getting to HTSC Tube:
HTSC is directly opposite "Finchley Road" underground station on the Metropolitan and Jubilee LInes.
 
Rail:
HTSC is a short walk down the Finchley Road from "Finchley Road and Frognal" Station.
 
Bus:
The 13, 82, 113, 187, 268 and C11 all stop right outside HTSC. Click here for more info.

Sorry we missed you.....

This is a personal message to someone who tried to come to our group today, Wednesday June 5th.  We are very sorry that we missed you.  The building was being used by a school group and we had to meet at an alternative location.  We apologize that we didn't post that information on the website here.  If you get this message, we'd love to hear from you so please contact us at:
cbsiswisscottage@gmail.com