November 3, 2024
The Story | What is Real Friendship Like? | Chapter 9
Beginnings: How God Got Things Started, A Chosen People.
The tiny book of Ruth in your Bible is all about friendship. The name Ruth actually means friendship. Two women lash themselves to each other, wondering what God might do for them during a bleak time in their lives. It’s the story of hard work, courage, and God coordinating the needed pieces behind the scenes.
Songs for this week: Spotify
Chapter 9: Ruth 1:1-22
- What’s the best friendship you’ve ever had or have in your life? What has made it so life-giving for you?
- Reflect on a time you experienced an unhealthy friendship (without naming names!). What attitudes or behaviors have you noticed that can undermine or damage friendships?
- What stands out for you in Ruth’s vows to Naomi? Is making such vows even wise? Explain.
- Can you describe the covenant that Jesus has made with believers? What promises has he made? Is this a covenant that you have entered?
- How might the story of Ruth help you share the hope you have in Jesus with a friend who doesn’t yet believe?
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Recent Sermons
Galatians 5:16-26 - The Holy Spirit surprised both the convinced and the curious in the early Church—working through powerful deeds and transforming lives from within to become more like Jesus.
Acts 2:1-21 - The long-awaited gift of God’s Spirit given to ordinary women and men finally touched down! A few unlikely believers huddled together in an upstairs room were the first recipients. This story unlocks the plan that the Spirit of Jesus has for us all.
Luke 4:14-21-Jesus announced that the Spirit of the Lord was on him to proclaim the good news. The Holy Spirit empowered Jesus for his mission. And Jesus gives us the same Spirit for the same mission.
Joel 2:28-32 - Begin a seven-week journey exploring the person and work of the Holy Spirit—from Genesis to Revelation. Discover how the Spirit moves through the Old Testament, revealing a presence that is mysterious, powerful, and deeply woven into the story of faith.
Mark 16:1-8 - The resurrection of Jesus Christ brings clarity to the entire Bible, redeeming every story from the Garden of Eden onward. Though surprisingly understated in Gospel of Mark, this moment secures a powerful hope—offering grace today and the promise of a future face-to-face with Jesus.
Mark 11:1-11 -As Mark’s account of Jesus moves toward the Cross, the Triumphal Entry may seem quiet to us—but for those who had waited centuries, it was electric. The question of the true King wasn’t just Israel’s struggle—it’s still ours today.
