Welcome to the Book of Ruth Advent series! We hope that this amazing story will make Advent come alive for you in a new way. We recommend you play Ruth 3 Episode 3 first to listen to the chapter and discussion before listening to this Advent Bonus episode.
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Susan’s Summary
For this 3rd week of Advent, the focus is Faith. In the story of Jesus, Mary and Joseph demonstrate great faith by journeying to Bethlehem, trusting in God’s plan despite Mary’s advanced pregnancy. In our story today, faith can be found in another couple in Bethlehem, Ruth and Boaz, who also trusted in God’s plan over 1000 years before Mary and Joseph.
Hebrews 11, also known as the Hall of Faith is a list of all the Bible characters who have demonstrated faith. It provide us with a very simple definition of faith.
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
- Faith is confidence in what we hope for
- Faith is assurance about what we do not see
As Christians we must have confidence in what we hope for – eternal life and assurance that Christ is the way to eternal life even though we cannot see him. In Chapter 3, we will see all three of our hero’s show faith in different ways.
Example 1: Naomi Finds Her Faith
Questions to ponder:
- Naomi shows us that we can trust God even when we are facing difficult challenges. Naomi’s faith reminds that God is faithful to his promises, and he is working all things together for our good. Are you facing a difficult challenge right now? Do you have faith in God to see you through?
Example 2: Ruth’s Faith Drives Out Fear
Questions to ponder:
- Ruth trusts God for her life. What do you fear?
- Here is the good news: you are growing your faith just by listening to Bible Book Club!
- Like Ruth, the more we learn about God, the more we take steps toward him, the greater our faith grows.
Example 3: Boaz’s Steadfast Faith
Questions to ponder:
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- What did you have to leave for the chance to follow God?
- A career that interfered with your faith and family?
- A person that threatened to pull you away from your faith because they had no faith?
- A place that tempted you beyond what your faith could bear?
- What did you have to leave for the chance to follow God?
