We continue our journey through the Book of Ruth, now exploring chapter three. In this passage, we see how Ruth courageously stepped out in faith, following Naomi's guidance to ask Boaz to fulfill his role as guardian-redeemer.

Three keys to Bold Faith

Faith Requires Trusting Without Seeing - Hebrews 11:1

Integrity and Bold Action Work Together - Ruth 3:10-11

Trusting the Outcome to God - Ruth 3:18

This sermon, titled "As It Turned Out," explores the theme of finding God in hard work, drawn from Ruth 2:1-10.

Through the story of Ruth, the sermon emphasizes how faithfulness in small, diligent actions can lead to divine opportunities and blessings. Remain diligent and faithful in the current season, trusting in God's provision.

Resolve to Remain

This sermon explores the book of Ruth, focusing on how we can find God in ordinary and difficult times. It emphasizes the importance of remaining faithful to God and others during hardships, using Naomi and Ruth's story as an example. The sermon encourages listeners to view their struggles as opportunities for growth and to impact others positively through their response to adversity.

Key Points:

The absence of God's leadership leads to moral and social chaos

Isolation during hardship can lead to desperation and destructive decisions

How we handle hardship can lead others to praise God

Our pain can become a purpose for someone else's praise

Even in our emptiness, God is at work and preparing to fill us

2 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV) - "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere."

Assuming Everything Will Go Bad

"Do you remember the Israelites in the wilderness? They saw God's faithfulness part the Red Sea, but the moment they faced giants in the Promised Land, they said, 'I knew it!' They immediately doubted and let fear dictate their future. Not anymore—I quit that mentality."

"My God promised me a land of milk and honey, and if He said it, He will do it!"

Fixating on What I Can't Control

John 5:6 (ESV) - "When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, 'Do you want to be healed?'"

"We fixate on what we can’t control instead of focusing on what we can. Jesus asked the man at the pool, 'Do you want to be well?'—because change starts with choosing to step away from what holds us back."

"So, I quit trying to control what I can’t. Instead, I’ll take responsibility for what I can control and trust God with the rest."

Letting My Hardships Define Me

Esther 4:14 (ESV) - "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"

"Esther could have let fear or hardship define her, but she believed that her position was for God’s purpose. I won’t let my hardships define me anymore—I quit! I’m not a victim of my circumstances; I’ll be a victor in them."

"If it got to me, it went through Him. Who knows but that I am here for such a time as this!"

Focusing on Other People’s Lives

Luke 15:31 (ESV) - "'And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.’"

"Like the older brother in the story of the Prodigal Son, we can get so focused on what others have that we lose sight of what God has already given us. I quit comparing my life with others—I am always with my Father, and all He has is mine!"

7 Statements of Victory

1. I am in Christ—I am a new creation.

2. I am invincible within the will of God—I am victorious in Him.

3. I have a calling on my life—God has called me His.

4. I have a future—He knows the plans He has for me.

5. I have so much to be thankful for—Jesus is good.

6. Hardships make me stronger—James 1:2-4.

7. My reward is knowing Jesus

This is a message from our sermon series Don't Drink The Poison. See the notes below!

Proverbs 19:11

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense

Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.“

Matthew 11:2–6 (NKJV)

And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

3 Traps of Expectation

1. Unspoken Expectation

2. Unmet Expectation

Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things the Lordhates—

no, seven things he detests:

17 haughty eyes,

a lying tongue,

hands that kill the innocent,

18 a heart that plots evil,

feet that race to do wrong,

19 a false witness who pours out lies,

a person who sows discord in a family.

3. Unrealistic Expectation

Process of Offense

1. Offense

2. Bitterness

3. Anger

4. Hate

Title: Your Spirit, Your Responsibility

Stage 1 - The Feeling of Offense

Stage 2 - The Choice to live or not live offended

Stage 1 - Someone presents you with an opportunity to be offended

Stage 2 - To Live offended is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die

Luke 17: 1 (NKJV)

"It is impossible that no offenses should come..."

Matthew 24:10

"And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another."

YOU MIGHT HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE OFFENDED; BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD

1 Corinthians 10

"All things are lawful," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful, " but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good but the good of his neighbor."

Galatians 5:13 (NIV)

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.“

ANYONE CAN GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OFFENDED, BUT YOU GET TO CHOOSE IF YOU WILL LIVE OFFENDED.

Proverbs 19:11

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense

Matthew 6:14-15

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other's their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

We Are The Church

Acts 2:46-47

46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.

1. Gathering of Grace

Philippians 1:7 (NLT)

"So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the good news."

2. Gathering of Healing

James 5:16

"Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."

3. Gathering on Mission

Acts 2:46-47

46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Serve one another. - Galatians 5:13

Show hospitality to one another - 1 Peter 4:9

Be kind to one another - Ephesians 4:32

Encourage one another - 1 Thessalonians 4:18

Carry one another's burdens - Galatians 6:2

Title: Remember why you started

Subtitle: 3 keys to a missional church

Acts 2:42-47

1. We will be a passionately devoted church

2. We will be an irrationally generous church

3. We will unapologetically share the gospel