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Dec 16, 2018

Famine to Feast

Passage: Ruth 2:1-3:15

Speaker: Brian Land

Series: Advent 2018 - Ruth

Category: Grace Brevard

Keywords: compassion, grace, help, mercy, need, poor, rescue, ruth

Peace and Joy (our two advent candles). In the midst of vulnerability and desperation, Ruth sets out to gather up the grain-leftovers from a local field. Best case scenario: she doesn’t get assaulted and comes home after a hard day’s work with enough food for her and Naomi to have dinner. But “it so happened” that Boaz...this story is all about our enormous desperation and the shocking orchestration of God. Over and over we see Divine “Coincidences” guiding Ruth infinitely beyond her “best case scenario” as she is sheltered under the “wings” of Boaz. We too are in far more desperation than we remotely realize and are being shepherded through veiled paths into the heart and under the wings of Jesus, the One that came in the flesh to rescue us from our famine.

Order of worship

Prelude: The Hobbit

Call To Worship: Second & Third Advent Readings

(First advent candle already lit)

READER: Advent is a time of waiting.  During this season, we remember and celebrate Israel’s waiting for the birth of the Messiah, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  And in this season, we also remember that we, the Church, are in another, larger season of waiting: waiting for Christ to return, as he said that he would.  In this sense, we are in-between advents. Two weeks ago, the first candle was lit, the Hope Candle, which invites us into a hopeful anticipation of the Coming King. Last week was to be the Peace Candle, reminding us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace, restoring our relationship with God.  

Lighting of a second purple candle.

READER: From Isaiah, chapter 9:

2c The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,

READER: From Luke, chapter 1.

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

READER: And now, this third candle, is the Joy candle; reflecting the Good News of Great Joy that the angels proclaimed”

Lighting of third candle (pink one)

READER: And continuing from Luke 1.

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David,

70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins,

79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

PRAYER: Lord God. Thank you for sending your son, the Prince of Peace, to repair our relationship with you. Draw us to confess to you how we have broken our relationship with you and one another, and help us use this time to reflect on the peace, and joy, that you brought to us in your Son Jesus.  And it is in his name, and for his glory, that we pray. Amen.”

Music:

  • O Come All Ye Faithful
  • Angels We Have Heard On High
  • O Come O Come Emmanuel
  • Communion - In the Bleak Midwinter
  • We Will Feast in the House of Zion
  • Band: Lead Guitar & Vocals - Stu Nelsen, Guitar & Vocals - Randy Johnson, Vocals - Lucy Chapman, Cajon - Dakota Chapman

Reading: Ephesians 2:13,17-22 ESV

        ALL: 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

        LEADER: 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

        ALL: 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

        Prayer: Joy (adapted from The Valley of Vision)

        ALL: O glorious Christ

        Thou didst weep, sorrow, suffer that I might rejoice.

        And for my joy Thou has sent the Comforter;

        given in me a living fountain.

        I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy;

        give me more than I can hold, desire, or think of.

        I am an unworthy recipient of Thy grace,

        but can in repentance draw water

        from the wells of Thy joyous forgiveness.

        Let me heart leap towards the eternal Sabbath,

        where the work of redemption, sanctification, and glorification

        is finished and perfected forever,

        Bring me speedily to the land of Thy joy.

        Message Title: Feast from Famine

        Central Text: Ruth 2 & 3 (portions)

        Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So (Ruth) set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech (Naomi’s family). 4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered, “The LORD bless you.” 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”

        8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one...Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” 10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” 11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 12 The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” 13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.”

        14 And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. 15 When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.” 

        17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 And she took it up and went into the city. Her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied. 19 And her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz.” 20 ...Naomi also said to her, “The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers....It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.” 

        3:1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you? 2 Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. 3 Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. 4 But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.”

        6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet! 9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.” 10 And he said, “May you be blessed by the LORD, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. 12 And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I. 13 Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the LORD lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.”

        14 So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” 15 And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city.

        Communion

        Benediction: Numbers 6:24-26 ESV

        LEADER: 24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

        ALL: Amen

        Media:

        12.16.18 Album

        Discussion Questions & Applications:

        1) Think and talk about Ruth and Naomi’s circumstances, fears, vulnerabilities and extremely limited resources. What if it was you?

        2) Describe what it was like when you were forced to “humble yourself” and depend on the kindness and grace of someone else.

           Why is that so difficult to admit weakness and need?

        3) How is this need a necessary cornerstone of the Gospel?

        4) Why can this be a roadblock for some to believe in the Gospel?

        5) Barbara Duguid (in her book “Extravagant Grace”) puts forward a difficult and potentially scandalous thought: Maybe God’s goal for us isn’t holiness but dependence. What do you think?

           Even if you disagree, what’s her point?

        6) This passage talks about (tongue in cheek) the ridiculous “coincidences” that led to Ruth’s blessing...she just so happened to go out that day, and to Boaz’s field (of all the fields) and Boaz just so happened to come by (which was unusual) and happened to notice a random young lady, and happened to want to help her....

           What does this say about God’s power and timing?

           What does it say about God using us to bless others?

           Romans 5:6: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ 

           died for the ungodly.”

          7) How is it that God’s timing can be extremely frustrating, yet also       perfect (if we look back)?

           8) How is Jesus’ birth (and life and death) what this story is ultimately

              point toward? How is Jesus OUR greater Boaz?

        Quotes:

        • “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” — Mark Twain
        • “ I would rather make mistakes in kindness and compassion than work miracles in unkindness and hardness.” ― Mother Teresa, A Gift for God: Prayers and Meditations
        • “I have found that it is the small everyday deed of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." ~ Gandalf (J. R. R. Tolkein ~ The Hobbit)” ― J. R. R. Tolkien
        • “There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.”----Fred Rogers
        • “It's a little embarrassing that after 45 years of research & study, the best advice I can give people is to be a little kinder to each other.” - Aldous Huxley

        Books / Articles

        Sermons / Talks:

        Ruth: Under the Wings of God by John Piper

        Ruth 2

        Ruth / Advent Series  (Veritas Church, Fayetteville, NC)

        Ruth Part 2  by Sinclair Ferguson

        The Dwell App (app for listening to Scripture, Ruth is 17 minutes)