12/17/23 The Women of Advent: Ruth

Watch this Week's Message

ICEBREAKER
?
DISCUSSION

1. What are some things that stood out to you about the story of Ruth?
2. What are some things that Naomi would have experienced or gone through as a widow after losing her husband and her two sons?
3. What would it be like for Ruth now as a childless widow?
4. Do you know who the Moabites were and what kind of relationship did they and the Israelites have?
   You can learn more about them by reading Genesis 13:10-13, Genesis 19, Deuteronomy 2:9, Numbers 22:1-6, Numbers 25:1-4, Deuteronomy 23:3–6.
5. What's the significance of Boaz being so generous to a childless widow from Moab?
6. What's the difference between the Moabite Ruth and the other Moabite women? See Ruth 1:16-17.

Ruth is a short story with a BIG message. And that message centers around the two main characters, God, and the word hesed--a Hebrew word that is often translated as steadfast or unfailing love and kindness. But this one Hebrew word is bigger, deeper, and richer than that. This word communicates characteristics that require multiple English words for us to truly understand. These characteristics include love, loyalty, steadfastness, strength, compassion, generosity, grace, and mercy.

1. How do Ruth and Boaz display hesed in this story?
2. How does God display hesed through all of Scripture?
3. What's the connection between hesed in the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus, Paul, and John about love in the New Testament?
4. How can we display hesed today?

PRAYER
Take some time for people to share prayer requests. Then pray. First, pray about what was discussed—thanking and praising God for his hesed—unfailing love, compassion, mercy, generosity, etc.—and asking for help to show hesed to others. Then pray for each other's prayer requests.