SERIES: Ruth
Sermon from June 14, 2020
We live in a fragile society. We as believers must think biblically and behave responsibly. What do we know to be true from God's word about our situation concerning racial unrest?
What we see is that the cross takes away the hostility that exists in our sin nature. We are all tainted by sin and racism. Without the cross we are lost. Beginning a series in Ruth, Pastor Dan Brenton opens scripture as we look at the pivotal story of what some would consider an "outsider" and gives us a better picture of what God's kingdom looks like.
Sermon From June 21, 2020
God is in total control of all history. But how does that work with man's free will?
Continuing our series in the book of Ruth, we see God working his will through tragedy and misfortune. Pastor Dan Brenton teaches from Ruth 1, where we see Naomi dealing with her daughters-in-law. In that scene, we see Ruth's will working to do God's ultimate will.
We know God rules. Are we, like Ruth, clinging to God and the hope he offers us?
Sermon From June 28, 2020
We pick up the story of Naomi and Ruth in this week's message by Pastor Dan Brenton as we continue our series in Ruth. Looking at Ruth 1:19-22, we see Naomi and her pessimistic outlook. How do we react to circumstances beyond our control?
Bitterness robs us of any lesson that God can teach us through trials. God is doing much more than we can comprehend, even in our misfortunes and tragedies. Are we misrepresenting ourselves, and God? Where are we putting our faith?
Sermon From July 5, 2020
How we understand God's providence versus his miracles? His providence, what the world often calls coincidence, is God using his control of the universe to work his good will. A miracle is God using supernatural means to achieve his purposes. What we see in today's message from the book of Ruth is God using his providence for the benefit of Ruth and Boaz.
Pastor Dan Brenton continues our series in Ruth by teaching from Ruth 2:1-13. There we see God causing a collision of situations that does tremendous good for two women who have experienced great hardship, Naomi and Ruth.
What do we learn from this? We learn this is how you love people. When you love someone, burden turns into a blessing.
Sermon from July 26, 2020
We pick up our series from the book of Ruth as Pastor Dan Brenton teaches from Ruth 2:14-23.
The way of religion is not the way of grace. In this passage, Boaz acts not out of duty but out of love. Ruth's humility is rewarded with plenty. Grace is undeserved and grace is abundant.
Are we humbled by God's gracious provision in our lives? Have we let our trials blind us to that grace? Let us turn to God who loves and redeems us.
Sermon from August 2, 2020
We are captivated by a love story. And one of the greatest love stories is the one involving Ruth and Boaz. What draws these two together?
Pastor Dan Brenton continues our series in the book of Ruth, teaching from Ruth 3:1-13. We know Ruth and Naomi's situation and their need for a kinsman redeemer. What motivates Boaz? His love for Ruth.
We all have a Redeemer who loves us. One who sacrificed for us not for anything that we could do for Him, but because of his love for us.
Sermon from August 9, 2020
We return to the story of Boaz and Ruth in the book of Ruth, this time in Ruth 3:14-17 and continuing in Ruth 4:1-6.
We learned last week of Boaz's intentions to be Ruth's kinsman redeemer. Like Naomi and Ruth, we live under grace. And like them, we must wait on God for him to act on our behalf.
We also see that, like Boaz, our Redeemer fulfills all qualifications and willingly pays the price for us. Jesus paid it all.
Sermon from August 16, 2020
It is easy to be reactionary. And it is easy to be offended. What is hard is to love, and it is only by God's grace can we do that.
We continue our series in the book of Ruth, looking at Ruth 4:7-12. There we see Boaz sealing the covenant to redeem Naomi and Ruth by giving up his rights on their behalf. Boaz did this with his sandal; Jesus did it for you with his blood.
Our preconceived ideas about "the right way" to do God's will often don't match our cultural standards. God's grace succeeds where culture fails.
Sermon from August 23, 2020
We conclude our series in Ruth by looking into Ruth 4:13-22. In our trip through life, we face obstacles. What do learn we from them and why must we?
Naomi's journey in Ruth is one of suffering – famine, death, loneliness. Yet God redeems her story in the end. Those sufferings take on a different perspective in light of where they ended.
Our sufferings in this life can blind us to the horizon. Like Naomi, we are helped to see God working even where we are struggling. God works through our suffering.