Prayer Requests

This post is going to be dedicated to Prayer Requests & Praise Reports on those specific requests for the rest of the semester...

If at any time you want/need prayer for something, even if it seems silly, put it here...

Then follow up! Let us know how it's going... was it answered specifically? Did God show you that it's just not the right time? Or... Did He give you something better than what you originally asked?

L3 Memory Verse

Memory Verse, page 44

Did a particular verse make you think? Is there a verse you can't get out of your head? Write it down and memorize it. Allow God's Word to permanently brand itself in your head & your heart.

How did you do on the other MV's? Still working on them?

Proverbs 31 Woman

Go Deeper, page 44

The Bible has many things to say about a woman of noble (excellent, worthy) character. Study the woman of noble character in Proverbs 31. Although she does some things that may be unrealistic in American culture, think about the things she does & the virtues she possesses that can apply to your own life.

Q9 Steps to Kindness

Question #9, page 43

What steps can you take to begin showing this kindness?

Q8 Your Kindness

Questions #8, page 43

Are there any people in your life to whom you specifically desire to show kindness, either in the way Ruth showed kindness to Boaz or the way Boaz demonstrated kindness to Ruth?

Do you remember how they showed kindness to one another???

;)

Q7 Your Character

Question #7, page 43

What have you learned about character in the chapter that you want to apply to your own life?

Be honest with your answers & really try to evaluate your life & attitude...

Do you have control over the personality that God has given you or do you say, "this is how God made me, I can't help it!"? Are you becoming the woman that God wants you to be or are you allowing peer pressure & fads dictate your attitude, actions, & thoughts?

Maybe you need to put your life in check...

Q6 Different

Question #6, page 42

What made Ruth & Boaz different from most people in Israel (see Judges 21:25)?

I included a few more verses in that passage to try and make the context a little more clear... Try and think it through instead of coming up with an obvious answer...

Q5 Ruth's Kindness

Question #5, page 42

Boaz praised Ruth for her kindness in seeking a middle-aged husband from her late father-in-law's family instead of finding any young man to marry.

To whom and how was Ruth showing kindness?

This one will probably take some thinking through...

Q4 Boaz's Kindness

Question #4, page 41

Ruth praised Boaz for his kindness (the same word used in 1:8). How did Boaz show the kindness of a kinsman-redeemer in 3:10-15?

Q3 Boaz's Character

Question #3, page 40

Describe what you learn about Boaz's character from the following verses

Ruth 2:4

Ruth 2:8-9

Ruth 2:11-12

Ruth 2:14-16

Q2 Ruth's Character

Question #2, page 40

In the following verses, what else do you learn about Ruth's character?

Ruth 2:7

Ruth 2:10

Ruth 2:13

Lesson 3 Crazy Things

Please read pages 37-42

Lets discuss two points before getting into the homework:

#1 (p. 39) - In Ruth's day, a single woman had few ways to support herself. She could beg, sell herself into slavery or prostitution, look for a husband among eligible men in the village (where pickings were often slim), or seek help from a male relative. Or, during those two months of harvest, she could glean. Ruth chose to glean to support herself & her mother-in-law.

What does this tell you about Ruth?

#2 (p. 42) - Although this custom is not mentioned anywhere else in ancient writings, the context makes it clear that Ruth was asking Boaz to marry her. Boaz didn't think she was promiscuous. Garments were often used symbolically. When Ruth asked Boaz to spread the corner of his garment over her, she was proposing marriage. & when Boaz consented to her request (although it doesn't actually say he wrapped his garment over her, their conversation makes it obvious), he was symbolizing the protective rest he would give her as her husband. Though there was nothing culturally unusual about Naomi's instruction & Ruth's behavior, it was risky for Ruth to lie at the feet of a man who had likely been drinking heavily.

What are your thoughts about Ruth doing this?

HOMEWORK

*Read Ruth 2:1 - 3:18

*Q's 3-4 & 6-9

*GO DEEPER & MEMORY VERSE

Go Deeper/MV

In the post Lesson 2 Questioning God, I asked you to look into the meaning of rest - That was a surface look into the meaning of the word & in the context of the book of Ruth.

First, go to page 34 in your book & read GO DEEPER...

Second, look up REST in a concordance...

Third, go to page 115 in the back of your book for additional help...

Now that you know a little more about the word "rest," think about & answer these questions:

1. Do you see any promises of rest in Scripture? Which verses?

2. What does it mean for your life?

3. How can you enter God's rest?

Be honest with yourself when answering #2 & #3 - are you truly "resting" in God's promises for your life? In his faithfulness, mercy & sovereignty?

Q9 Speaking to You

Question #9, page 33

Are there any other aspects of this chapter that speak to you?

(Write them down and spend some time in prayer about them.)

Q8 Commitment

Question 8, page 33

Do you know anyone who is hurting as Naomi was? If so, how can you show commitment like Ruth's toward that person? What would such commitment cost you?

Q7 Ruth & Love

Question #7, page 32

How did Ruth exemplify this kind of love in

1:16-17?

Q6 Describing Love

Question #6, page 32

How did Jesus & Paul describe love in the following verses?

Jesus (John 15:13)

Paul (Philippians 2:4)

Q5 Orpah's Choice

Question #5, page 32

How do you react to Orpah's choice? Do you judge her, or can you relate to her? Why?

Q4 Ruth's Choice

Question #4, page 32

What does Ruth's choice tell you about her?

Q3 Responding to Tragedy

Question #3, page 30

How should a Christian respond to the kind of tragedy Naomi experienced?

Look up for additional help:

*Psalm 13

*Psalm 86

*2 Corinthians 1:8-11

*2 Corinthians 4:7-18

*2 Corinthians 5:1-10

*2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Names

What does your name mean?

Why do you think its important to know the meaning?

Why did Naomi change her name?

According to your life's circumstance right now, what name would you give yourself? Why? What does that new name mean?

Lesson 2 Questioning God

Hopefully everyone has a book...

LESSON 2

Please read pages 27-31

Any comments on...

"Sons... husbands (p. 29)"

"Women could not work or earn money, nor could they cultivate land without male relatives. A woman's only hope was found in managing her husband's household & bearing children."

*How does this help &/or change your view of the book or Ruth? Does it make it more clear?

"Rest (p.31)"

"The word rest has two meanings here:

1. key old testament idea that indicates peace, security, & blessing

2. Naomi is speaking about the kind of security & blessing a woman could have only if she were married"

*Discuss your thoughts about REST - feel free to look it up in a dictionary & a concordance... Does that help your understanding of Ruth?

"Sons, who could become your husbands (p. 31)"

*Look up LEVIRATE MARRIAGE - what does it mean?

HOMEWORK

*Read Ruth 1:1-22

*Q's #6-9

*Read GO DEEPER & Memory Verse (p. 34)

L1 Memory Verse

Page 24

Everyone is probably going to have a different memory verse...

So what stood out to you that you would like to memorize?

Goals/Hopes/Expectations

I know that at first this part can be a little intimidating because it makes you vulnerable, but I'm going to strongly encourage you to just list the things that you want to be held accountable for in your life.

I also want to STRONGLY emphasis that this post is a safe spot!!! What's posted here stays here! Even if you see girls that have posted at youth group or hang out with them, please don't talk about these goals! We want everyone to feel comfortable sharing and they are being looked after by their peers - please no gossip!

This is very important girls!

I'll start...

Q5 Lessons to be Learned

Question #5, page 23

Can you already see lessons this book might teach you? What are they?

Q4 Ideas about God

Question #4, page 22

How does Ruth's story affect your ideas about God? What does the story tell you about Him?

*Any thoughts or ideas? You could put one word, sentence, or a whole thought... just whatever you're thinking at the moment

Q3 Themes/Purposes

Question #3, page 22

After these first two reading (hopefully you read Ruth more than once), what do you think are the main themes or purposes of Ruth?

Q2 First impressions

Question #2, page 21-22

Write your first impressions about the following characters:

a) Naomi

b) Ruth

c) Orpah

d) Boaz

e) The unnamed kinsman in Ch. 4

Be honest about your first impressions... remember sometimes they aren't always good or positive

Q1 First thoughts about Ruth...

Question #1, page 21

What are your comments about the following:

a) important repeated words &/or phrases

b) key ideas & themes

c) things that puzzle or surprise you

(Write your answers/questions for #1 below and lets start the discussion!)

From Meeting #One

For those of you who were not able to attend on June 2, here's what we did in group:

*Briefly went over how the book works (p. 9-11)

*Read the Introduction to Ruth (p. 13-17)

*Read Ruth 1-4 (yes, the whole book!)

*Read First Impressions (p. 19-20)

*Went over homework questions/whats expected for next time (p. 21-25)

So if you're catching up, do what's listed above then check out the homework posts and leave your comments...

Read Ruth 1 -4 a couple of times before getting started with the homework questions

Also, if you have time, try and find out what your name means...

Let's Get Started!

I realize that the Ruth & Esther growth group has already had two meetings and that I'm starting this a little late, however, there are several girls who wanted to be a part of the group and can't because of other commitments -- this is where the blog comes in.

This is going to be a "meeting" spot outside of the regularly scheduled every other Thursday. Each new post will be homework questions and/or comments based on where we are in the book. I'm hoping that each of you, coming on Thursday or not, will create a username (nothing fancy, just your full name) and participate in each of the posts. The hope is that we will all have more interaction and involvement with each other and with the study of Ruth and Esther.

For this to be effective, everyone will need to participate - contribute a little everyday... Sometimes it might be a comment, agreeing or disagreeing, asking a question or answering one, or being an encouragement...