Friday, September 30

Read Ruth 1

Naomi and her family were displaced to Moab because of a famine in Judah for ten years before God provided food to the land of His people. Though He seemed distant, He had been aware of their situation and did provide when the time was right.  Have you experienced times when God seemed far away?  Was it hard to trust His timing?  What was the outcome of the situation?

Thursday, September 29

Read Ruth 1

Verses 13 & 20 show Naomi in the depth of her grief and loss.  How did her grief affect her perception of the world and people around her? Reflect on a time when you were grieving.  How did your perspective on the world and the people around you change?

Wednesday, September 28

Read Ruth 1

Orpah and Ruth decided to take different paths.  One returned to her homeland and the other accompanied her mother-in-law to a new land. What risks did each woman take in choosing to stay or go? Have you ever been faced with similar decision? What happened in the end?

Tuesday, September 27

Read Ruth 1

Is there any correlation between the older (Naomi) blessing the younger (Ruth and Orpah) (v. 8-9) and Ruth’s decision to stay by the side of the older (v. 9-10)? How have you seen the relationship between the blessings of the older and attachment of the younger surface in your life?

Monday, September 26

Read Ruth 1
In v.8 Naomi blessed her foreigner daughters-in-law.  What would that have meant to Ruth and Orpah? Take some time to write out a blessing for someone (your son/daughter, in-laws, neighbourhood child). Then pray that blessing over them privately.  If you think it’s appropriate, send them a copy of the blessing.

Sunday, September 25

Read Ruth 1

In last week’s sermon (September 18), Pastor Jason talked about how Naomi wasn’t the only one to be displaced by a famine.  Other Biblical heroes had been displaced.  Read the other famine stories – Abram (Gen. 12:10-20), Isaac (Gen. 26), Joseph (Gen. 42-48 – focus on 47:13-31) and compare them to the famine experience of Naomi in Ruth 1.

Saturday, September 24

Read: Judges 19 – 21

Today’s readings paint a stark and brutal picture of Israel.  How are these horrible stories (violence, immorality, anarchy, war…) similar to the stories of today, perhaps even of people you know?  How are they different?

Friday, September 23

Read: Judges 16 – 18

The phrase, “In those days Israel had no king.” (Jug. 17:6, 18:1) is repeated throughout the book of Judges.  What did it mean for ancient Israel?  What does it mean for us today?  In what areas of your life are you “doing as you see fit” rather than submitting to the kingship of God?

Thursday, September 22

Read: Judges 13 – 15

Decipher the following riddle and plan to do as it says with your entire family: