IS GOD IN
CONTROL OF
MY LIFE?
LESSON 9: ARE MY
AC T I O N S A L O N E
E N O U G H TO L E T
OT H E R S K N OW I ’ M
A CHRISTIAN?
GREETING
PA R T I C I PA N T
What words do you and your group members think characterize
each item in the list below?
• money
• car
• politician
• weather
• me
G U I D E
• coffee
• pets
• church
• television
• mail
• social media
• God
L E S S O N 9 : A R E M Y AC T I O N S A LO N E E N O U G H TO
LET OTHERS KNOW I’M A CHRISTIAN?
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PA R T I C I PA N T
If you could describe the experience you just had, again using
only one word, what would that word be?
How much easier would it be to communicate if you could add
actions or demonstrations to your one word?
G U I D E
GROUNDING
G o d ’s Wo r d: Ruth 2:1-13
1
Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing
from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.
2
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick
up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.”
3
Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” So she went out, entered a
field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was
working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.
4
Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters,
“The Lord be with you!”
“The Lord bless you!” they answered.
5
Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, “Who does that young
woman belong to?”
6
The overseer replied, “She is the Moabite who came back from Moab
with Naomi. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the
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F E A R L E S S C O N V E R S AT I O N :
IS GOD IN CONTROL OF MY LIFE?
sheaves behind the harvesters.’ She came into the field and has remained
here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.”
8
So Boaz said to Ruth, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean
in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women
who work for me. 9 Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and
follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on
you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water
jars the men have filled.”
10
At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked
him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice
me—a foreigner?”
11
Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your
mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your
father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people
you did not know before. 12 May the Lord repay you for what you have
done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under
whose wings you have come to take refuge.”
PA R T I C I PA N T
13
“May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,” she said. “You
have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do
not have the standing of one of your servants.”
What are your initial thoughts as you hear this part of Ruth and
Boaz’s story? What observations and questions immediately
come to mind?
G U I D E
Write down your questions or thoughts here.
L E S S O N 9 : A R E M Y AC T I O N S A LO N E E N O U G H TO
LET OTHERS KNOW I’M A CHRISTIAN?
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BEHIND THE SCENES
PA R T I C I PA N T
Ruth offered to glean, or pick up the leftover grain, in a farmer’s field
because she knew Israelite farmers were required to leave behind grain to
provide for people. “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap
to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do
G U I D E
not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have
fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God”
(Leviticus 19:9-10). In addition to the edges that were left unharvested
for people in need, people like Ruth could follow the harvesters and pick
up anything they had missed throughout the rest of the field.
RAPPLING
GOING DEEPER
Like Boaz, we can be respectful even when we find differences
among our experiences and opinions. In fact, we can have richer
conversations because of our differences. As we continue to
discuss, let’s commit to respecting each other. Whether we have
different perspectives or ways of sharing them, we can open our
minds and hearts to consider what God wants to teach us as we
ask questions, share, and grow together.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Boaz is referred to as a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelek. However,
they might not have been related as closely as we assume when we
use the word “relative.” Men of the same clan were assumed to have
a relationship as close as relatives even when they were not related
by blood. Because their clan is identified as Elimelek’s, he likely had a
prominent position in the clan, perhaps due to his wealth. Whether or
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F E A R L E S S C O N V E R S AT I O N :
IS GOD IN CONTROL OF MY LIFE?
not Boaz knew him personally, Boaz would have respected Elimelek
because of his position. Relative or not, Boaz was not the person most
closely connected to Elimelek, because another man had a right to marry
into his family through Ruth (Ruth 3:12). Boaz was close enough to
Elimelek’s family that Naomi knew he was a family redeemer, although
nothing is mentioned about any personal interaction between them
when she first returned to Bethlehem (Ruth 2:20).
What does Boaz do and say that points to his belief and trust
in God?
How do you see belief and trust in God being displayed by other
people in these verses?
PA R T I C I PA N T
BEHIND THE SCENES
L E S S O N 9 : A R E M Y AC T I O N S A LO N E E N O U G H TO
LET OTHERS KNOW I’M A CHRISTIAN?
G U I D E
Boaz reveals his respect in several ways. First, he greets his workers
in the Lord’s name. He is not a harsh landowner whose workers are
considered to only be worth their workload; Boaz’s workers are treated
with respect and appreciation. Second, he asks about Ruth regarding
her relationships. He is not simply curious about who she is but also
how she fits into existing relationships with people he might know,
showing his respect for community. Finally, Boaz speaks to Ruth with
respect and abundantly provides for her. He was generous far beyond
his requirement by law. Boaz repeatedly uses the Lord’s name and
identifies God as the motivation and provider of his kindness.
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PA R T I C I PA N T
How can what others say and do point us toward or away
from God?
How does what you say and do point others toward or away
from God?
G U I D E
INTERESTING THOUGHTS SPARKED BY OTHERS
IN MY GROUP:
GROWING
BEHIND THE SCENES
The book of Ruth is read during the Jewish festival of Shavuot, also known as
the Feast of Weeks or Festival of First Fruits. It coincides with the Christian
celebration of Pentecost. Because Shavuot is a harvest festival, the book of
Ruth is a fitting reading as it focuses on the harvest and the blessings God
pours onto the poor and abandoned. The reading also commemorates the
life and death of David, who tradition says was born and died around the
same time as Shavuot. Ruth was David’s great-grandmother. Jesus was
born through David’s lineage. In addition, many Jewish boys and girls in
their early teens confirm their commitment to their faith during this festival
time, reflecting Ruth’s commitment to follow Yahweh, the Lord of Israel.
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F E A R L E S S C O N V E R S AT I O N :
IS GOD IN CONTROL OF MY LIFE?
What is one step you believe God is prompting you to take that
would help you trust him more?
Write your idea here.
As you talk with your group, write people’s commitments here as
a reminder to encourage them in the coming days and weeks.
Write those here.
PA R T I C I PA N T
G U I D E
L E S S O N 9 : A R E M Y AC T I O N S A LO N E E N O U G H TO
LET OTHERS KNOW I’M A CHRISTIAN?
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