Message-Based Study Guide
for Small Groups and Individuals
Game Shows
“Minute to Win It”
Ruth 1-2
(March 23-29, 2014)
“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
― John Holmes
It seems like there are new tragedies and catastrophes that happen everyday in this
world. We are faced with challenges, struggles, and trials and most of the time we are
just trying to keep from falling apart. It is only through our faith in God and the people
that He surrounds us with that we are able find the strength to make it through another
day. Like so many of us, Naomi is dealing with a significant crisis and she is left feeling
alone and fully of despair. Luckily, she has her daughter-in-law, Ruth, to stand by her
side and help her through these troubling times. Ruth not only comforts Naomi, but also
creates a way for redemption to occur in her life through Boaz. We have all been given
the chance to be redeemed. The question is whether we will accept this gift or not.
Answer and discuss the following question with your group
1. Have you ever seen someone treated differently, or treated someone differently
yourself, after learning about their past? Have you ever been treated differently
because of something in your past? What do you think was behind this treatment, i.e.,
a superior attitude, a misunderstanding or something else?
Read the following excerpt out loud or watch message segment #1
An excerpt from Pastor Mark’s message “Minute to Win It”:
A redeemer is a person that redeems people and property. In [Old Testament]
culture you could not rack up credit card debt. You would either have to sell yourself or
your land to get out of debt. You would sell yourself into slavery for a period of time to
work at no income to another person to pay off the debt – but that could devastate your
family. Or you would sell your land – but this is a source of income as well. The land
would stay in your family being passed down from generation to generation. It would be
disgraceful to sell your land because you were giving away what had been your
grandparents and great grandparents and what would eventually be your
grandchildren’s land. You were destroying your family’s legacy.
The redeemer would come in a say, "I will pay off your debt to redeem you from
slavery" or "I will pay off the note on the land so that your family can live there." The
redeemer could fix everything. The redeemer was wise and successful and who could
bless others. Boaz was a redeemer.
Game Shows – Lesson 5, page 1
Message-Based Study Guide
for Small Groups and Individuals
A redeemer would care for the widows and the orphans of his family. The
redeemer was loving and gracious, a patriarchal figure who would oversee the wellbeing of his family. He was not obligated to care for someone who was not in his family.
Ruth is not connected to his family. She is not a relative by birth, but that does not
seem to matter to Boaz. She is considered a family member.
Refer to Ruth 1-2 and answer/discuss the following questions
2. (Read Ruth 1:6-18) In Ruth Chapter 1, Naomi's husband and sons died while their
family was living in Moab. As a result, Naomi and her daughters-in-law, Ruth and
Orpah, became hopeless widows. Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem, her
hometown, but she encouraged Orpah and Ruth to stay in Moab with their own families
instead of going with her. While Orpah decided to remain in Moab, a place where idol
worship was common, Ruth declared to Naomi, "Where you go I will go, and where you
stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God" (v. 16). Explain
what Ruth's statement reveals about her character, her conversion and her faith in God.
3. (Read Ruth 2: 1-18) Neither Ruth nor Naomi had a husband or sons to care for and
protect them upon returning to Bethlehem, which was necessary in their culture. They
also arrived during harvest time when it was too late for them to plant crops of their own.
Their circumstances were so hopeless that Naomi asked to be called "Mara" (meaning
bitter) to show the condition of her heart. Do you think Ruth’s decision to glean crops
from Boaz’s field (a practice of picking up scraps left by harvesters) and Boaz’s arrival
when Ruth was present in his field were mere coincidences or was God directing the
events for the good of Ruth and Naomi? Explain how God used Boaz to create hope for
Ruth and to change Naomi's bitter heart. Do you think God directs events today?
4. In Old Testament times, a relative acted as a "redeemer" for a family member in
various circumstances (e.g., Deuteronomy 25:5-10 required a brother to carry on the
family line in place of a deceased brother; Leviticus 25:25-28 permitted a relative to
redeem land sold outside of the family; and Leviticus 25:47-49 permitted a relative to
redeem a family member from slavery). How did Boaz’s actions redeem Ruth from her
hopeless circumstances? Explain how the Old Testament concept of a redeemer points
to Jesus.
5. The relationship between Israel and Moab during the time of Ruth was very troubled
and Moabite women were considered immoral by many people in Israel. Boaz would
have been justified in rejecting Ruth because she was not related to Boaz and she was
a Moabite woman. How did Boaz’s loyalty to Ruth defy the culture of their time? How
does Boaz’s loyalty to Ruth, despite her past, reflect God's loyalty to those who follow
him?
Game Shows – Lesson 5, page 2
Message-Based Study Guide
for Small Groups and Individuals
Read the following excerpt out loud or watch message segment #2
An excerpt from Pastor Mark’s message “Minute to Win It”:
Do you see the family resemblance? Boaz was so kind and providing to Ruth.
Jesus is so kind and providing for us. Boaz initiated the relationship with Ruth. Jesus
initiated the relationship with us. Boaz redeems Ruth. Jesus redeems us.
Jesus is our redeemer. Before that we belonged to Satan and sin and death, we
were in a terrible situation. We had very little hope, but Jesus redeems us. And just like
Ruth received the gift from Boaz, we have to receive the gift from Jesus. He is "hesed"
towards us, he is kind and merciful.
Refer Matthew 1:5-6 and answer/discuss the following questions
6. (Read Matthew 1:5-6) Matthew begins his gospel with the genealogy of Jesus and it
is revealed that Boaz and Ruth were ancestors of Jesus. The family resemblance,
however, is more than skin deep. Explain how Boaz’s step of establishing a relationship
with Ruth, his act of redeeming her from her hopeless circumstance and his kindness in
providing for her needs resembles our relationship with Jesus and his ability to redeem
us from our captivity to sin.
7. (Read Ruth 2:20) Naomi uses the Hebrew word “hesed” to describe Boaz. Hesed
can be translated as loving or lavish kindness or a type of loyal love. Explain how
Boaz’s love for Ruth reflects the nature of God’s love for us.
Reflection and Wrap-up
8. The game show “Minute to Win It” involves fast-paced action in which contestants try
to complete challenging tasks within a minute. Our lives, like the events in the book of
Ruth, are also often fast-paced. We sometimes experience significant challenges or
difficult circumstances without warning or during times when we are juggling other
responsibilities. Circumstances in our lives can change quickly and appear hopeless.
When you experience difficult circumstances, are you more like Orpah (willing to give in
to the challenges and retreating), Naomi (allowing the circumstances to make you bitter)
or Ruth (humbly trusting in God)? How can you be more like Ruth and trust God even
when circumstances are difficult, not within your control or seem hopeless?
9. Has God ever used someone in your life to come alongside and support you like Ruth
supported Naomi? Explain the circumstance and the support you received. Have you
ever been a "Ruth" to someone in your life, by supporting him or her despite your
differences or the personal sacrifices it required?
Game Shows – Lesson 5, page 3
Message-Based Study Guide
for Small Groups and Individuals
10. Boaz is an excellent example of "servant leadership." Explain how Boaz
demonstrated servant leadership in his relationship with Ruth. If you exercised this type
of servant leadership in your life, how do you think it would affect your relationships?
Pray Together as a Group
Additional Study
If you have time during your small group or you want to study more about our captivity
to sin and need for a redeemer, read the following passages that focus on God as our
redeemer and Jesus’ power to redeem us from sin:
•
Isaiah 43:14
•
Isaiah 59:20
•
Psalm 111:9
•
Psalm 130:7
•
Matthew 20:28
Game Shows – Lesson 5, page 4