Sermon Cloud

Bitter Pill

The Bitterness of Loss. 

A Glimmer of Hope

 Sermon Questions for Ruth 1:1-22

 If you have feedback, please let David Fuquay know at dfuquay@jacksonvillechapel.org.  Also, don’t forget to check out our Ruth Series page, where you can download audio messages, devotionals, and even a family devotional.

 SPECIFIC PRAYER  (suggestions)

Pray for honesty tonight. Pray we avoid the temptation and the trap to sugar coat our feelings and our difficulties.  Take time to follow David’s example and cry out to God whatever is on your heart.  Share with others the burden you are carrying.

Pray for those who are dealing with loss.  Whether it be the loss of a loved one, job, security, or just a sense of not knowing what God is doing.  Pray for the single mother and the empty nesters.  Pray for God’s comfort and God’s heart to be shown in times of heartache.

 SCRIPTURE AND SHARING

Crawl:

Can you summarize what is meant by, “the days when the judges ruled”? (Before Israel appointed a king they were led by these military leaders called “judges.”  See Judges 21:25)

Ruth is a story of faithfulness, and loyalty, and trust, and character.  How does you story in walking with God relate to her story?

Can you recap all the bad things that had happened to Naomi? (They left Israel; the two sons married non-Jewish women, the Father died, then the sons died) 

If you had the choice, would you rather follow your old mother-in-law to a foreign country? Or would you go back to your friends and family and everything you’re familiar with?

What is an idol? (anything you put in the place of God, anything you look to for ultimate comfort and security, instead of finding those things in God)  What are you in danger of making an idol out of?

 Walk:

Read Ruth 1:1-5

Did leaving Bethlehem (literally, the house of bread), show wisdom or a lack of faith?  How do we know during tough times if God is trying to lead us somewhere else or create a deeper sense of trust in us?

Has God ever changed your plans drastically?

How would you define despair?  (Dave G said: No hope. No relief. No joy).  Do you know someone who is in despair right now?  How can you offer hope to someone in this situation?

Has your life ever fallen apart?  Have you ever been the “first responder” after someone’s life has fallen apart?  What did you do?  What do you wish you had not done?  Do you feel equipped to be a first responder?  How could you get more confidence in this area?  Is this something this group would be good at, responding to tragedy? 

Read Ruth 1:6-13

Do you find knowing God’s will simple or difficult?  Sometimes, knowing God’s will can be very simple, because its so clear what to do.  Can you give an example? (Ruth 1:6) Has God’s will ever been clear and simple in your life?

Do you think Naomi did the right thing by instructing her daughter-in-laws to leave her (v13)?  In what ways was it a selfless act (she knew she could not care for them)?  In what ways could it have been a selfish act (she was so bitter, she wanted to be isolated and wallow in her bitterness)?

Why do some people when going through pain try to isolate themselves and cut off old friendships?  What can be done when this happens (pursue them)?  How is that response like what God does for us?

Read Ruth 1:14-22

Can you give a good definition of grace (getting something you do not deserve)?  When someone treats you with grace, what does it look like? (kindness and goodness and faithfulness…even when you’ve got nothing to offer them)  What is the difference between grace and mercy (mercy is not getting something you do deserve, usually a negative consequence not administered)?

In the Christian community, why do we feel the need to sugar coat life’s struggle, pains, and difficulties?

Do you think God wants you to be a little more honest with the struggle that you have? 

Run:

Have you ever lost a close family member?

Can you relate to the desperate sense Elimelech felt in providing for his family and having no resources?  What temporary moves are you making (or have made) in tough economic times?

Have you ever been completely isolated?  How did that feel?  Who is our society is normally isolated, alone, and still needing to take care of their family?  Do you know someone specifically?

Do you think God punishes people for bad decisions?  Is he consistent?  Why would He punish some and not others?  (See John 9 for more discussion on this)

Do you think Orpah did the right thing, or did she show a lack of faith in the Lord and His provision?  In other words, if she was a believer, should she not have gone to Israel? Discuss.  

Are you COMPLETELY comfortable with the sovereignty of God?  Discuss. (Remember, it may be a little strong to say that God causes difficult things to happen in our lives, but at the very least, we can say that God allows difficult things to happen.)

How do you think God feels when we go through painful circumstances that He could stop?

Where do you need to see God give you hope?  How can this group help?

Key Words and Further Study:

See Larry Crabb’s book called Shattered Dreams.

El Shaddai is used in the longer form seven times in the Scriptures (Gn 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; 43:14; 48:3; Ex 6:3; Ez 10:5). In the shorter form (Shaddai), it appears more frequently: in Job 30 times, in Psalms 19:1 and 68:14, once in Isaiah (13:6), Ezekiel (1:24), Joel (1:15), and Ruth (1:21). In these passages the combined ideas of God as the all-powerful, all-sufficient, transcendent, sovereign ruler and disposer are present. …G. Vos points out that El and Elohim emphasize God’s relation to nature, and El Shaddai points to God’s overpowering nature in the service of his grace and compelling her to further her designs. L. Berkhof (Systematic Theology) points out that whereas God as El Shaddai is indeed presented as the all-powerful One who overpowers nature, the name, where it occurs in the Bible, does not present God as an object of fear or terror, but rather as a source of blessing and comfort.^[1]

Sovereignty of God- I suggest reading an article titled: Divine Sovereignty vs. Human Responsibility found at Bible.org  http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=4040  

SERVICE (fodder for ideas)

            Naomi was isolated and in deep need.  There are two problems, #1, if she had not been isolated from a loving community (extended family whether they are technically related or not), then she would have a support system to turn to in times of trouble.  #2 She had a deep need and no way of meeting that need.  What can this group do to help those in our community in deep need?  Are we doing all we can to reach out and provide support to people who are not connected?  I want to let you know there is a training coming up on April 26^th.  Its only one hour, but we offer the same material at 9 am, 10:15, and 11:30.  This training is specifically for the person fulfilling the Sharing Role in your group and will help your group be better equipped as a First Responder in times of crisis.

            At the Chapel, we offer Life Givers and Grief Share.

LIFEGIVERS – helps enrich the lives of those with Life-Threatening illnesses and their caregivers.  Their goal is to sow hope and nurture life.  Unlike traditional support groups, LifeGivers is life-focused, not diagnoses-focused.  We are looking for the people who are dealing with life-threatening or life-changing illness.  We need people to bring someone they know to us. Most people do not want to go to a meeting (especially one which addresses a very personal arena) where they know no one.  Gail is available for meeting someone ahead of time too.  There are also needs for meals, rides, phone calls, etc, but these change from week to week.  I'd love to hear from you, so call Gail at 201-652-1745.  LifeGivers is available to anyone, not just Chapel attendees, and not just believers.  They meet the 2nd and 4th Monday each month, Youth @ 6 pm, and Adults @ 7 pm in the all-Purpose Building at Jacksonville Chapel.  Is there anything this group could do to support this ministry?  Contact Gail Singer at GailS515@aol.com.

            Grief Share- a support group for people who are grieving the death of someone close to them.  1^st & 3^rd Monday of each month, 7 – 9 PM, Parker Ministry Center.  Is there anything this group could do to support this ministry?  Contact Alice Oostdyk 973-728-3898