An Unusual Proposal
The third chapter of Ruth contains what is perhaps the most confusing scene in the whole story. Why does Naomi instruct Ruth to behave the way she does, and what can we learn from Ruth and Boaz’s acti...
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The Branches
The image of the church as branches of a tree or a vine is one of the less common in Scripture, but it is instructive nonetheless. What does this analogy teach us about our relationship with Jesus and...
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The Flock
The image of the church as a flock of sheep is perhaps the least flattering one in all of Scripture. This comparison goes back a long way, to God’s relationship with the Israelites and their leaders. ...
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A Worthy Man
The second chapter of Ruth introduces a new pivotal character to the narrative; the wealthy and honorable Boaz, described in the ESV as “a worthy man.” What made Boaz so worthy, and what should we lea...
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The Body of Christ
The image of the church as a “body” is one of the most common word-pictures in the New Testament. Why is it so prevalent, and what does it mean for how we think about and act in God’s kingdom? Click H...
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Loss and Loyalty
Ruth 1 is a devastating chapter, as the narrative jumps right into tragedy in Naomi’s life and her response to that tragedy. What do we learn about Naomi’s mental and spiritual state, and what can we ...
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The Temple of God
We begin a series on “images of the church” in the New Testament, different word-pictures or analogies for God’s people, with temple language. What is significant about the word “temple,” and how does...
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Justice and Redemption in Ruth
We begin our study of Ruth by considering the context in which the story takes place; the time of the judges. What were the important features of this period of Israelite history, how does the story o...
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