Ruth: the Lord Provides


Book Description

Seven studies for small groups to explore the book of Ruth together and learn how God provides for his people.




Holy Bible (NIV)


Book Description

The NIV is the world's best-selling modern translation, with over 150 million copies in print since its first full publication in 1978. This highly accurate and smooth-reading version of the Bible in modern English has the largest library of printed and electronic support material of any modern translation.




Ruth For You


Book Description

The book of Ruth is a love story. Like all love stories it has twists and turns, tension and resolution, and a happy ending. But it's far more than that because it reveals to us a God who is deeply committed to caring for his people. In Boaz, God provides Ruth with a loving husband to free and provide for her, pointing us to the Bible's grand story of redemption and David’s greatest son, Jesus. Tony Merida's compelling story-telling and Christ-centered insights make this both an accessible and absorbing expository guide to the book of Ruth. It can be used for personal devotions, or for leading small-group studies, or for sermon preparation.




Wisdom from Women in the Bible


Book Description

If you could spend a few minutes with biblical heroines Ruth, Sarah, Mary, and others, what valuable lessons would they share with you? In the tradition of Running with the Giants and Learning from the Giants, John Maxwell shares wisdom on life and leadership inspired by the Bible-this time focusing solely on the stories of nine incredible women. Learn how God blesses the promises you keep to Him, why you should follow your heart to find your hope, and how not to miss your moment with God. Read on your own or study with a group using the provided faith-building questions. You'll enjoy the journey with Maxwell as he imagines what it would be like to visit heaven and meet giants of the faith who had their lives transformed by God. You'll gain insights from: Ruth...for when you must make a decision but don't know what to do. Sarah...for when you can't understand God and impatience threatens to overwhelm you. Mary. . .for when God asks you to do something outside of your comfort zone. The women who influenced Maxwell inspired this book, and he includes the perspectives of those closest to him in this volume. They and the giants of the faith who continue to inspire them will encourage you to fulfill your destiny and leave a lasting, positive impression on your family and the world.




Finding God in the Margins


Book Description

The ancient book of Ruth speaks into today's world with astonishing relevance. In four short episodes, readers encounter refugees, undocumented immigrants, poverty, hunger, women's rights, male power and privilege, discrimination, and injustice. In Finding God in the Margins, Carolyn Custis James reveals how the book of Ruth is about God, the questions that surface when life falls apart, and how God reaches into the margins and chooses two totally marginalized women who, in the eyes of the patriarchal culture, are zeros. Against the backdrop of disturbing issues in today's world, this bracing narrative puts on display a radical gospel way of living together as human beings that shouts the Kingdom of God, foreshadows Jesus' gospel, and raises the bar for men and women, then and now.




A Sweet and Bitter Providence


Book Description

Sex. Race. Scripture. Sovereignty. The book of Ruth entails them all. So readers shouldn't be fooled by its age, says Pastor John Piper. Though its events happened over 3,000 years ago, the story holds astounding relevance for Christians in the twenty-first century. The sovereignty of God, the sexual nature of humanity, and the gospel of God's mercy for the undeserving-these massive realities never change. And since God is still sovereign, and we are male or female, and Jesus is alive and powerful, A Sweet and Bitter Providence bears a message for readers from all walks of life. But be warned, Piper tells his audience: This ancient love affair between Boaz and Ruth could be dangerous, inspiring all of us to great risks in the cause of love.




Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe


Book Description

Powerful, effective prayer for your husband is easier than you think. “I have never seen a more practical book on how to pray for your husband.”—Gary Chapman, PhD, author of The Five Love Languages As a wife, no one is more called or qualified than you to pray for your husband. Yet sometimes, it’s hard to find the words. You wonder: What should I pray? How should I pray? What prayers does he need right now? In Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe, Sharon Jaynes maps out sixteen areas of a man’s life to help you consistently and effectively cover your husband in prayer. From his mind and the thoughts he thinks, to his eyes and the images he sees, all the way down to his feet and the path he takes, Sharon teaches you how to pray for your husband in ways that are powerful, practical, and life-changing. You’ll learn how to: • Cover each area of your husband’s life with specific scriptural prayers, knowing that when you pray the Word of God, you pray the will of God. • Become a prayer warrior who is equipped and empowered for intercession that makes a difference in the physical and spiritual realms. • Stop your mind from wandering during prayer by following a pattern that helps you stay focused and fervent, with faith-filled expectancy. • Establish a habit of purposeful prayer in just a few dedicated minutes each day. Whether you’re newly married or you and your husband have grown gray together, you’ll use this prayer guide again and again to bless your marriage and your man.




The Ordinary Ways of God


Book Description

The Scriptures ask us to think about God differently than primarily a miracle worker. They invite us to imagine God's presence and activity in our ordinary, day-to-day lives. To ask, seek, and find God in the most common areas of life is the hallmark of being a believer in God and a disciple of Jesus Christ. The Book of Ruth perfectly demonstrates this reality. It is a beautiful story of regular people finding their way through life on a day-by-day basis. As they live out their days, they discover the presence of God guiding, correcting, and providing for them along the way. God is everywhere in The Book of Ruth, but He never appears. He is a constant redeeming force, but He never speaks. God is the director of this fantastic and crucial story in the Bible, but He never forces anything to happen. He does not command, rebuke, or push. In ways both wonderful and ordinary, God simply allows people to make decisions while guiding them with a gentle hand.




Finding Fullness Again


Book Description

An encouraging look at the story of Naomi and Ruth that reminds readers to keep pressing forward in spite of the weight of their cares.




Ruth and Esther


Book Description

The books of Ruth and Esther recount two of the most memorable stories in all of Scripture: Ruth, a displaced widow in search of a new home and loving husband, and Esther, a courageous queen intent on saving her people from imminent destruction. Plumbing the theological depths, this guide explains the biblical text with clarity and passion—leading us on a journey to discover the God who hears the cries of his people and remains faithful to his promises. Over the course of 12 weeks, each study in this series explores a book of the Bible and: Asks thoughtful questions to spur discussion Shows how each passage unveils the gospel Ties the text in with the whole story of Scripture Illuminates the doctrines taught in each passage Invites you to discover practical implications Helps you better understand and apply God's Word