3 reasons why you need to run to your Father Luke 15 Reason # 1 Your Father sees your need. (Luke 15:3-7) Reason # 2 Your Father sees you as valuable. (Luke 15:8-10) Reason # 3 Your Father longs for a loving relationship with you. (Luke 15:11 -32)
Redeeming Ruth Part 5 "Field of Dreams" Ruth 2:4-17 In God's field of dreams we find: 1. A place of acceptance. This acceptance is seen in: * God- honoring fellowship (4) * The grace extended to foreigners (5-6a.) 2. A place of access. This access involves: * Direction (8) * Protection (9a.) * Satisfaction (9b.) * Communion (14) 3. A place of amazement. The grace of God: * Should overwhelm us (10) * It validates our obedience (11-12) * Produces an outpouring (13) * Allows for opportunity of service (14-16)
Redeeming Ruth Part 4 "Where dreams can come true" Ruth 2:1-3 1. Dreams can come true amidst the problems and circumstances of life. (v. 1) Naomi and Ruth found themselves with no: * Food * Friends * Favor 2. Dreams can come true because of God's providence not chance. (v. 3) The providence of God involves: * His commands in the past. * His control in the present. 3. Dreams can come true with the help from people who are Christ-like. (v. 1, 3) Boaz was: * Related to Naomi. * A man of resources. * A man of respect.
Redeeming Ruth Part 3 "There is no place like home" Ruth 1:19-22 The road back from bitterness involves: 1. Moving beyond past hurts. These past hurts may result from: * Disaster * Disappointment * Decisions * Discipline Naomi's bitterness were a result of: * Death 2. A personal homecoming. Bethlehem was a place known for God's * Praise * Presence * Provision * People 3. A proper humility. Humility teaches you how God: * Brings you back home * Breaks you down * Blesses you again
Redeeming Ruth Embracing the Romance of Redemption Part 2 "The Three Amigas" Ruth 1:7-18 1. Are you one who is struggling with defeat? In Naomi we see the: * Cause of our defeat * Complete nature of our defeat * Consequences of our defeat 2. Are you one who is stepping towards a departure? Orpah's departure allowed a return to her * Relatives * Religion * Reality 3. Are you one who is serious about your devotion? Ruth's decision begs the question: * Who are you following? * What level of faith do you possess? * How firm is your devotion to Christ?
Redeeming Ruth Embracing the Romance of Redemption Part 1 "What do you want on your tombstone?" Ruth 1:1-6 Your tombstone will speak of: 1. How you live amidst dreadful circumstances. Ruth begins in a time of a * Moral famine * Material famine These famines come as a result of: * Apathy * Apostasy * Anarchy 2. The decisions you make at the crossroads of life. Elimelech: * Left a promised land * Lived and lingered in a polluted land 3. Your response to devastating calamities. What is your response to: * Disease * Death * Defeat 4. The results of your difficult choices. Our choices should involve: * Drawing near to God * Understanding what God is doing * Taking inventory of past decisions
"Deliverance from Our Shame" Part 4 John 21:1-23 1. Shame is a result of our failures. Through the life of Peter we see: * The place of failure * The pain of failure * The price of failure Our failure involves our: * Choices * Companions * Consequences 2. Shame is removed through the words of a faithful friend. Jesus: * Found him * Fed him * Freed him 3. Shame is reversed through an obedient future. This reversal involves a life of: * Service * Surrender * Selflessness
Part 3 "Deliverance from Our Second-guessing" John 20:19-31 Deliverance from second-guessing the claims of Jesus demands that we: 1. DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH A DISCIPLE WHO DOUBTED. THOMAS WAS: * A FISHERMAN (John 21:1-3) * A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST (Luke 6:13-16) * FOCUSED ON FINDING ANSWERS (John 14:5) 2. DEFEND AGAINST THE RISKS SURROUNDING THE DOWNWARD OF SPIRAL DOUBT. DOUBT LEADS US DOWN THE PATH OF: * DESERTION (v.19) * DELAY (v. 24) * DENIAL (v.25a) * DEMAND (v.25b) 3. DEEPEN OUR RESOLVE TO DISARM THE DOUBTS OF LIFE. DOUBT IS DISARMED BY: * DRAWING CLOSE TO JESUS (v.26) * BELIEVING THE DEMONSTRATIONS GIVEN TO US. (v. 27) * DECLARING OUR ALLEGIANCE TO GOD. (vv. 28-29) * DEVOTING OURSELVES TO THE WORD OF GOD. (vv. 30-31)
Part 2 "Deliverance from our sin" John 20:1-18 Our deliverance from sin: 1. Requires finding success in overcoming great obstacles. The resurrection overcomes our: * Suffering * Sorrow * Shame * Sin 2. Is realized through a startling observation. Three different observations are seen: * Peter observes with curiosity * John observes carefully * Mary observes completely 3. Results in sharing with others. Our sharing should include: * The resurrection of Christ * Our spiritual reversal * Our new relationship