There Is a Redeemer

Ruth 3

Purpose: To see the greater redemption in Christ.

1. Redemption Planned (Ruth 3:1-5)

2. Redemption Sought. (Ruth 3:6-12)

3. Redemption Found. (Ruth 3:13-18)

We see in the details of Ruth and Naomi’s redemption in Boaz a picture of the greater redemption Christians find when they humbly submit themselves to Christ for salvation.

The Lord of Providence Restores Hope
Ruth 2

Purpose: To act on our trust in the Lord based on our persevering hope in God’s providence.

1. The Lord prepares Ruth to be blessed despite her unawareness. (Ruth 2:1-2)
        Introduction of Boaz – a kinsman
        Conversation between Ruth and Naomi
        Relevance of Ruth being referred to as a Moabitess
        The act of gleaning and what it means

2. The Lord provides for Ruth based on her faith and hope in the Lord. (Ruth 2:3-17)
        Faith and hope acted upon by Ruth
        The character of Boaz on display
        Ruth and Boaz meet

3. The Lord restores hope when we sincerely trust Him. (Ruth 2:18-23)
        Ruth reports back to Naomi
        Hope is restored
        Naomi’s outlook and attitude change

4. The Lord is in control of all things.
        How do we respond when life throws a curveball?
        Do we place our hope in Him?
        How big or small is the Lord in your life?

When we trust in the Lord and His providence, by faith placed into action, even when we do not know what lies ahead, our hope is then truly in Christ alone.

YHWH, LORD of All!

Chapter 1

Purpose:  To trust the LORD in all things.

1. The LORD Controls Nature (Ruth 1:1-7)

2. The LORD is Worthy of Worship (Ruth 1:8-18)
        Dialogue in Moab
        What does Naomi want her d’s-in-law to do?  (vv. 8-13)
        Why?  - Kinsman Marriage (see Deut. 25:5-10)
        How does the writer of this book want us to view God?
        What is Ruth doing in going with Naomi? (vv. 14-18)

3. The LORD, Our Only Hope (Ruth 1:19-22)
        Returning to Bethlehem
        What do verses 20 and 13 have in common
        What does this say about the writer’s concern?
        What does this say about Naomi’s view of God
        The beginning of the harvest! (v. 22) Why is this important?

4. Character Studies in Ruth Ch. 1  
        Naomi - 1:13, 20
           Destitute - no family = no
   inheritance/welfare/health care/social security
           Widowed, depressed, and hurting, has the LORD left her?
           “Bitter” is the same word used in 13 and 20

                      Ruth - 1:18; Matthew 1:5
                         Moabite
                         Widowed (same position as Naomi) - she could have gone back to family
                         Personal commitment and sacrifice - 1:16-17
                         To whom is the commitment and sacrifice
                         What does it cost her?

                         What does Ruth believe about God? 
                         How would you describe Ruth’s character/behavior?

            YHWH LORD - 1:1, 6, 8, 9, 13, 16, 17, 20, 21 
                       In full control of famine and food in the ‘natural realm’
                       In full control of hardship and blessing in the ‘human realm’
                      How is our God referred to here? 
                      Any miracles performed, religious activity done, prophets speaking for God?
                      Does God act in this way (i.e., vv. 13, 20) in people’s lives? (See Job 2:10)
                      When we believe in Jesus Christ, we are believing in YHWH, the LORD of all creation and providence in our lives!

Spiritual Wisdom for a New Year

A Study on the Assurance of Salvation[1]

As taken from the book of 1 John which was specifically written “so that you may know that you have eternal life.”  1 John 5:13

1. Do you share the intimacies of the Christian life with God and other believers? 
        1 John 1:6-7

2. Do you have a deep awareness of your sin against the Word and love of God?
        1 John 1:8-10

3. Do you live in conscience obedience to the word of God? 
        1 John 2:3-6

4. Do you despise the world and its ways?
        1 John 2:15

5. Do you long for the return of Jesus Christ and to be made like Him?
        1 John 3:2-3

6. Do you habitually do what is right more and sin less?
        1 John 3:7-10

7. Have you suffered rejection because of your faith?
        1 John 3:13

8. Do you love other Christians sacrificially and want to be with them?
        1 John 3:14

9. Do you experience answered prayer?
        1 John 3:21-22

10. Do you discern the presence of the Holy Spirit within you?
         1 John 3:24
         1 John 4:13

11. Can you discern between spiritual truth and error?
         1 John 4:1-3

12. Do you enjoy listening to the doctrines taught by the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ?
         1 John 4:6

13. Do you believe what the Bible teaches about Jesus Christ?
         1 John 5:1

[1] All Scripture texts NASB.  Questions taken from Donald S. Whitney, How Can I Be Sure I’m a Christian: What the Bible Says About Assurance of Salvation, (Colorado Springs, Colorado: Navpress, 1994), 49-66.

Worship Jesus Christ!

Purpose:  To glorify Jesus Christ in worship at Christmas, and forevermore!

1. Angels Worship Jesus Christ
     Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 2:8-14; Hebrews 1:6; see also Psalm 19:1
     Jesus “born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:11)

2. Kings Worship Jesus Christ
     Matthew 2:1-12; Psalm 2:1-12

3. Shepherds Worship Jesus Christ
     Luke 2:15-20
     “A man should not teach his son to be . . . a herdsman . . . for their craft is the craft of robbers.” (Mishnah: Kiddushin 4:14)
     See Luke 4:18 quoting Isaiah 61:1-2

4. Will You Worship Jesus Christ?
     Psalms 2:11; 22:27; 29:2; 95:6; 96:9; 99:5, 9
     Philippians 2:9-11; 3:3

We exist to glorify Jesus Christ in Worship!

Jesus, King Forever!

Mark 15-16

Purpose: it begins with the world against Jesus. It ends with King Jesus saving the World!

1. The World Against King Jesus
       King Jesus on Trial (Mk. 15:1-15)
       King Jesus Mocked (Mk. 15:16-21)
           Psalm 2

2. Jesus The King Reigns!
       King Jesus Crucified (Mk. 15:22-37)
           Psalm 22
       King Jesus Buried (Mk. 15:38-47)
       The King is Alive! The Kingdom of God Bursting Forth! (Mk. 16:1-8)
       Acts 2:22-24
       1 Cor 15:1-8

3. The King’s Mission, Our Mission!
       Mark 16:9-20
       Matthew 28:18-20
       Luke 24:44-47
       John 3:16; 4:42, 20:21
       Acts 1:6-11

The Kingdom of Jesus is bursting forth upon the world! Jesus is the King, God in the flesh, who came to pay the price we could not pay, and rose again to give eternal life to all who repent and believe in Him!

Jesus, The King Born To Die
Mark 14

Purpose: to show the plan of God, from before the foundation of the world, that the Sovereign, Servant, Savior would come to die.

1. An Anointing and a Prophecy Made (Mk. 14:1-11)
2. A Last Passover and Prophecies Made (Mk. 14:12-21)
3. A New Covenant and A Prophecy Made (Mk. 14:22-26)
4. A Bold Promise and Prophecies Made (Mk. 14:27-31)
5. A Passionate Prayer and Prophesies Fulfilled (Mk. 12:32-52)
6. An Illegal Trial and A Prophecy Made (Mk. 14:53-65)
7. A Denial, a Prophecy Fulfilled (Mk. 14:66-72)

The plan of God, from before the foundation of the world, was that the Sovereign, Servant, Savior would be born in a manger and die on a cross
for you.

Jesus, Trustworthy King for All Time!

Mark 13

Purpose: to be faithful to King Jesus to the end, no matter what!  

1. King Jesus Prophesies the Temple’s Destruction (Mk. 13:1-4)
       The Destruction happened in A.D. 70

                      Focus your faith on Jesus, not a building, not a religion!

2. King Jesus Presses Us to Faithfulness! (Mk. 13:5-23)
       “See to it no one misleads you” (v. 5)
       “Do not be frightened” (v. 7)
       “Be on your guard” (v. 9)
       “Do not worry” (v. 11)
       “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (v. 13)
       Abomination of Desolation (see Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11)
       “Lead astray, if possible, the elect” (v. 22)
       “Take heed, behold I have told you everything in advance” (v. 23)
       As Jesus warns against deceivers, He’s more concerned with our faithfulness!

                Focus your faith on Jesus, not on other people, not on a crisis!

3. The “Son of Man” Who Saves His Own! (Mk. 13:24–27)
       “Son of Man” from Daniel 7:13

                     Focus your faith on Jesus, He will save you!

4. The Parable of the Fig Tree (Mk. 13:28–31)
       The Imminent Return of King Jesus
       The Permanent Nature of His Words

                     Focus your faith on Jesus, expecting to see Him soon!

5. Watch for King Jesus! (Mk. 13:32–37)
       “No one knows” “you do not know” “not know when” (vv. 32, 33, 35)
       “Take heed, keep on the alert” “stay on the alert” “be on the alert” (vv. 33, 34, 35, 37)

                    Focus your faith on Jesus, not the times, always alert!

When end-times false teachers call us to take our eyes off of Jesus Christ, is when we need to be faithful to Him the most!

Responses to the King’s Heavenly Authority
Mark 12

Purpose: to show the proper response to the Sovereign, Servant, Savior

1. A Parable (Mk. 12:1-12)
       Isaiah 5:1-7
       Psalm 118:22

2. A Trap (Mk. 12:13-17)
       Mark 3:6

3. A Mockery (Mk. 12:18-27)
       Deuteronomy 25:5-7
       Exodus 3:1-6

4. A Question (Mk. 12:28-34)
       Deuteronomy 6:4

5. A Revelation (Mk. 12:35-37)
       Psalm 110:1

6. A Condemnation (Mk. 12:38-40)

7. A Commendation (Mk. 12:41-44)

False teachers point people to themselves and lead people to destruction.
True followers follow the true King completely.

The King’s Heavenly Authority

Mark 11

Purpose: to see that the authority of King Jesus is from heaven!

1. Jesus Christ’s Heavenly Authority, Prophesied and Fulfilled (Mk. 11:1-10)
       The King’s Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem
       Fulfills Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 118:26; 1 Kings 1:32-40; 2 Kings 9:13
       “Peace to the nations” (Zech 9:10)
      “Hosanna” means “Lord, save!” (Ps 118:26)
       “Bethpage” means “house of figs”
       “Son of David” (2 Sam 7:14-16)
       Jesus is the King with Divine Authority!

2. Jesus Christ’s Heavenly Authority, Symbolized (Mk. 11:11-14)
       Jesus curses the fig tree

3. Jesus Christ’s Heavenly Authority, for All Nations (Mk. 11:15-18)
       Jesus cleanses the Temple, directly opposing the authority of the High Priest
       Fulfills Isaiah 56:7 & Jeremiah 7:11
       Solomon’s prayer of dedication (1 Kings 8:43)

4. Jesus Christ’s Heavenly Authority, Faith’s Foundation (Mk. 11:19-26)
       The lesson of the cursed fig tree, a.k.a. the false & idolatrous authorities
       Unlike the false authorities, pray with belief, forgiving
       Herodium Fortress is a “mountain moved”
       Prayer to God overcomes idolatry!

5. Jesus Christ’s Heavenly Authority! (Mk. 11:27-33)
       Jesus Christ’s Messianic authority is greater than the chief priests, scribes, and elders
       John the Baptist & Jesus Christ had Divine Authority (see 2:7 where He forgives sins!)

God’s Counter-Cultural Kingdom
Mark 10

Purpose: to show that God’s kingdom requires a denial of self in order to receive the impossible result of eternal life.

1. God’s Kingdom Order (Mk. 10:1-12)

2. God’s Kingdom Ethic (Mk. 10:13-16)

3. God’s Kingdom Economy (Mk. 10:17-31)

4. God’s Kingdom Strategy (Mk. 10:32-40)

5. God’s Kingdom Hierarchy (Mk. 10:41-45)

6. God’s Kingdom Purpose (Mk. 10:46-52)

Eternal life comes through the rejection of earthly wisdom and total reliance on the provision of Jesus Christ, the Sovereign, Servant, Savior.

The Son’s True Glory! – Part 2

Mark 9

Purpose: seeing the glory of King Jesus who came to save, fulfilling the Law
                and prophets

Review: The Son’s True Glory Revealed (Mark 9:2-13) 

     - Significance of Moses & Elijah/John The Baptist (Mal 4:5–6; Psalm 118:22)

     - The Messiah is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53:3

     - The consummation and convergence of all of God’s Revelation in Jesus Christ   
        “This is My beloved Son, Listen to Him!” (9:7)

     - See 1 Peter 1:16-21 - We have absolute confidence to believe the in the Living Word - Jesus Christ, and His Written Word in the Scriptures!

1. The Son’s Power Engaged (Mark 9:14-29)
        - “I do believe, help my unbelief!” (v. 24)
        - Pray earnestly to the Lord! (v. 29)
        - Where people believe Jesus is King, demons are powerless!

2. The Son’s Gospel Foretold (Mark 9:30-32)
        - The first time Jesus prophesied His death and resurrection in Mark 8:31
        - Jesus continued to teach them about His death and resurrection in Mark 9:9, 31
        - The Transfiguration of Jesus witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus!
            Both reveal the Son’s True glory!

3. The Son’s Kingdom Organized (Mark 9:33-50)
        - Jesus teaches the “first shall be last” (9:33-37)
        - The Kingdom of Jesus rises above petty rivalries (9:38-40)
        - Jesus’ strong statements about Life & Death, Heaven & Hell (9:40-48):
        “Enter Life” = “Enter the Kingdom of God” – This is Heaven (vv. 43, 45, 47)
        Death – This is Hell (vv. 43-44, 45-46, 47-48) quoting Isaiah 66:24
        - Jesus calls us to be peaceful servants (9:49-50)
        - Where Jesus is King, the leaders are servants!
        - Where Jesus is King, disciples repent from sin and prepare for Heaven!

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the King who came to save sinners from hell!

The Son’s True Glory!

Mark 9

Purpose: seeing the glory of King Jesus who came to save, fulfilling the Law and prophets

1. The Son’s True Glory Revealed (Mark 9:2-13)
        - Significance of Moses & Elijah/John The Baptist (Mal 4:5–6; Psalm 118:22)
        - The Messiah is the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53:3
        - The consummation and convergence of all of God’s Revelation in Jesus Christ “This is My beloved Son, Listen to Him!” (9:7)
        - See 1 Peter 1:16-21 - We have absolute confidence to believe the in the Living Word: Jesus Christ, and His Written Word in the Scriptures!  

2. The Son’s Power Engaged (Mark 9:14-29)
        I do believe, help my unbelief!

3. The Son’s Gospel Foretold (Mark 9:30-32)

4. The Son’s Kingdom Organized (Mark 9:33-50)
        Jesus teaches the disciples that the “first shall be last” (9:33-37)
        Jesus teaches concerning hell and what to do (9:38-50)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the King who came to save sinners!