December 13, 2009 - Traveling Mercies #3:

Joy in the Morning

Ruth's Long Journey Home

Key Focus:

• Ruth's journey to be a part of the geneaology of Jesus
  • The deep wounds on our journey of faith
  • The power of faith and faithfulness in families
  • The power of God's faithfulness and grace

Time in the Word Focus:

• Kernel Message

The focus is on Ruth and her journey of faithfulness to Naomi. Her story is marked by sorrow, grief, and loss. Yet her journey to a place that was foreign to her, a journey she makes out loyalty to her mother-in-law, leads her to a prominent place in the plan of God, in the lineage of King David and of Jesus. It's a reminder that outsiders can become incredibly valuable to God's people and that they can be blessed and learn a lot from those outside their circle.
Connection Point: Ruth faced grief, loss, disorientation and yet she showed family faithfulness in the face of these and God used this faithfulness to change her life, her mother-in-law's life, and change the face of history. The traveling mercy we want to take from Ruth's journey is that faithfulness to family and to God's power to create new family when we are faithful to Him. (Ephesians 2:14-22)

• Key focus of the Time in the Word

  The story could not be more unlikely. A foreign woman in a foreign country shows faithfulness to a Israelite mother-in-law who is bitter. They return to the MIL's home, where she meets the son of a prostitute and marries him. Than, they become part of the lineage of the great King David and ultimately God's Messiah. Amazing Grace!

  • See Psalm 30:5b Naomi - Mara - Sorrow, weeping, woundedness
  • The long journey home with Naomi for Ruth
  • The joyous journey home with Boaz for Ruth
  • The long journey to Jesus

• Holiday Traveling Season and Ministry Opportunies
• The Giving Tree
• Others

• Ruth 1-4 tniv

Text will go here

• Matthew 1 tniv

Text will go here

Drama, Media, & Connecting Pieces:

• Pre-video:
• Video Piece: TBD
  • Direction
• Scripture readings
  • TBD
    

Daybreak Focus: (See emphasis above! Team Working on Planning Order - Names)

Refresh Focus: (See emphasis above! Team Working on Planning Order - Names)