BIG IDEA: Fear God, not people.* 3 reasons to be bold for God and not fear people:1)Nothing stays covered up.2)Nothing is scarier than God.3)Nothing happens apart from God.

BIG IDEA: Who you are [as one of God’s people] is determined by all your redeemer has done [and will do] for you.1)Who you are isn’t determined by other people. (v.14,15)2)Who you are isn’t determined by your past. (v.16,17)...

BIG IDEA: Those who trust in God’s loyal love are willing to take risks.1)Such trust risks submitting to earthly authorities. (v.6)2)Such trust risks misunderstanding. (v.7-9)3)Such trust risks putting others first. (v.1...

BIG IDEA: Those who trust in God’s loyal love are willing to take risks.1) Such trust risks submitting to earthly authorities. (v.6)2) Such trust risks misunderstanding. (v.7-9)3) Such trust risks putting others f...

 BIG IDEA: Naomi seeks rest for Ruth.*Four steps for rest commanded by Naomi:1) Naomi commands Ruth to wash (v.3a)2) Naomi commands Ruth to anoint herself (v.3b)3) Naomi commands Ruth to put on h...

BIG IDEA: God’s loyal love does not forsake the living or the dead.* Three ways God’s loyal love shows through the actions of Boaz:1) Boaz has providentially taken notice of Ruth. (v.19)2) Boaz has the potential to redee...

BIG IDEA: God’s people are surrounded by God’s grace.1)The route of God’s grace is a happy-to-do-it Boaz. (v.8,9)2)The recipient of God’s grace is an unentitled Ruth. (v.10)3)The reason for this grace is her loyal love t...

BIG IDEA: God’s people are surrounded by God’s grace.1)The route of God’s grace is a happy-to-do-it Boaz. (v.8,9)2)The recipient of God’s grace is an unentitled Ruth. (v.10)3)The reason for this grace is her loyal...

BIG IDEA: God’s [personal, purposeful, powerful] Providence is at work [to showHis people loyal love] even behind [what appears to be] coincidence.1) Naomi ‘happens’ to have an important relative in Bethlehem. (v.1)2) Ruth ‘ha...

BIG IDEA: God is ‘the Almighty,’ and nothing can stop His loyal love from comingto His people.1) Even if the coming of His loyal love is unrecognized. (v.19)2) Even if the coming of His loyal love is unappreciated. (v.20-21)

BIG IDEA: God can show His loyal love through others. *Four qualities of loyal love:1)Loyal love commits to go with you.2)Loyal love commits to settle with you.3)Loyal love commits to identify with you.4)Loyal l...

BIG IDEA: The hope of rescue is always found in the direction of God’s gracious visitation.1)Even if the return in that direction is lagging. (v.6,7) 2)Even if the return in that direction is halting. (v.8-10) ...

BIG IDEA: The story of rescue is always written on dark backgrounds.The dark background of the context. (v.1, 2)The dark background of catastrophe. (v.3-5)

BIG IDEA: There are steps we can take to better hear God’s call to service.*Four steps to take when seeking to serve:Be regularly in the place God is found. (v.1)Be routinely serving already. (vv.2-3)...

BIG IDEA: Jesus’ concept of true prayer includes principles and a pattern. *The six principles of true prayer in Jesus’ response: 1)    Regular pr...

BIG IDEA: Jesus’ concept of true prayer includes principles and a pattern.*Six principles of true prayer in Jesus’ response:1) Regular prayer can be counted on. (v.5a)2) Performative prayer must be condemned. (v.5,6)...

BIG IDEA: To be a witness you must see.* Five sights for witnesses:1) See the tomb— Accept Jesus has died and was buried. (v.1)2) See the angel— Admit something supernatural has happened. (v.2-4)3) See the place— Ack...

BIG IDEA: It wasn't the particular kind of physical pain Christ endured or the particular extent of physical suffering He endured that made His death particular.What made Christ’s death unique was 1) Who He was,2) How ...

BIG IDEA: Christians should remember the importance of Palm Sunday.*7 reasons Palm Sunday is important:Because it teaches us that Jesus knew beforehand the disappointment and rejection that was coming, but “we...

BIG IDEA: All true Christians are connected to each other in Christ Jesus.*Four parts of Paul’s connecting closing words:A greeting for each one in the Philippian church community. (v.21a)A greeting f...

BIG IDEA: Any gift, whether to the Lord’s work or to the Lord’s workmen, is of greater worth and higher significance when viewed as a gift to God.1) Paul’s commendation to the church for the gift. (v.14-16)2) Paul’s motivation for...

BIG IDEA: Christ gives strength sufficient for any situation. * “Contentment” = Christ-sufficiency.Christ-sufficiency to face situations of lowness. (humiliation, poverty, suffering, persecution, opposition, sickn...

BIG IDEA: Every-“thing” that is excellent and worthy of praise belongs to God.*Two connected commands that summarize Paul’s letter:Carefully consider “these things” (cultivate a Christ-like mindset)…so as to

BIG IDEA: Think and Act like Christians— as those known by their LOVE, JOY & PEACE.*Three questions answered by the mature Christian life:What LOVE looks like. (v.2,3)How JOY is always possible. (...

Big Idea: For the citizen of heaven, Jesus Christ is Savior and Lord.*So / Therefore / In light of that…Stand firm in the Lord (v1)In the face of persecutionIn the face of temptation...