Hanni Moussa

God and Ordinary People

Welcome
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Thanks for tuning into Redeemer Al Ain’s online service. Our church is currently meeting in person with restrictions on Thursdays from 6:30–7:30pm at the Al Ain Evangelical Church Centre. (For more information about the restrictions click here). As pastors, we also understand that different people have different circumstances and comfort levels for in-person gatherings. We do not want to pressure anyone to attend who would not feel comfortable. We will continue to post the service online so that people can participate digitally. 

In this service, we will be taking a break from the book of Genesis, and Hanni Moussa will preach on the Book of Ruth, God and Ordinary People. We’d love to connect with you if you have any questions. Email us at info@redeemeralain.com or fill out a connect form by clicking the link below.

April 30 Service
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BIBLE READING
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8 …[Naomi said to her daughters-in-law-,] “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

15 And [Naomi] said [to Ruth], “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.”

2:1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. 4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!” And they answered, “The Lord bless you.” 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.

11 All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 12 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!

4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.

Ruth 1:8-17; 2:1-7, 11-12; 4:13

SERMON
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God and Ordinary People

Hanni Moussa

Study Questions
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  1. Read Ruth 1:8-17

    1. What kind of advice does Naomi give her daughters-in-law?

    2. What decision did Orpah make?

    3. What was Ruth’s decision? Why were they different?

    4. What motivates your decisions?

  2. Read Ruth 2:1-12

    1. What does Ruth do once she’s in Bethlehem? Why?

    2. Is it a coincidence that Boaz and Ruth meet on the field? Why, or why not?

    3. How does Boaz describe Ruth’s decisions and motivation?

  3. Read Ruth 4:13-16

    1. How did God reward Ruth’s faith in the short term and in the long term? How does God reward our faith in this life?

    2. Read also Matthew 1:5. Was that something Ruth could have expected? How will God reward faith in the age to come?