As It Turned Out Series

“As It Turned Out…”

(Note when I type B/S = brothers and sisters)

Good morning Church!

NOW - I want to begin by reading what is probably one of the most popular, most well-known, and the all- time go to passages whenever anyone is facing difficult times…

It was written 2000 years ago by the Apostle Paul and is found in Romans chapter 8…

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. - Romans 8:28,29

Prayer

OKAY…

SO MGCC – are you ready to dig into some God-breathed, living and active, sharper than a double edged sword words from the Creator of The Universe.

Awesome! Me too…

It’s July 19, 2020… And this morning we are launching our new series… ‘Such Things Were Written…’

‘such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises. – Romans 15:4

UNDERSTAND - as we find ourselves living in a world of increasing turmoil and chaos, I cannot think of 3 things that we need more than hope, encouragement and being taught the truths of God, revealed in His Word.

THAT - is why beginning on today be focusing on some of those Scriptures that were written long ago, and simply allow His alive and active Word to do what It alone can do NOT ONLY - teach us, but give us hope and encouragement.

AND – the first ‘Such things were written that we will look at is, the book of Ruth in a conversation I am calling, ‘As it turned out.’

AND – here is how I want to attack this study…

By first telling the story and then grabbing several takeaways that will both teach us and give us hope and encouragement.

I. The Story

A) Act One: “Famine and Return”

OKAY - the book of Ruth opens up with these words…

In the days when the judges ruled…

NOW - those 7 words say a lot about the environment where this story of redemption takes place...

UNDERSTAND - the period of Judges began after God’s people had entered, conquered and settled in the promise land, and after Joshua their great leader had died.

It lasted 330 years and was a period dominated by violence, sexual immorality, greed, pride, fear, sin and evil…

IT WAS A TIME - where God’s people were stuck in a very vicious cycle..

UNDERSTAND – time and timer again Israel falls down and worships other gods.

THEY – constantly and consistently put other things…

‘before’ and look for life in those things rather than in God, juts like we do… which is the very definition of Idolatry.

Idolatry is the number one issue in the Bible… the gods are at war, and their strength is not to be underestimated. These gods are at war for the throne of your heart, and much is at stake.

Everything about me, everything I do, every relationship I have, everything I hope or dream or wish to become, depends upon what god wins the war. - Kyle Idleman (gods @ war)

NOW - Israel had their Baals, Molechs and other gods and we have our gods… (food, sex, entertainment, success, money, achievement, romance, family, ourselves)

UNDERSTAND B/S - anything that becomes the purpose and the driving force of our lives has become our god and is idolatry at some level.

NOW – the bible uses the analogy of adultery to describe and illustrate idolatry.

Which I am pretty confident that most of us would agree is not a good thing, amen.

OKAY, SO IMAGINE

IF – this week you ran into me at Bonefish Grill and I am have a romantic dinner with someone other than Laurie.

AND – you walk up to me…

“Steve what’s going on?”

“I’m on a date”

“But what about your wife”

“What about her? I love her too.

I have taken her out plenty of times?”

QUESTION – how would you respond?

AND – can you imagine, Laurie meeting me at the door when I get back home, “So babe, did you have a good time on your date tonight?”

NEWS FLASH – that would never happen!

AND – do you know what if she didn’t get angry I would be hurt, would be offended.

UNDERSTAND – anything other than jealousy would mean that she didn’t really care all that much about me or our marriage relationship.

B/S

I want you to know that God loves you that way.

LIKE - the song we sing around here