Sermons on Ruth 17:23:

The Making Of Mara (Bitterness) Series

Contributed by Glenn Durham on Jan 25, 2011

God’s wondrous workings may take us through a deep struggle with sovereignty.

Scripture Introduction One old commentator wrote about our text: “Names are given to men and women, not only to distinguish them from each other, but also,—1. To stir them up to verify the meanings… of their names. Wherefore let every Obadiah strive to be a “servant of God,” every Nathaniel to be ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:19-22

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Song Of Faithfullness Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Mar 2, 2016

In every relationship, particularly marriage, there are times when the believer must be faithful, regardless of the challenge.

Allan Petersen, in The Myth of the Greener Grass, tells the story of a group of a dozen married women having lunch together. One woman asked, "How many of you have been faithful to your husbands throughout your marriage?" Only one woman out of the twelve raised her hand. At home that evening, one ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Song Of Grace Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Mar 2, 2016

Relationships, particularly marriage, can survive only with large amounts of grace.

Love this song. When I told Sue we were doing this series she said, “Oh, you’ve got to use this song” and played it for me. WE WENT DANCING IN THE MINEFIELDS WE WENT SAILING IN THE STORMS AND IT WAS HARDER THAN WE DREAMED BUT I BELIEVE THAT’S WHAT THE PROMISE ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 2:14-23

Denomination: Baptist

The Song Of Trust Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Mar 2, 2016

All relationships are risky, prompting believers to trust God for the outcomes.

Have you ever thought about the correlation between risk and trust? You can’t have one without the other. I turn 60 this summer and on my 60th birthday, if I can get Sue to agree, I want to go skydiving. Don’t worry, the bank made the church take out a key-man policy on me this last ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-18

Denomination: Baptist

The Song Of Redemption Series

Contributed by Russ Barksdale on Mar 2, 2016

Relationships, particularly marriage, are a major part of God’s plan to redeem us

Opening illustration about a wife who rescued/salvaged her husband Ruth 4 Finish up our series out of the book of Ruth: R&B: the songs of love. There are certain songs that must be sung and heard loud and clear in relationships if they are going to be strong and healthy. There is the song of ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

A Mother’s Heart Revealed Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Sep 17, 2021

Mother's Day: Sometimes we feel that mothers are perfect. This message reveals a near-perfect mother. From Naomi, we see a mother’s strength, her love for her children, and we learn some things about a mother’s personality.

As you already know, today is Mother’s Day. I would like to begin our message with a short story: A small boy invaded the lingerie section of a large department store and shyly presented his problem to a woman clerk. “I want to by a slip as a present for my mom,” he said, “but, I don’t know what ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-21

Denomination: Baptist

The Clever Couple Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Mar 17, 2021

There are few, if any, who become key links in the plan of God who are not in some way clever, and this goes for both Ruth and Boaz.

A young couple who had just gotten married, and who had received many valuable wedding gifts, established their home in the suburb. One morning they received in the mail two tickets for a popular show in the city. A note said, "Guess who?" The couple were amused as they tried to ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 3:1-4, Ruth 4:1-10

A Theology Of Problems Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 3, 2021

History began with a problem. Problems are more universal than sin, for Jesus had no sin but He had problems. Even before sin, Adam and Eve had a problem. Their problem was, should I obey God or not?

A woman who wanted her apartment painted while she was out of town was very fussy. She insisted that the ceiling be painted the exact shade of her ash tray. The painters after trying to mix this exact shade unsuccessfully finally hit upon a solution to their problem. They painted the ash ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-4

Ordinary People Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 3, 2021

Everybody in this book is ordinary. Obed, the baby who gives the book a happy ending, does not grow up to do anything of significance that we know of. There are no great battles, no miracles, and no profound theological statements in this book. Not one person in this book was above ordinary.

What woman do you know who has had a thousand men propose to her from fisherman to millionaires; from the penniless on the bowry to the prince of a royal European family? And who was still getting regular proposals after she was 70 years old? There was such a woman, and her name was Evangeline ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-18

Desirable Determination Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 4, 2021

The old saying that where there is a will there is a way is confirmed over and over again. People with a spirit of determination are doing the improbable all the time, and by the grace and providence of God, sometimes even the impossible.

Alexander Solzhenitsyn is one of the great modern examples of the power of determination. He served time in the Siberian waste land for making a disparaging remark about Stalin in a letter. He endured six years of imprisonment, when he suddenly discovered the joy of writing. He was suffering for ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:14-22

The Clever Couple Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 4, 2021

Cleverness is the ability to skillfully work your way through complex circumstances to a goal that is your aim to reach. Godly cleverness is aiming for a goal that is pleasing to God. Boaz was blessed with godly cleverness. This is a virtue that has changed the entire world in which we live.

A young couple who had just gotten married, and who had received many valuable wedding gifts, established their home in the suburb. One morning they received in the mail two tickets for a popular show in the city. A note said, "Guess who?" The couple were amused as they tried to find ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:1-10

Godly Grandparents Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 4, 2021

Godly grandparents have such a powerful impact on the lives of grandchildren that one is not far from the mark to say that the church and the Sunday School, and all other arms of the kingdom of God are supplements to the influence of grandparents.

Among the many things that makes man unique in creation is the presence of, and the influence of, grandparents. F. W. Boreham many years ago pointed out that in the vegetable world, "The bursting buds of spring push off the last lingering leaves of the previous season, and thus decline to ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:13-17

The Affliction Of Naomi Series

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 18, 2022

The book of Ruth shows how God used three people to achieve his purpose. These three people had character and were true to God. It also tells the story of how God’s grace was given during a challenging time. We can see that Naomi used her life as a witness for God and it touch others.

In verses 1-3: The story of Ruth happens at some point during the time of the judges. These were dull days for Israel, when "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6, 21:25). Regardless, during those dim and fiendish occasions, there were still some who followed ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-22

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Alliance Of The Bridegroom Series

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Oct 18, 2022

Boaz talks with his relatives.

Boaz knew where to find his relative, at the city entryway. This was the focal point of movement. Nobody could enter or leave the city without going through the city gate. Dealers set up their brief shops close to the entryway, which additionally filled in as a "city hall." Here city ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 4:1-22

Denomination: Independent/Bible

1) A Committed Faith Series

Contributed by James Lyons on Mar 6, 2023

Part I

1) A Committed Faith, Ruth 1:1-17 Today we start a new sermon series in the book of Ruth. Ruth is only mentioned one other time in the Bible – in Matthew 1:5, she’s listed as an ancestress of Jesus Christ. This is a beautiful love story that unfolds in a very unlikely setting. ...read more

Scripture: Ruth 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist