Prep+Plus Podcast: Ruth - Study 1

Transcript

(This is a transcript generated by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy or content by Crossroads)

00:00:00:10 - 00:00:29:18

Unknown

Welcome to the Crossroads Plus podcast for girls group leaders for the series on the Book of Ruth, which is starting in November 2026. We're looking forward to this time together as we work through the four weeks. The Book of Ruth. And here's a few things just to help us to work through the booklets. Just so you know, in our studies, during these studies, we're going to be spending ten minutes of each study.

00:00:29:18 - 00:00:52:13

Unknown

At the end of each study in thinking about growth groups over the year, the past year, and how it's contributed to us in our growth in Christ and how we might make decisions about growth groups in 2027, joining groups. And so just be be be aware that you need to keep ten minutes up your sleeve at the end of the studies.

00:00:52:15 - 00:01:11:02

Unknown

You can see how there are three in the first three studies that we have. Those ten minute slots are just giving you that heads up. The book of Ruth. What a wonderful book. Great for us to get into it in the Old Testament. As you know, picking up the thread from the Old Testament in the book of Judges.

00:01:11:05 - 00:01:30:24

Unknown

And for people who haven't read judges who are not familiar with judges, I guess it's really important that they get something of an idea of what's been going on there. So, but before we start, on this, let's pray our loving Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word to us. And we pray that your word would speak to us through the book of Ruth.

00:01:30:26 - 00:02:03:00

Unknown

Thank you for such a wonderful Old Testament book that, sees that you are at work in the ordinary things of the world as, you bring about your promises to Abraham and as they point us to Christ. Please be with us as we open this book together. And we pray in Jesus name. Amen. Well, in the first study, there's an introduction section that does speak a little bit about judges just to to read through together.

00:02:03:03 - 00:02:29:02

Unknown

And then, we're thinking about, the beginning of the book and the way it's structured. The studies fall into the four chapters effectively. Each study is a chapter at a time. And, as the booklet shows, the first thing is about returning. Naomi's gone away with her husband and been in the country of Moab. And then she's really gone low, hasn't she?

00:02:29:05 - 00:02:53:02

Unknown

And so, you're just setting up the book in that first instance, in looking verses one to to seven, and we see, Naomi returning, to the land and trying to persuade her daughters in law, who are now without husbands because they've died as well, to go back to their homes and, that's that's dramatic, isn't it?

00:02:53:05 - 00:03:23:06

Unknown

And, it's interesting, you see, that this is flurry of names to begin with in the book where the names of all these men and their wives are mentioned, and then they just they fade away and they die, and we end up reading about the woman. The woman, which is Naomi, the woman who's making her way back, to the land because the Lord has visited his people.

00:03:23:06 - 00:03:50:14

Unknown

And there's food back in the land. So, take a group through those questions, help them, see the shape and the sadness and the lowness of what's going on. And notice just a couple of things. Word kindness, which is the first time that that word appears in verse eight. And, that that, he when Naomi asked the Lord to deal kindly with them.

00:03:50:17 - 00:04:26:24

Unknown

But then this amazing attachment that, Ruth has, that which she won't, she won't leave in. I'm sure you're going to spend time looking at why Ruth decides not to go back, but clings with these wonderful words about where she wants to be in. That's, in verse 16. How amazing. As we end that section and we see the promises, those promises to Abraham that you'll remember way back through you, all families of the earth will be blessed.

00:04:26:26 - 00:05:04:02

Unknown

And there is Ruth, an example of a pagan, a moabite woman with the background that you'll be looking at the background of, what happened between Moab and, Israel, the history. They were probably praying that this is a great encouragement for you as you set the book up. And then that time reflecting on maturity in Christ. Thinking about what groups are for, just reminding people of their vision of groups and how, groups have been a blessing to us and how we come to our groups to seek to grow in maturity in Christ.

00:05:04:04 - 00:05:15:28

Unknown

And we're praying that, this would be a great time. Those ten minutes that you spend at the end. Thanks, for leading. And, we wish you and we pray for you as you open the book of Ruth.