Ruth: Redemption for the Broken

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Rather than doing this as a small group, we've been breaking it into smaller chunks for family Bible time with our teenage daughter. (I have to say, the chapters are so jam-packed with good things, I have a hard time imagining getting through a whole one in one night in a small-group!) I got this book mainly for our daughter, 1) because I didn't want her to miss all the important Gospel meaning in Ruth just because it's so short, and 2) because I wanted her to move beyond having the right answers to applying Scripture to her life. However, I've been amazed at how many "Wow!" moments my husband & I have both had. Jared Wilson is so great at taking theological things you know & turning them into practical things you LIVE. We're halfway through & I'm really excited about continuing!

If you are looking for a Bible study to start your new year with, you can’t go wrong with the story of Ruth. I have been in love with this story since I was a little girl. She gave up everything to return with Naomi to Bethlehem. Jared C. Wilson has done an excellent job in writing this Bible study. You can do it on your own or in a group as an eight-week study. Each study is broken down into three sections – Big Idea, Discussion, and Exercise. This is one of the most enlightening studies I've done on Ruth.

Ruth: Redemption for the Broken, written by Jared C Wilsom, was a Bible study I enjoyed quite a bit. The historical account of Ruth is one I turn to often. There is so much to be gleaned from the account. From provision to acceptance to redemption, Ruth is a beautiful story for one who just doesn’t “fit in.” From the perspective of Naomi, the telling of Ruth is one of faithfulness, loyalty, and love regardless of the circumstance. A strong point of this study is the focus on the Bible account, not just finding the bits of history that are not included in the Bible that add to the story. While those things are interesting and can increase understanding, it is important that our primary source is God’s word. This study does this well by starting out with the Biblical account in each lesson. With 8 lessons, this study is set up for a shorter time frame than is common with published studies of this sort. It is not, however, lacking depth of discussion and ideas to stretch the study a bit longer if needed. I used this study independently and studied about one lesson per day. Most days it took about 30 minutes. If it were used in a group setting, I imagine it would take closer to an hour to do the first four parts of the lesson. If you are shooting for an hour, you would have to break the study into two days. The last two parts of each lesson can really vary in the amount of time needed based upon how complicated the exercise is, how much introspection it take, and how much discussion occurs during the group time following the exercise. I enjoyed this and was able to read well-written ideas that helped me consider the story in depth and in ways I had not necessarily thought before. It was a pleasant study and I can see this working well in a group setting. This quote about the story of Ruth was interesting to me. p 1 “Ruth is about God’s care in the midst of life’s disappointments, but it is also a story about family. There’s a legacy in this book, and an inheritance.” Seek through this study of Ruth to learn about family, you being part of God’s family and redeemed, just as Ruth became part of Boaz’s family when she was redeemed. Embrace your redemption and your family. This historical account of Ruth with help you with just that.

Recommended

I jumped at the chance to review this book because Book of Ruth is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Ruth's devotion to her mother-in-law and her willingness to go with Naomi to a foreign land has always touched me but we have to remember that widowed Naomi was risking a lot to take a pagan daughter-in-law back to her homeland. We know that in the end, both Naomi and Ruth were blessed beyond measure. Naomi once again had a family and Ruth found a godly husband, and it is from Ruth's marriage to Boaz that the bloodline of David began. In his introduction to Ruth: Redemption for the Broken, author Jared C. Wilson reminds us that "if you belong to Jesus by faith, Ruth is your family story. It is your spiritual heritage, more personal and true and lasting than if you had discovered an old scrapbook in your grandmother's attic." In eight lessons, Wilson helps us to better understand our spiritual heritage and I liked that he is consistent in his teaching plan. In each lesson he uses the same elements: a summary of the main point of the lesson; Bible Scripture; his own thoughts; a discussion; an exercise or lesson, with a space to jot down your answers; and a wrap-up and prayer. He also shares Leader's Notes at the end of the book to give us even more instruction. This book would be considered short by many standards but in its 111 pages there is a wealth of information! I recommend Ruth: Redemption for the Broken for both personal study or for an organized group study. I received this book from New Growth Press but there was no obligation to write a positive review. These are my own opinions.

This is one of the best studies I have done on Ruth. It helps you to understand the times, mindset and how the choices made affected everyone. Can't wait to get another study from Jared C. Wilson

Jared C. Wilson’s ten-week study is an insightful look at Ruth showing how we can see Jesus in this short book. As part of “The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible” series, Wilson’s study shows us how relevant Ruth is to the gospel in other ways than introducing the lineage of Jesus. The relationships in Ruth (Ruth and Naomi, Ruth and Boaz) teach us many things about our relationship with Jesus and our relationship with others. This study is unique because when used as a small group study, there is little preparation needed beforehand. Each week’s material is read and discussed together as a group. It also works well as an individual study. I love Ruth’s story and seeing clearly how the gospel is presented in this Old Testament story made me enjoy it even more. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from New Growth Press through Audra Jennings PR. I was not required to write a review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Ruth: Redemption for the Broken is a study guide with leader’s notes, and it is from The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible series. The goal of this study guide is more “than to merely study the book of Ruth. You will also be learning to keep your eyes on Jesus, the ultimate Redeemer behind the redeemer in the story. And you will consider how the fullness of his love for you takes you beyond yourself, to love others – including those who are poor or are outsiders like Ruth.” The book contains eight lessons, and each lesson starts with a big idea and a Bible conversation. The Bible conversation section is a suggested scripture reading and some discussion questions about the scripture being read that day. Then, there is an article written by the author to extend your thinking about the passage that was read. There is also a discussion section to encourage interaction in a small group, and the lesson ends with wrap-up and prayer. I would recommend this study guide for use in a small group, for those who want to dig deeper into their Bibles. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, New Growth Press, in return for an honest review.