Latest Sermons

The surprising hesed (lovingkindness) of God brings the story of Ruth to a close. A widow whose life has been so horrible she wants to be identified as Mara (bitter) instead of her given name Naomi (pleasant). But God will not allow her to live into her felt experience. The narrator continues to call her […]

Nearly every character in the Old Testament had flaws and failures–except Ruth and Boaz–two of the central characters in the book of Ruth. They demonstrate “hesed” (loyal lovingkindness) to those around them. In Ruth chapter 3 their stories come together in an evening filled with dramatic tension in which both walk in courageous sacrificial loving […]

Ruth and Naomi are in Bethlehem during the barley harvest. In need of food, Ruth, the young widow goes to “glean” in the fields–collecting what the harvesters do not gather. This is a dangerous endeavor, but Ruth demonstrates loyal lovingkindness to her mother-in-law Naomi, sacrificing her wellbeing for their survival. But, by God’s lovingkindness, she […]

A drama in 4-acts, Ruth tells the story of tragedy and loss, of bitterness and grief and the faithfulness of God to an unlikely outsider of the people of God. Ruth chapter 1 constantly calls from the Lord to his people–return, return, return to me. But God chooses takes a foreign-born widow and daughter-in-law who […]

God’s heart for the poor, the vulnerable and the immigrant comes through in the book of Ruth as Redeemers step in to protect and provide for the the Widow Naomi and the Foreigner Ruth. Sermon includes an interview with Andrew Secrist of World Relief.

Ruth Ruth 1-4 Johnny Kurcina Dec. 9, 2012