Instructor’s Comments 2 – Lesson One – The Book of Ruth

Study Guide – Life Change Series
Ruth and Esther, NavPress, 1987

Lesson covering pages 9 to 20, continues with important historical information on The Judges, The Monarchy and Ruth the Moabitess pages 11 to 13 of the guide book. These three headings offer excellent information to give you a grasp of the time period and how the Israelites were governed. The book suggest you skim the story, and make some initial conclusions as you answer questions 1-6 on pages 13 – 17. Remember these conclusions are the result of quick reading and initial thought. The story will be covered in more detail in later lessons.

Finally, don’t forget the study skills highlighted in gray. The Study Skills will give you insight on the subject and important aspects of the Bible Study. They also will guide you in the expected areas of discussion which the group leader will follow. As always, if you have questions, send them to Homewordsministry@gmail.com.

Thank You for joining us in this Study.
Rev. Frank Brunson

Instructor’s Comments 1 – On the Overview – The Book of Ruth

Study Guide – Life Change Series
Ruth and Esther, NavPress, 1987

The Overview starts on page 9 with a map of Israel under the Judges. The general focus of the map is land occupied by the tribes of Israel, but it also shows the area of Moab in the south east corner. North of Moab is Ammon the home of the Ammonites. To understand the story of Ruth and the relationship between the people of Moab and Israel, first go back to the time of Lot and to the time of Moses. The references and information on both countries are found in the section Ruth the Moabitess on page 12 of the Text and clarified in the scriptural references of Genesis 19:30-38 and Deuteronomy 23:3-4.

In the center of the map is the water system which runs north to south. The larger body of water to the south-east of the tribe of Naphtali and just east of the Tribe of Zebulon is commonly known as the sea of Galilee in the New Testament, but in the time period of the Judges it was known as the Sea of Chinnereth, named for the city of Chinnereth on the North West side of the Sea. From the Sea of Galilee the Jordan River runs south to the Dead Sea.

When the people of Israel entered their land, they traveled on the east (Left) side of the Dead Sea and Jordan River, traveling north through Moab, into Ammon and turning west (left), just north of the Dead Sea and crossing the Jordan River toward the City of Jericho. As they invaded the land of Ammon and Moab it is easy to see why there was hostility between God’s people and the two nations.

The Book of Ruth, Small Group and Self-Study

The guide for the Bible Study group is Life Change Series, Ruth and Esther, NAVPRESS. The group study of Ruth started with Lesson One, Overview, The Story of Ruth, page 9. We encourage following the group with this study by attending the bi weekly meetings as scheduled on http://www.homewordsministry.wordpress.com, Click on the Topic, Bible Study Schedule. As you attend, we suggest you take advantage of the facilitator comments by Rev. Glenda, our instructor, with occasional comments by Rev. Frank. These comments are found on http://www.homewordsministry.wordpress.com, under the Topic, Ruth.

You can also follow these lessons with us as a self-study by independently following the book and referring to the facilitator comments. Our self-study procedures are as follows.

1. Request the Book: Get the book from Homewords Ministry by requesting a copy. Give us a call at 727-542-4683 for Glenda or 727-742-4683 for Frank, to arrange receiving your book. You can also request a copy by e-mail at Homewordsministry@gmail.com. Please include your postal mailing address with your e-mail request. There is no charge for materials from Homewords Ministry. The book is a gift to you from other members of the Bible Study group.
2. Read the Assignments: We suggest you follow the course schedule found on our Blog pages at http://www.homewordsministry.wordpress.com. Topic: Bible Study, as the instructor’s comments will be posted after those dates for that section of the guide. Complete the reading and questions in the guide Life Change Series, Ruth and Esther, NAVPRESS. Look for Instructor’s comments to be posted after the scheduled group meeting at http://www.homewordsministry.wordpress.com, Topic: Ruth.
3. Respond as you wish: You can comment on the book as often as you wish by putting your comments on the blog, use our FACEBOOK page to comment, or e-mail.
4. Do you have questions? Call us or e-mail us at the numbers and address above.

The Book of Ruth, Small Group and Self-Study

You can also follow these lessons with us as a self-study by independently following the book and referring to the facilitator comments. Our self-study procedures are as follows.

The Secret of Effective Prayer – 2017

Homewords’ first Self-Study, a book review of The Secret of Effective Prayer by Helen Rice Shoemaker, will be revisited as a Group-study, starting January 2017.The study involves reading the book and following the Reading Guide to interesting points of the book. The Reading Guide was developed by Glenda and is very helpful in getting the most out of the study. Here is how the book review works.

Request the Book: Get the book from Homewords Ministry by requesting a copy. Give us a call at 727-542-4683 for Glenda or 727-742-4683 for Frank, to arrange receiving your book. You can also request a copy by e-mail at Homewordsministry@gmail.com. Please include your postal mailing address with your e-mail request. There is no charge for materials from Homewords. The book is a gift to you from other members of the Bible Study group.
Read the Assignments: Follow the course outline found on our Blog pages at www.homewordsministry.com. Scroll down to COURSE OUTLINE – THE SECRET OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER for the five week reading outlines. Read the week’s assigned section of the book using Reading Guide questions as a reference.
Respond as you wish: You can comment on the book as often as you wish by putting your comments on the blog, or use our FACEBOOK page to comment there.
Do you have questions? Call us or e-mail us at the numbers and address above.