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Christmas at New Life pt. 1

christmas pt. 1 | my redeemer lives

Ready to Dig Deeper? Here are some additional resources to help you get more out of Sunday's message!

Watch It Again

DEEPER Questions

Go through these questions in your LifeGroup or on your own to Dig Deeper into
Sunday's message

 

1. Read through the story of Ruth again using the Scripture below. What sticks out to you about Ruth's story? What parallels do you see to Jesus's story? 

2. Rodney opened by saying that Bethleham, the place of Jesus's birth, represents redemption. Why do you think this specific place is known for its redeeming qualities? Share with your group. 

3. Jesus's family tree shows us that he didn't just come for sinners, he came from sinners, too. Why do you think God planned to have Jesus come from a family that included people like Rahab (a prostitute), Tamar (slept with her father-in-law), and King David (slept with someone else's wife and then killed her husband). What does this imperfect family tree tell us about our Savior and his plan for our redemption? 

4. Rodney shared this takeaway: Jesus doesn't just forgive your past, he redeems it. Redeem means to reinstate, vindicate, to create a new narrative and attach a future to it. What does this plan of redemption mean to you? What are some things you need to let Jesus redeem from your past? Share with your group if you feel comfortable. 

5. What does the takeaway: Jesus redeems your future, mean for you? What future are you hoping he redeems? How can you turn this from simply a hope for a happy future into an action plan to secure the eternal future's of those around you? 

DIG INTO Scripture

Read and meditate on Sunday's Scripture to find deeper meaning and connection to God

Micah 5:2

 

[a] But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
    from ancient days.

Luke 2:4 

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

Ruth 1:1-3

Naomi Widowed
1 In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.

Ruth 1:19-22

Naomi and Ruth Return
19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi;[a] call me Mara,[b] for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.

Ruth 2:1-2

Ruth Meets Boaz
2 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”

Ruth 2:8-9

8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.”

Ruth 3:9

9 He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings[a] over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”

Ruth 4:9-11

9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. 10 Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” 11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem,

 

LEAVE THE BUILDING 

Take what you learned on Sunday and apply it to your life 

  • Jesus redeeming our present means that we are called to leave our current, sinful life behind and enter into the redeemed present. Ruth was from Moab, but she didn't stay there. How can you "leave Moab" this week? 
  • We've never been in a more critical stage of ministry than we're in right now. How can you take the Gospel into a culture that's spiritually dying and spread the Good News that Jesus redeems our past, present, and future? 

 

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