Archived Weekly Studies

THE CHARACTER OF NAOMI

One of the reasons we find ourselves in despair has to do with the choices we make in life, especially the choice to be a person of character. This week's lesson will center on the character qualities that are most likely to help you find hope in relationships.

PERSONAL REFLECTION
How do you want to be remembered? If you were to write your own epitaph what would you want it to say?

BIBLE STUDY
One of the surest ways to protect yourself against despair is to choose to be a person of integrity and character and to form close associations with the same. This week we will continue to look at the character of Ruth and identify the godly character traits that promote hope in our lives.

Read Ruth 1:16-18, 2:2, 10, 13, 17-18, 22-23, 3:5-6. Identify all the different character traits that Ruth exhibited.

Read Ruth 2:6-7, 11, 3:10, 11. Identify all the different character traits that others see in Ruth.

It is one thing to speak or think highly of yourself, but it is totally another thing when others speak highly of you and see you as a person of character because you have consistently demonstrated character in your actions. The proof of who we are is in our fruit.

These passages tell us that Ruth is a woman of faith, initiative, industry, kindness, wisdom and humility. She is also faithful, teachable and available as well.

Let us go on to look at the character traits of Boaz.

Read Ruth 2:3-4, 8-9, 12, 14-16. Identify all the different character traits of Boaz from these passages.

Read Ruth 2:20, 21, 22; 3:18; 4:11-12. Identify the character traits of Boaz that are stated or implied by others.

In a few sentences, summarize your thoughts about the kind of person Boaz was.

Read the following scriptures concerning the art of living and identify the rewards of good character. Proverbs 3:1-4, 11:24, 12:14, 14:23, 16:7, 31:30-31.

PERSONAL APPLICATION
Write out a description of your own character. How do you think your friends and relatives would describe your character?

.

Are you pleased with the character traits that you display?

.

Are there any that you want to change? Why?

.

What personal insight did you gain through this study?

.

How did you sense God speaking to you through this study?

.

What adjustment in attitudes, beliefs or actions is God calling you to make?

.

Take these things to God in prayer.

Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." This principle is played out nicely in the book of Ruth. We see hopes dashed through the untimely death of Naomi's husband and sons. Then we see longings fulfilled through the kindness of God's providence when Ruth and Boaz meet, marry and bring forth a son - Obed, who is Naomi's grandson.

As our studies over the last two weeks have illustrated in order to experience hope, we must be willing to take personal responsibility by being people of character and making choices that reflect godly virtues and God centered thinking. But very often our despair comes, not because of any poor choices we have made, but because of circumstances beyond our control. The truth is that though our circumstances may be beyond our control, they are not beyond God's control. This week's study is designed to encourage you in knowing God as the God of hope.

PERSONAL REFLECTION
Think of a time when your hope was deferred. On what were you placing your hope? Was the object of your hope unchanging and steadfast?

BIBLE STUDY
Read Hebrews 6:13-19 and Romans 4:18-21 and answer the following questions.

What did God promise Abraham (vs. Heb 6:14)?

.

Did Abraham receive what was promised? What did Abraham receive (Ro 4:18, Genesis 21:5)?

.

Did Abraham receive the promise immediately (Heb 6:15)?

.

On what did Abraham place his hope that the promise would be fulfilled (Ro 4:21, Heb 6:17)?

.

Name two unchangeable things about God (Heb 6:17-18).

.

If Abraham rightly placed His hope on God because of God's unchanging nature, on what can you place your hope?

.

In Heb 6:19 hope is compared to an anchor for a ship. What purpose does an anchor serve? Where do you set an anchor?

.

What serves as the anchor of our soul?

.

What purpose does the anchor of our soul serve?

.

Where is the anchor of our soul set?

.

PERSONAL APPLICATION
Our hope is anchored on the rock of Jesus Christ, and is set behind the curtain in the inner sanctuary of the holiest of holies. It is through Christ that God has fulfilled His covenant promises to His people.

.

What personal insight did you gain through this study?

.

How did you sense God speaking to you through this study?

.

What adjustment in attitudes, beliefs or actions is God calling you to make?

.

Take these things to God in prayer.

When temporal hope fades away, we are to take hold of the eternal hope of the covenant promises of God and be greatly encouraged. The next two weeks, we will study more about the hope that is ours through Christ.

For many who will be reading this study, they have only known a life of prosperity and bliss, especially if you are living in the United States or other Westernized countries. But it has not always been this way, even in the United States. Our ancestors endured many, many physical hardships to establish this nation. Those who were Christians had little hope for the things of this world, their hope was set on Christ and the heavenly blessings that He purchased for them. This weeks study will take a look at the eternal hope that is ours in Christ.

PERSONAL REFLECTION
There is a poem that tugs at my heart, Nothing Gold can Stay by Robert Frost. Consider this poem for a few moments. How does it affect your heart?

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leafs a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay

BIBLE STUDY
Read 1 Corinthians 15:13-14, 19, 20-22, 42 and complete the following sentences.

The reason we have hope is because Christ was _________ from the dead.

Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we also will be _____________ from the dead.

The perishable body will be raised __________________.

Read Romans 8:22-25 and answer the following questions.

Who and what are groaning as in the pains of childbirth?

What is this pain, this groaning about?

In what hope are we saved (verses 23-24)?

.Read Hebrews 11:1 and Romans 8:24-25.

How do these scriptures describe hope?

Is hope something that is seen?

Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 and answer the following questions.

In what sense are we wasting away and in what sense are we being renewed?

What is the benefit of enduring the momentary (compared to eternity) troubles of this life?

What is Paul referring to when he says that we are to fix our eyes on what is unseen and eternal?

.Read 2 Peter 3:10-13 and answer the following questions.

According to verse 10 what is the day of the Lord?

Is the day of the Lord something to look forward to?

Although all the heavens and earth will be destroyed on this day, what does the Lord promise (vs 13)?

According to Revelation 21:1-4 where will those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ be living?

Who will be living with them (vs 3)?

What else will characterize heaven (vs 4)?

Our ultimate hope as Christians lies in the truth that because of Christ's sacrifice (the substitution of His sinless body for our sinful bodies), we will be resurrected from the dead, given new spiritual bodies that are imperishable and live with God for all eternity in heaven where there is no sin, no pain, no tears and no more death. All that we long for will be fulfilled at this time. Hallelujah!

PERSONAL APPLICATION
What personal insight did you gain through this study?

.

How did you sense God speaking to you through this study?

.

What adjustment in attitudes, beliefs or actions is God calling you to make?

.

Take these things to God in prayer.

If you want more information on how to have assurance of eternal life with Christ click here.

The last few weeks we have been exploring the various dimensions of hope. We have looked at the need for seeing hope in the tapestry of God's providence, we have looked at the need for virtuous character, and we have looked at the character and promises of God that make hope possible. This week we will look at our need for placing our trust in God in order that we can reap the benefit of hope.

PERSONAL REFLECTION
What are you living for? What do you see as the purpose of your life? What are your goals for the future?

BIBLE STUDY
Read Romans 5:1-11 and answer the following questions.

According to verse 10 what relationship did we have with God before Christ's death on the cross?

.

According to verse 1 what relationship do we who are in Christ have with God?

.

What do you think Paul means by peace, i.e. an emotional state of mind or a state of being in relationship?

.

What were we saved from according to verse 9?

.

In addition to the hope we have because we are at peace with God (that is God no longer sees us as His enemy), name two other ways according to verses 3, 4 and 5 that God also develops hope in us.

.

According to Romans 15:4 how else has God provided a means of hope for His people?

.

Read Romans 15:13 and complete the following sentences:

The God of hope fills me with ________ and _________.
To be filled with joy and peace I must __________ in the God of hope.
As I trust in the God of hope I will overflow with ________.
Joy, peace and hope result from __________ in God.

.God not only reconciled Himself to us while we were yet sinners and enemies of His, but once reconciled He promises to fill us with His very own love, joy and peace. All we must do is trust in Him..

PERSONAL APPLICATION
Do you regularly experience the hope that is yours through Christ?

.

What areas in your life are you still having difficulty entrusting to the Lord? Why?

.

What personal insight did you gain through this week's study?

.

How did you sense God speaking to you through this study?

.

What adjustment in attitudes, beliefs or actions is God calling you to make?

.

Take these things to God in prayer.