SOAKED IN REDEMPTION: Ruth 1

REDEEMING TRAGEDY
June 1, 2008
with Adam Waters

INTRO:
Favorite scenes in movies – ROBIN HOOD after their village is destroyed.
WYATT EARP in Tombstone riding out for the reckoning of his brothers.

We love tales of REDEMPTION. We run toward them. The fallen hero who eventually cares about someone else and saves them at the end of the movie. The bully who turns around and joins the loser’s sports team to help them win the impossible game. The uncoordinated nerd who learns Karate or Football or how to dance. The love-story when all hope is lost and it’s just a giant matter of miscommunication… they just need to talk and it will all be better we scream

We are so ready to watch a movie, read a book or go to a play about REDEMPTION, but when it comes to our very own lives… We become cynical… We won’t believe… “Fairytales,” we scoff…

READ: Ruth 1 (whole chapter)

As a swimmer, I will…
 SATISFY the Spirit’s leading.
 WIN the battles of the flesh.
 INHERIT the Kingdom.
 MANIFEST the character of God.

Redeeming Tragedy
 REALIZE that God honors unconditional love. (1:16-18)
 UNDERESTIMATING people is a bad move. (1:11-15)
 UNDERESTIMATING God is even worse.
 TELL God how you feel. (1:20-21)
 HAVE patience in God’s plan. (1:8-9 and refer to chapter 4)

Look closer:
 IF GOD HAS THE POWER TO REDEEM US FROM SIN AND DEATH, THEN HE HAS THE POWER TO REDEEM SO MUCH MORE.
 Creation… relationships… love… community… hearts… hopes… dreams…
 HE HAS the power to redeem YOU from the worst tragedies of life!