I. NAOMI WAS A WEAK WITNESS AND A TERRIBLE EVANGELIST (vv. 6-15)

I) Naomi returned to the Promised Land only when its physical blessings seemed better than those in Moab (v. 6-7)

II) Naomi told her daughters-in-law to seek blessing and rest among idols (vv. 8-9)

III) Naomi forgot there was a redeemer in Bethlehem (vv. 10-13)

IV) Naomi convinced Orpah to return to idols and persistently tried to convince Ruth to do the same (vv. 14-15)

II. DESPITE THE FAILURES OF NAOMI, GOD SAVED RUTH (v. 16-18)

I) Ruth turned away from her idolatrous past (v.16a)

II) Ruth embraced the people of God (v.16b)

III) Ruth trusted and worshipped the one true God by faith (v.16c)

IV) Ruth devoted herself to her mother in law Naomi (v.17-18)

III. WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THIS THAT WILL DO US SOME GOOD?

I) If you are a Christian who has been straying and living in sin, you can come home to the LORD and He will receive you

II) You must never forget that there is a Redeemer for even you

III) When the LORD saves you, you abandon your idolatrous past

IV) When the LORD saves you, you embrace Jesus’ people

V) When the LORD saves you, you trust and worship Him by faith

VI) God saves sinners by grace alone

VII) God saves sinners through faith alone

VIII) Count the cost of discipleship and see that Christ is worth it

DISCUSSION

1. Read verses 6-14. What did Naomi encourage her daughters-in-law to do? Why did she tell them to “turn back”? What did Naomi say concerning how the LORD dealt with her? How did Orpah and Ruth respond? What does it mean that “Ruth clung to her”?

2. Read verses 15-18. Where and to what did Orpah return? What does Ruth say to Naomi and what does she mean? What does this tell us about Ruth, concerning her faith in the LORD?