1. Unlocking fall 2015 What is the difference between grace and mercy?
Same as the difference of relief and healing
Relief means that you are comfortably sick
Mercy means you are safely guilty
Grace means you are not guilty
The woman caught in adultery John 8:1-11
Politically correct is not the same as grace. I am going to do a sermon that shows this and that PC is actually false grace and will eventually destroy a thriving civilization.

2. Unlocking fall 2015 Cultivating a culture of grace
A church on a mission
I remember watching The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy had just ran away from home in hopes of finding a better life somewhere over the rainbow. When her wildest dreams turned into her worst nightmare, all she wanted to do was click her heals and go home.
A story all too familiar for those who find themselves wandering, wanting, wanton or wounded.
Much like Dorothy, Naomi and her family ran away from home full of hopes and dreams. But with the death of her husband and both of her sons, Naomi’s dreams were dashed and her hopes were gone.
Joshua Judges Ruth
Inheritance followed by a fall followed by Grace
Judges 21:25 In those days, there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Ruth is a continuation of Judges.

3. Main Characters Name Meaning Relationship Naomi Pleasant or Sweetness
Unlocking
fall 2015
Main Characters
Name
Meaning
Relationship
Naomi
Pleasant or Sweetness
Wife of Elimelech
Elimelech
God is King
Husband of Naomi
Ruth
Friendhsip
Daughter-in-law of Naomi
Orpah
Turning of the back
Boaz
Kinsman Redeemer
Relative to Naomi
Husband to Ruth Father to Obed
Name Meaning Relationship
Naomi Pleasant or Sweetness Wife of Elimelech
Elimelech God is King Husband of Naomi
Ruth Friendhsip Daughter-in-law of Naomi
Orpah Turning of the back Daughter-in-law of Naomi
Boaz Kinsman Redeemer Relative to Naomi Husband to Ruth Father to Obed
Bethlehem means Bread
Moab mean incestuous

5. Prejudice Prejudge Vs Pre-forgive Law cannot exist with grace
Unlocking
fall 2015
Prejudice Prejudge Vs Pre-forgive Law cannot exist with grace
Prejudice – The meaning is in the name itself
Prejudge Vs
Pre-forgive
Law cannot exist with grace
Max Lucado
He is guilty vs I was guilty
Straighten up! Vs Thank you!
1 John 4:8 (NASB) 8  The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Things that are equal to one thing are equal to another Euclid
God
Love
Grace
Atonement
salvation
John 3:16 For God wo love the world that He gave His only son atonement
Whoever believes in Him shall have everlasting life salvation
Have you ever said of someone, “He is worthless”
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Showing someone the grace of God always trumps showing them the error of their way.

6. Unlocking
fall 2015
Ruth 1:1-5 (NASB) 1  Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with 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, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there. 3  Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. 4  They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. 5  Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.
1  Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with 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, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there. 3  Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons. 4  They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years. 5  Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.
Mahlon mean sickly or infirmity
Chilion means piney or Failing or extermination
Rock bottom is a very solid foundation.
Sojourn - A temporary residence, as that of a traveler in a foreign land. More like a walkabout. I am sure this is how Elimelech sold this to Naomi.
Ephrathite is the old name for Bethlehem. It meant they came from an old family there.

7. Unlocking
fall 2015
Ruth 1:6-9 (NASB) 6  Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food. 7  So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8  And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9  "May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
6  Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food. 7  So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8  And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9  "May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.

8. Unlocking
fall 2015
Ruth 1:9-13 (NASB) 9  "May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10  And they said to her, "No, but we will surely return with you to your people." 11  But Naomi said, "Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12  "Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, 13  would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me."
Ruth 1:9-13 (NASB) 9  "May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10  And they said to her, "No, but we will surely return with you to your people." 11  But Naomi said, "Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12  "Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, 13  would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand

9. Unlocking
fall 2015
Ruth 1:14-18 (NASB) 14  And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15  Then she said, "Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law." 16  But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 17  "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me." 18  When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
Ruth 1:14-18 (NASB) 14  And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15  Then she said, "Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law." 16  But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 17  "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me." 18  When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
When we get away from God, we seldom return the same. Naomi had left Bethlehem full of life, but what a difference a decade makes away from God, away from His people and away from His promises.
The journey home is always better with someone to help you along the way. No matter how far we stray, coming home is easier when we walk hand-in-hand together. Teri Lynne covered that truth beautifully in Tuesday’s post – My Mother-in-Law Rocks!
Going home may take humility and it may be a treacherous trip, but it’s always worth it! Naomi left in search of food during a famine, but now she was returning with empty arms and a broken heart. Perhaps she was wondering if she should have ever went to Moab in the first place. But the minute her foot stepped on Bethlehem soil, she was home and like Dorothy, Naomi knew – there’s no place like home!
Where are you on your journey? Have you wondered far from God in search of something somewhere over the rainbow? Are you in the middle of your journey home and in need of a helping hand? Or are you glad you never left your Bethlehem in the first place? What other lessons can we learn from Naomi’s journey home?

10. Unlocking
fall 2015
Grace
“This is the mystery of the riches of divine grace for sinners; For by a wonderful exchange our sins are not our but Christs and Christ’s righteousness is not Christ’s but ours” Martin Luther
“This is the mystery of the riches of divine grace for sinners; For by a wonderful exchange our sins are not our but Christs and Christ’s righteousness is not Christ’s but ours”
Martin Luther

11. Unlocking
fall 2015
Ruth 4:13-17 (NASB) 13  So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14  Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. 15  "May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him." 16  Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. 17  The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi!" So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Ruth 4:13-17 (NASB) 13  So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14  Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. 15  "May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him." 16  Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. 17  The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi!" So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
When we get away from God, we seldom return the same. Naomi had left Bethlehem full of life, but what a difference a decade makes away from God, away from His people and away from His promises.
The journey home is always better with someone to help you along the way. No matter how far we stray, coming home is easier when we walk hand-in-hand together. Teri Lynne covered that truth beautifully in Tuesday’s post – My Mother-in-Law Rocks!
Going home may take humility and it may be a treacherous trip, but it’s always worth it! Naomi left in search of food during a famine, but now she was returning with empty arms and a broken heart. Perhaps she was wondering if she should have ever went to Moab in the first place. But the minute her foot stepped on Bethlehem soil, she was home and like Dorothy, Naomi knew – there’s no place like home!
Where are you on your journey? Have you wondered far from God in search of something somewhere over the rainbow? Are you in the middle of your journey home and in need of a helping hand? Or are you glad you never left your Bethlehem in the first place? What other lessons can we learn from Naomi’s journey home?