Sermon Tone Analysis

*Epicenter: Where Action and Providence Collide* \\ */Collision/* \\ /We experience God’s providence as we respond in action/ \\ *Ruth*

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*Introduction*

!! *Image*

* Seeking a pastoral position

!! *Need*

* Events and circumstances will shake our lives, either in a minor or major way.

* Explain epicenter—the portion of the earth’s crust just above the shifting plates.

* How do we know what to do in these times?

* How do we know when we are in God’s will?

!! *Proposition*

* We experience God’s providence as we respond in action.

!! *Overview of Ruth*

* /The book of Ruth is a story about very ordinary people facing very ordinary events./—David

Atkinson

* The book of Ruth is about two widows, a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, seeking refuge.

* *Author of the book*

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Not mentioned in the book

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Samuel is believed to be the author

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Babylonian Talmud—Jewish collection of tradition and law regarding the OT

* *Date of writing*

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Samuel—1115-1021 BC

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David—1041-971 BC

#. Between David’s anointing and Samuel’s death—1031-1021 BC

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Saul reigns—1050-1010 BC

* *Time of Events*

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Period of the Judges—1368-1050 BC (318 year period)

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Judges 21:25

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Judges were men (and Deborah) whom God raised up to deliver the Israelites from foreign nations

#. 7 Cycles of Rebellion, Repentance, and Rescue

* *Characters in the story*

#. /Naomi/

* Ruth 1:20-21

* Faith—How we view God

#. /Ruth/

* Ruth 1:15-18; 2:11-12; 3:10-11

* Matthew 1:5

* Action—How we view life

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/Boaz/

* Ruth 2:1

* Character—How we view others

* *Purpose of writing*

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Lineage of King David (Ruth 4:17-22)

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People of faith during a time of faithlessness

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It is the story of what the life of faith should look like.

#. /The measure of a person’s faith is not found in the miracles that one can wrest from the hand of God nor in one’s personal health and prosperity, but in demonstrating ethical character./—Daniel

Block

* *Theme—Providence*

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Providence is an expression of God’s /sovereignty/—that God is all-powerful.

Because God is sovereign, he has providence over creation.

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Providence is distinct from /miracles/—God supernaturally defying the rules of nature (parting the Red Sea, raising the dead); see with the physical eye.

#. /Providence// is the truth that a living and personal God is actively involved in the world he created./

#. “Behind the scenes”

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Others use the word chance, fate, luck

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Seen with the eyes of faith

#. “Your will be done on earth as in heaven”

#. /God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and (3) directs them to fulfill his purposes./—Wayne

Grudem

#. /God’s providence brings about…/

* Peace in life – Romans 8:28

* Purpose in life – Ephesians 2:10

* Apprehension in life – Matthew 25:25

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We see God’s providence through the eyes of faith but /we only experience it through willful action/.

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Choices~/Decisions must be made.

* You cannot steer a parked car.

* God does not steer a parked life.

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Providence says that God is there, he cares, he rules, and he provides.

Faith in such a God undergirds every chapter of Ruth

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Famine (1:1); Barley harvest (1:22); Boaz’s field (2:3); Middle of night (3:8); So-and-So’s rejection (4:6)

!! *Outline of Ruth*

* Ch 1 – Trusting in God’s Goodness – Commitment

* Ch 2 – Acting on What We Know – Obedience

* Ch 3 – Stepping Out Into the Uknown – Faith

* Ch 4 – Leaving the Results to God – Hope

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*Conclusion*

* At times, we find ourselves in the epicenter where our lives are shaken by circumstances in life.

We then go to God seeking his will and what we should do.

* But even more powerful is when we make our own epicenter, we shake our world by acting in faith and trusting in God.

/It seems better to affirm that God causes all things that happen, but that he does so in such a way that he somehow upholds our ability to make willing, responsible choices, choices that have real and eternal results, and for which we are held accountable./—Wayne

Grudem