Turning Back or Pressing On?

Ruth and Orpah had similar backgrounds but in Ruth 1:14ff they make very different decisions about their futures.  Ruth chose Jehovah and His people, while Orpah chose the religion and people of Moab.  Their contrasting decisions illustrate four vital salvation truths concerning apostasy and perseverance.

Hearing and Responding to the Gospel

Naomi's decision to leave Moab and return to Bethlehem provides a remarkable picture of a lost person (1) hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and (2) responding to that message with repentance and faith.

Bleak Reality in a Sin-Ruined World

The Book of Ruth begins with a heartbreaking description of sin and its consequences.  This is not only the beginning the remarkable story of Ruth but it's also where the gospel of Jesus Christ begins.  It's only when we see our dark and hopeless condition under sins that we appreciate the glorious light of Christ.

Vital Christian Characteristics

In the closing verses of Peter's first epistle, he commends messenger Silvanus and conveys greetings to the letter's recipients.  In the course of these verses, however, Peter mentions six characteristics of Christians that summarize major themes of the entire epistle: faithfulness, grace, being chosen by God, love, peace and being in Christ.  This message examines each of these vital characteristics of each believer.

God of All Grace

In 1Peter 5:10, God is described as "the God of all grace".   Because He is so gracious, the passage teaches us, the Christian (1) can endure suffering, (2) can be certain of entering eternal glory, (3) will grow in sanctification and stability, and (4) will be moved to worship God.

Your Adversary, the Devil

The Apostle Peter warns us Christians about the Devil, our spiritual adversary.  In this message, we consider (1) the reality of the Devil, (2) the destructive activity of the Devil, particularly via his lies and temptations, and (3) how we must resist the Devil.  Not only are we able to resist his schemes, but the Bible promises that we will succeed through the victory that Christ won for us at the Cross.

Casting Anxiety

1Peter 5:7 provides a powerful  solution for the common human problem of anxiety.  God simply commands us to "cast" those anxieties from ourselves and onto Himself, our loving Heavenly Father.  We can safely trust God with all our problems "because He cares for you."