Faithful Love!

Discipleship Questions for Sunday

October 14, 2007

Scripture Readings:

 

First Reading: Ruth 1:1-19

Psalm: 98

Second Reading: 2Timothy 2:3-15

Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

 

Ruth 1:1-19a1Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion-Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. 3Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. 6Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread. 7Therefore she went out 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. 8And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each to her mother's house. The LORD deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9The LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." 10And they said to her, "Surely we will return with you to your people." 11But Naomi said, "Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? 12Turn back, my daughters, go-for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, 13would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!" 14Then they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15And she said, "Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law." 16But Ruth said: " Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. 17Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me." 18When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. 19Now the two of them went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, "Is this Naomi?" -- NKJV

Psa. 98:1

  Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.  2 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.  3 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.  4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;  5 make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,  6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King.  7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.  8 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;  9 let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

 

2 Timothy 2:3-153You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. 8Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. 14Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. -- NKJV

Luke 17:11-1911Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" 19And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well." -- NKJV

Discipleship Questions:

 

  1. In our readings we’re going to focus on 3 primary Christian virtues.  Can you discern what they might be?  Please read the Scripture readings and discuss.
  2. The word “fidelity” comes to mind when I think about Ruth and her commitment to Naomi.  Is this a virtue that you have?  Who do you know who has this virtue?  What would you look like with this virtue?
  3. What virtue is Paul calling Timothy to grow in?  Is this one of your virtues?  How could you grow in it?  Can you imagine yourself with this virtue?
  4. What virtue is being focused upon in the Gospel reading in Luke?  Can  you imagine your life with this virtue as dominant?  What would it look like?
  5. Every Sunday we come to the Communion Table.  Another word for this is “Eucharist.”  This word means “Thankfulness.”  When we come to the Altar we should be in a state of thankfulness.  Deep gratitude is a wonderful virtue to carry throughout your days.  Please discuss if this is true and why and then discuss how you can bring this virtue out more and more in your life.