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4

Ruth

Decisions at the Crossroads

Ruth 1:6-14
In this lesson we focus on Naomi: Faced with intense suffering she decides to return to Judah.

Lesson Objectives

Understand that the church and caregivers have human limitations, and learn to place your trust in God rather than in people or systems.

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Opening

30 minutes

The opening section focusses on starting the group time, building fellowship and reviewing progress

Welcome

As people arrive, take a few minutes to settle in, share tea or a cool drink if possible, and connect informally so that everyone feels welcomed, safe, and encouraged before the study begins.

Prayer

Begin with a brief prayer (led by the leader or another group member), asking God to prepare your hearts, guide your time together, and help you depend on Him as you learn.

Review

  • Personal check-in: Take time for each person to briefly share how they are doing, so the study stays connected to real life and each person’s current situation.
  • Prayer and praise sharing: Invite group members to share prayer needs and thanksgivings, so you can care for one another and grow in mutual spiritual support.
  • Application review: Ask each person to reflect on the action step they chose last time, encouraging practical obedience with grace and support rather than shame.
  • Memory review: Review Scripture memory together (in pairs if helpful), building confidence, consistency, and encouragement as you learn God’s Word.
  • Character growth check: Revisit the character qualities or growth areas from the previous session, helping the group grow in Christlike character as well as biblical understanding.

Facilitator Notes

  • Help people feel at home, informal connection (small talk, tea/cool drink, etc.).
  • Goal: Create safety, belonging, and relational warmth before the Bible study begins. This is especially important for people coming from high-pressure or vulnerable situations. The group is seen as a place of mutual encouragement, not just teaching.
  • The goal of the opening prayer time is to prepare hearts, invite God’s help, and frame the meeting as dependence on God rather than a purely academic exercise.
  • The Review and Reflection time is a critical, recurring section central to the method of transformational learning.
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Study

60 minutes

In this section we focus on the bible with the goal of understanding, interpreting and applying its truth to our lives.

Read

  • Introduce the day’s lesson and why it matters,
  • Read the Bible passage together (taking turns or following along), remembering that God speaks to us through His Word.
Ruth 1:6-14

Observe & Reflect

Share what stood out to you in the passage, what you noticed, and how it made you feel, so that you can engage personally with God’s Word and contribute freely before the group moves into deeper discussion.

Discuss

Discuss the lessons and reflections drawn from the Scripture.

  • What prompted Naomi and the daughters in law to set off for Judah?
  • How is the situation changing?
  • What is Naomi’s response to the situation?
  • Discuss Naomi’s decision and her daughters-in-law’s attitudes
  • How would you describe the two women (Ruth & Orpah) and their decisions and actions?
  • What are the reasons for Naomi urging her daughters-in-law to leave her?
  • What makes the daughters in law to respond as they did?
  • How do Naomi’s words impact the two women (Ruth and Orpah) – how might they have felt?
  • How does this passage (specifically the experience of Orpah and Ruth) prompt you to rely on God rather than on people or systems or organisations?

Application & Commitment

Use these questions to guide you in making practical applications for your life:

  • What are the practical lessons we can draw from this episode?
  • What has been your experience as a BMB – are their people you have disappointed in your walk with God? Do you need to repent of any bitterness and resentment?
  • Orpah turned back after Naomi discouraged her—what practical pressures (not just “spiritual weakness”) could make someone turn back, and how should we respond to those who do turn back?
  • What emotions might Orpah have felt at the point of turning back (fear, shame, grief, being a burden)—and have you felt something similar in your journey?

Facilitator Notes

  • You can choose from the discussion questions based on these based on your group – you needn’t use them all
  • We’re trying to look at Naomi through the eyes of a BMB – how might the experience of a BMB parallel the experience of Orpah and Ruth in relation to Naomi?
  • As a BMB starts their journey, their caregivers/churches might disappoint them or let them down.
  • Help guide participants to practical achievable commitments and applications
  • We want the BMB to reach a point where they say their reliance will be on God and not on Man (caregivers. Church, mentors etc)
  • The goal of the application is to help realign them to trust in God but also to seek forgiveness or repent of bitterness or resentment towards caregivers or churches who may have disappointed them.
  • Also need to create a right balance – there is time to rely on people and seek guidance and help etc. (later in the book, Naomi turns out to be a good guide)
  • Help participants see Naomi as a limited caregiver/church figure carrying heavy pressure (loss, fear, responsibility she can’t fulfil), so they don’t place “saviour-level” expectations on people.
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Closing

30 minutes

The final section ends with the memorisation and preparation tasks for the next week.

Sharing

Who can you share this lesson with this week? This should be a natural overflow from your heart as God brings about transformation in your life.

Memorisation Task

Memorise the portion/s of Scripture below. Remember to continue repeating and reviewing previous memorisation tasks!

Previous Memorisation Tasks

Psalm 23,   Psalm 1,   2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20,  

Today's Memorisation Task

Psalm 8

Character Qualities

Memorise meditate on the following character quality or growth area during the week. (Choose one if more than one are offered)

Contentment

Realizing God has provided everything I need for my present happiness.
1 Timothy 6:8

Faith

Visualizing what God intends to do in a given situation and acting in harmony with it.
Hebrews 11:1

Next Orientation Task

In preparation for the next meeting, complete the following orientation task:

Read Ruth 1:6-14 multiple times and make reflection notes and observations. Please you are free and encouraged to read Ruth 1:1-14.

Close in prayer

Close in prayer by thanking God for what He has shown you, praying for one another’s commitments and specific needs, and asking the Holy Spirit to give you strength to live out His Word.

Wrap up

Before you finish, agree together on the next meeting time and any practical details, and encourage one another as you go.

Facilitator Notes

  • Remember to continue repeating and reviewing previous memorisation tasks (both memory verses and Character Qualities).
Additional Resources
Resources
  • Resources for Group Leaders
  • Bible Study Outlines
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Additional Resources

Series Resources

These resources offer additional information to support the group leader. They are designed to be used by the leader in preparation for a group meeting.

Introduction to Ruth

Key themes in the story of Ruth

Why study the book of Ruth

Leader Resources

These are general resources designed to equip group leaders and facilitators and help them to grow in leading well.

Learning Design

Lesson flow for facilitators

Participant Resources

These are general resources designed to support the participant in their personal devotional life between group meetings.

A Guide for Personal Devotion

A Simple Process for Memorisation

How to apply Scripture to your life