Skip to content
  • Follow our WhatsApp Channel
  • Subscribe to our Podcast
  • Homepage
  • Studies
    • Ruth
  • Contact
  • Homepage
  • Studies
    • Ruth
  • Contact
3

Ruth

Family in Crisis

Ruth 1:1-5
As Elimelech’s family faces famine and death in Moab, to them, God may seem to have abandoned them, but God’s subtle provision is still evident in their joys and sorrows.

Lesson Objectives

This lesson will help you honestly reflect on the hard parts of your life, recognise the mixed realities of joy and sorrow, and see that God’s blessings can still be present even in difficult seasons.

Print this Lesson
PrevPrevious
NextNext
Additional Resources

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.
Additional Resources

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 1:1-5

Observe & Reflect

  • Share what stood out to you in the passage
  • What did you notice, and how did it make you feel?

Discuss

Discuss the lessons and reflections drawn from the Scripture.

  • What were the joys and sorrows of Elimelech’s family?
  • Reflect on the specific life changing circumstances of each character.
  • If Elimelech’s family was living in your context today, what would people “talk” about the successive deaths in the family of Elimelech?
  • Naomi buried her husband and two sons in a foreign land, what did she experience?
  • Describe in detail the situation of the 3 widows: Naomi, Orpah and Ruth.
  • Describe the pressure the widows faced and indicate the source of pressure (if from self, others or community).

Application & Commitment

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

  • What have you observed/ learned from Ruth 1:1-15?
  • How does this relate to your circumstances?
  • How are you responding to your life-changing circumstances?
  • Based on what you’ve learned, what are you going to do?

Facilitator Notes

  • When providing time for personal reflection on the passage, we want each person to engage personally with God’s Word and contribute freely before the group moves into deeper discussion.
  • Help guide participants to practical achievable commitments and applications
Additional Resources

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

Today's Memorisation Task

Psalm 23

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

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

  • Continue repeating and reviewing previous memorisation:
  • Continue each Character Quality for 2 weeks
Additional Resources
Resources
  • Resources for Group Leaders
  • Bible Study Outlines
Get In Touch
  • WhatsApp Channel

© 2026 All Rights Reserved.

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