What does a servant’s heart look like? In Ruth 2:17–23, Ruth finishes her work in Boaz’s field and brings food home to Naomi. When Naomi hears that Boaz has shown Ruth kindness, she speaks a blessing and recognizes hope in his relationship to their family.

This sermon considers three marks of a servant’s heart: a willingness to serve, honor for rightful authority, and a desire to bless others. Ruth’s care for Naomi takes work and sacrifice. God uses that care to provide for both women and advance a purpose they cannot yet see.

Scripture: Ruth 2:17–23
Themes: A servant’s heart, Ruth and Naomi, Boaz, serving others, obedience, God’s grace, providence, redemption

To learn more, visit BenSmithSr.org.

In this sermon from Ruth 2:1–16, Ruth goes to glean so that she and Naomi can eat. She enters the field of Boaz, whose kindness gives her food, protection, and encouragement. Through these ordinary events, God is graciously providing for their needs.

The passage teaches us to recognize God’s provision, depend on Him when our resources are insufficient, and obey Him without waiting to see how every need will be met. God is also preparing for a purpose Ruth cannot yet see: through her family line will come Jesus Christ.

Scripture: Ruth 2:1–16
Themes: God’s provision, providence, grace, obedience, trust, Boaz, gleaning

To learn more, visit BenSmithSr.org.

WHERE YOU GO, I GO
Ruth 1

Ruth 1 is a story of suffering, loyalty, sovereignty, and redemption. After losing her husband and sons in Moab, Naomi returns to Bethlehem convinced that she has come home empty. Ruth chooses to remain with her, entrusting herself to Naomi’s people and to the living God.

In this episode of All for the Kingdom, Pastor Ben Smith explains that we cannot see the fullness of God’s plan. God’s will does not depend upon our understanding, and trusting His sovereignty means obeying before we know how our circumstances will turn out.

Sermon Outline:

You cannot know the fullness of God’s plan

Let suffering drive you toward God

Be faithful

Key Themes:

The sovereignty and faithfulness of God

Trusting God during suffering

Faithfulness in disappointment

Obedience before understanding

God’s power to restore

God’s redemptive purpose through Ruth

Scripture: Ruth 1

To learn more, visit BenSmithSr.org.

Psalm 7 is a prayer for believers facing false accusations, slander, persecution, and the temptation to live for human approval. When David’s reputation is attacked, he takes refuge in God and entrusts his case to the righteous Judge who searches every heart and knows every hidden truth.

In this expository sermon, Ben Smith explains how Psalm 7 gives Christians courage when they are misunderstood, falsely accused, or pressured to compromise.

In this episode:

• Why David can claim innocence without claiming sinlessness
• Why God’s approval matters more than the verdict of people
• How God’s knowledge of the heart brings both comfort and warning
• Why repentance is the proper response to God’s present judgment
• How the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ provide eternal peace
• Why believers can remain fearless, knowing God will establish righteousness

Scripture: Psalm 7
Sermon: Fearless
Speaker: Ben Smith
Main idea: Be concerned only with true judgment. Rest in God’s righteousness.

To learn more, visit BenSmithSr.org.

Psalm 6 is a prayer for mercy in a time of trouble. David is weary with sighing, overwhelmed with grief, and troubled in both body and soul. This psalm gives honest words for moments when suffering, sorrow, and spiritual distress feel overwhelming.

Pastor Ben Smith explains that Psalm 6 moves from moments of distress to assurance of hope. David feels the weight of God’s discipline, the pain of feeling abandoned, and the fatigue that comes from prolonged sorrow. Yet he does not run away from God. He calls on the Lord, pleads for mercy, and trusts that God will answer.

This sermon encourages believers to preach truth to themselves in seasons of despair. When it feels like prayer goes no further than the ceiling, the people of God must remember: the Lord has heard the voice of our weeping, the Lord receives our prayer, and hope comes from the mercy of God.

To learn more, visit BenSmithSr.org.

Psalm 5 is a morning prayer of David. He begins the day by ordering his prayer before the Lord and eagerly watching. As he prays, he contrasts the blessing of being received by God with the wickedness of those who rebel against Him.

Pastor Ben Smith explains that Psalm 5 teaches believers to stand in God’s presence and live under His shelter. God hears the prayers of His children, but He takes no pleasure in wickedness. David does not enter God’s house by his own goodness, but by the abundant lovingkindness and mercy of the Lord.

This sermon calls Christians to resist the temptation to envy the world or imitate the world. Living righteously is not a favor we do for God; it is a response to knowing His grace. The world may rebel against the Lord, but the righteous are called to walk in His way and trust His protection.

To learn more, visit BenSmithSr.org.

Psalm 4 is an evening prayer of trust in God. David is under attack, but the threat in this psalm appears to be the threat of slander, lies, and reproach rather than physical violence. In that distress, David turns to the Lord and remembers that the only judge of his worth and character who finally matters is God.

Pastor Ben Smith explains Psalm 4 through three movements: turn to the Lord, declare truth, and trust in God. David’s confidence does not rest in his own righteousness, reputation, achievements, or the approval of men. His hope rests in the grace of God and in the truth that the Lord hears when His people call.

This sermon calls believers to find their value in the Lord alone, fear the Lord, trust His deliverance, and rest in the peace that comes from God’s protection. The enemies may remain, but God’s people do not face them alone.

To learn more, visit BenSmithSr.org.

Psalm 3 is a morning prayer of trust in God, written when David fled from Absalom his son. David’s enemies had increased, many were rising against him, and many were saying there was no deliverance for him in God.

Pastor Ben Smith explains how David responds to danger, discouragement, and demoralizing words. He does not pretend the threats are imaginary. They are real, painful, and dangerous. Yet David turns from the size of his enemies to the greatness of God. The Lord is his shield, his glory, and the One who lifts his head.

This sermon calls believers to trust the Lord in the midst of chaos. God is present, God hears, God sustains, and God saves. Salvation belongs to the Lord, and His blessing is upon His people.

To learn more, visit BenSmithSr.org.