Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Romans 1:13-27. Only the gospel ("good news") of Jesus Christ has true power to set people of all nations free from sin. To accept the good news is to also acknowledge the bad news: in our human sinfulness, we all begin excluded from God's holy presence. To reconcile with God, we must admit He exists and that we are accountable to Him. Unwilling to submit to God, man's only alternative is to travel a dark road of willful ignorance that leads away from truth into layers of falsehood. Idolatry, the promotion of false ideas and worship, and depraved sexual sin mark the trail of a desperate search for meaning and fulfillment. These are symptoms of rebellion against God which can only be resolved by turning back to the true and living God and the only Savior, Jesus, by faith.

Scott Allen leads today's lesson from Ruth 3:8-13; 4:13-17. Ruth has loyally followed her mother-in-law Naomi from her native country of Moab to Israel. Ruth has experienced the Lord's favor. Naomi's relative Boaz has noticed Ruth and learned about her story. Now is the time for a bold request. Ruth follows Naomi's instructions on how to ask Boaz to be her kinsman-redeemer. In a family whose hopes seemed shattered, a love story blooms. Boaz and Ruth not only model the redemption that God offers to all people... they end up part of the Messiah story themselves as David's great grandparents. Bask now in the wonder of God's persistent work towards redemption. Jesus paid the price so that all of us could have to opportunity to join God's family.

Scott Allen leads today's lesson is from Ruth 1:11-18; 2:5-12. A tragic story has unfolded in a foreign land. Naomi and her husband had left the land of Judah for Moab. Their two sons had found wives there, contrary to God's instructions. A decade later, all the men of the family had died, leaving behind 3 widows. There was nothing left in Moab for Naomi but bitter memories. She resolved to return to her homeland and sought to dismiss her young daughters-in-law to find new husbands and a new life in their homeland of Moab. One daughter-in-law, named Ruth, refused to leave Naomi. Ruth's remarkable dedication to her mother-in-law would have far reaching implications as they journeyed together to the land of Israel. As Naomi turns towards home, God begins to weave together a marvelous redemption story.