Welcome!

This month we are learning about God, God’s son Jesus and Jesus’ earthly family tree.

The next person in Jesus’ family tree is a woman named Ruth. She has her own book of the Bible and our lesson on Ruth can be found here. Our story today will be an abbreviated version.

Ruth had a mother-in-law named Naomi and Naomi’s husband AND Ruth’s husband had died. Back then, if the husband died, the wife would have no money and no way to take care of herself, so Naomi planned to go back to her people in Bethlehem (does that sound familiar?)

But Ruth wouldn’t let her go alone. She stayed right with Naomi and when they got there, Ruth went to fields to pick the leftover food for her and Naomi to share.

A man named Boaz owned the fields and he saw how hard-working and nice Ruth was. He saw that she took good care of Naomi and so he told her she could pick food from his fields anytime she wanted. Then he gave her a LOT of food to take home to Naomi.

When she told Naomi about it, Naomi said, “I know Boaz! He is part of out family! He will help us!”

Boaz was called a kinsman-redeemer…or a family member who could save them. (Just like Jesus saves us and takes care of us!) Boaz promised to take care of Ruth and Naomi and he even married Ruth.

Later Ruth would become King David’s grandma! And she would be part of Jesus’ family.

God is our redeemer. To redeem something means to save it, to forgive any bad in it, or to pay the price for something. When Jesus came, He died for us and He paid the price for our sins. He forgives us and saves us. (Job 19:25, Is 44:6, Luke 1:68 (Zechariah’s song)).

 

As we continue the story of Jesus’ birth, we remember that Mary and Joseph were visiting Bethlehem because all the people had to be counted, but when they got there, there was no where for them to stay?! Finally, someone said they could stay in the barn.

Can you imagine Mary and her big old belly sleeping in the barn? Have you ever been in a stinky barn? With hay and animals? They were probably happy for a warm place to stay, but I’m sure it’s not what they were expecting. (Just like Ruth had no idea she would be saved and married to Boaz when she followed her mother-in-law Naomi!)

Do you know what happens next in that barn? We’ll see tomorrow!

 

Bible story: Ruth

Attribute of God: Redeemer

Jesus’ birth story: room in the barn

Craft:

Side one of our ornament today is a circle and we cut out some shapes of grain. Then using the tips of our scissors, we fringed the wheat.

Our text reads: Day 12- Ruth

God is our redeemer. Ruth 1:1-2:3, Job 19:25

Side two of our ornament is a circle with a barn. (My son added some spider webs to the barn).

Our text reads: Mary and Joseph stayed in a barn. Luke 2

 

Our current family tree, front and back:

 

Thanks for joining us. Love to you all!