Christ Church (Moscow, ID)

Take a deep breath and remember that God has not changed. His Word and Kingdom have not changed. The blood of Christ has not changed. And your work of faith has not changed. Obey right where you are. The scenery changes as you go farther up and farther in. But the call to go farther up and farther in, nothing has changed about that.

It is through these steady, cheerful, and sacrificial blessings that true friendships are built. And here is the abiding principle of friendship, no matter the season of life: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13).

INTRODUCTIONThis book is truly a Divine Comedy. It is no tragedy, although it seems initially to be so. This story has a happy ending. A wedding, a baby, and a genealogy. What could be more thrilling?THE TEXTThen went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance... (Ruth 4).SUMMARY OF THE TEXTBoaz sets about to make good on his vow (3:13) to ensure that Ruth & Naomi would not be left bereft of a kinsman redeemer; it would either be the nearer kinsman, or else Boaz would fulfill the duty (v1). Boaz meets the man at the gate of Bethlehem and hails him as “such a one” (v1), assembles a council of ten elders (v2, Cf. Pro. 31:23), appraises the nameless kinsman of the opportunity to buy Elimelech’s parcel (v3). Boaz informs the man that if he doesn’t want to buy it, then Boaz will, but––to our disappointment––the man agrees to buy it (v4). However, Boaz has another card to play, the man must also marry Ruth the Moabitess and raise up a son in Elimelech’s stead (v5).The kinsman balks at this out of fear of marring his own inheritance (v6). So, the customary transfer of duty was performed by removing his shoe & giving it to Boaz (vv7-8, Cf. Deu. 25:9-10). Boaz then announces to the council & all the people that he had purchased all that was Elimelech’s, and his sons (v9), including marrying Ruth with the incumbent duty to raise up the name of the dead (v10). Both the elders and the people add their witness and a three-fold blessing: 1) that Ruth would be like the  matriarchs Rachel & Leah––building a mighty house of many sons, 2) that both Boaz and his offspring might be mighty & famous (v11); and 3) that the house of Boaz might  be like the house of Pharez, begotten from Tamar’s righteous act of faith (v12, Cf. Gen 38).Boaz takes Ruth, and the Lord grants conception of a son (v13). Bethlehem’s women bless the Lord for this gift to Naomi, for this son––who would be famous––would be unto Naomi as a resurrection, a comfort all her days, a blessing from the faithful loyalty of her daughter-in-law who turned out to be better than seven sons (vv14-15). Naomi’s bosom is now filled with a son (v16), and the womenfolk take it upon themselves to name the boy Obed: the serving one (v17). This servant-son would be the grandfather of mighty David (v17b). The text concludes with a vital genealogy, tracing ten generations from Pharez unto King David (vv18-22).THE NAMELESS & SHOELESSThe names of the characters in this story are integral to the story. The story opens with a Elimelech (God is King), acting as if God isn’t king. His two sons are “sickly” & “pining”. Naomi (pleasantness) attempts to rename herself Mara (bitter). Boaz’s name implies strength & virility. But the near kinsman is left deliberately nameless. Boaz calls him, “Hey so-and-so.” This isn’t Boaz having a moment of forgetfulness. The Narrator is driving something home.As the law in Deuteronomy instructed, the man who refused to fulfill this duty to his perished brother would henceforth be known as the “one without a shoe.” But in Ruth’s story, this man insists that he can’t fulfill his duty so as to not mar his own inheritance. He tries to maintain his name, and as such his name is forgotten. He is left nameless & shoeless. He is forgotten, as it were, while the son which came from Boaz is blessed with fame.The nearer kinsman had a lawful claim, and both Naomi & Ruth & the land & name of Elimelech are bound up in this claim; Boaz cannot fulfill his vow until this nameless kinsman renounces his claim. The claim on Ruth must be nullified before she is free to marry Boaz. But once this obstacle is removed, nothing is left in the way. The wedding bells can peal.UNTIL THE TENTH GENERATIONIn Deuteronomy 23:2-3 we have two parallel laws that shed light on the story of Ruth: “A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD. An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever.”The mention of Pharez, the son born from Judah & Tamar’s union, brings this into the foreground. Pharez would seem to be a bastard son; but in Tamar’s faith, God’s blessing flows even to bastard sons. Pharez’s tribe grew to greatness in Israel (Num. 26:21), and the Bethlehemites pray that Boaz & Ruth’s house would likewise become a great host.As you count up the generations here in this genealogy, you find ten generations. In other words, any objections to David’s right to be a king are moot. The generational distance from both Pharez and the Moabites unkindness sufficed to ensure that God had now raised up for Himself a king after His own heart. God, like the ten generations from Adam to Noah, and from Noah to Abraham, was bringing about a new unveiling of His covenant glory. Ruth begins with God as King, and ends with God raising up a son to be a King over His people.Boaz points us to Christ, the bridegroom of the Church, who was restless until He removed every obstacle to our redemption. Obed points us to Christ, a servant-son to the widow, being her resurrection & life. And the book’s final word , David, points us to Christ, a great King who would rule with God’s people with truth & grace. By themselves they are incomplete portraits of Christ, but in Christ all the types and shadows come together in glorious array.A SON OF GREAT RENOWNBalaam had proclaimed in his curses over Israel, which turned into blessings, that God would raise up a Heavenly King in Israel who would crush Moab. Now, a Moabitess, by faith, becomes the matriarch of that King. Boaz’s name indeed became famous, his name being assigned to one of the pillars of the temple. David, of course, becomes arguably the central character of the rest of OT history.But of course, the name of great renown which is in view here, is the name at which every knee must one day bow. The name is Jesus, the son of David. This story of Ruth tells us of a babe born in Bethlehem, in order that many centuries later we might not be surprised when God once more providentially causes a Son predestined for great renown to be born in that Little Town of Bethlehem.This whole story of Ruth teaches us more than just lessons of duty, loyalty, obedience, and virtue. It teaches us that God’s hand is behind all things. Not only that, but the purpose behind all His mysterious movings is in order to raise up a Son of Great Renown. You must receive this name as yours. Don’t try to rename yourself, according to your circumstances. Don’t care about your own name so much that you end up nameless. Instead, receive the name of great David’s greater Son.This divine novella ends in wedding bells, and leaves us with the name of a great king. But the whole of history is heading to a final day when the wedding bells will once more peal louder than ever, and the name of the King of kings shall be upon the lips of all who are His.

INTRODUCTIONThe fear of God is not a craven, crawling thing. In this passage, the fear of God is a driving motive force for evangelism, and evangelism is a proclamation of the good news, not the declaration of dreadful news. The fear of God therefore needs to be something that we understand as powerful and attractive.THE TEXT“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause” (2 Cor. 5:11–13).SUMMARY OF THE TEXTIn the light of this judgment, in light of the fact that every man will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, we know what it is to fear the Lord. Precisely because we know “the terror” of the Lord, we seek to persuade men (v. 11). Persuade them of what? Persuade them to consider their true condition. A human life without true, complete, utter, and entire accountability has not yet been lived, and never will be. It is madness not to factor this in to how we live our lives. This is something Paul does coram Deo, in the manifest sight of God, and Paul trusts that it is manifest enough to be obvious to the consciences of the Corinthians also. The reason Paul is writing about this here is not to brag to the Corinthians, but rather to give them an opportunity to brag about him. They needed the material so that they could answer the false teachers at Corinth—identified by Paul here as those who glory in appearances, and not in heart (v. 12). Paul acknowledges that some will think he is crazy, while others will call him sober-minded. He divides it up this way. If we are out of our minds, it is for God. If we are calm and judicious, it is for you Corinthians (v. 13).TESTIMONY AND APPEARANCESWe should begin by acknowledging that there is a sense in which believers ought to care about our testimony and reputation. Elders should have a good reputation with outsiders (1 Tim. 3:7). A good name is greatly to be valued (Prov. 22:1). Because we live lives of integrity, those who slander us should be ashamed of themselves (1 Pet. 2:15).But at the same time, Jesus tells us that when all men speak well of us, we should consider that as a real danger sign (Luke 6:26). That is how they speak of false teachers, and in our passage, Paul tells us that false teachers cultivate and pursue such appearances (v. 12). This is their currency. They care about appearances, which is not the same as caring about testimony. Caring about testimony is caring about the truth, and caring about appearances is caring about the lie.So test your hearts in this. Would you rather be truthful and thought a liar, or a liar and thought a truthteller? Would you rather be courageous and thought a coward, or a coward who is thought to be courageous? Would you rather be honest and thought to be dishonest, or dishonest and thought to be honest? The answer will reveal whether you are standing before God or men.JUBILANT TERRORKnowing therefore the terror (phobos) of the Lord, we seek to persuade men. I began by saying that the fear of God is not a craven thing. This is not a religion for lickspittles. Although the same word (fear) is used, there is a vast difference between the flinching that wants to avoid a blow and the awe that swallows you up when you consider that the paving stones in God’s palaces contain numberless galaxies. Perfect love casts out the first kind of fear (1 John 4:18), and perfect love ushers in the second kind (Ps. 8). What is man, that you are mindful of him?This is why Paul can tell the Philippians to work out their salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12). But working out our salvation includes rejoicing constantly (Phil. 4:4). Rejoice with fear and trembling.This is what the kings of the earth are commanded to learn. “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:11).And when Moses and Aaron were dedicating the tabernacle, the fire of God flared out from the glory of God and consumed the burnt offering.“And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces” (Lev. 9:24).But these were not religious feelies. The fire of God devoured Nadab and Abihu in the next verses (Lev. 10:2), and so God instituted a law for priests against drinking on the job (Lev. 10:9). And yet the people fell on their faces, shouting and jubilant in their terror.JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORYAnd this is what the Scriptures point us to, constantly. Paul wants us to have the “spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.” He wants us to have the “eyes of our understanding enlightened” so that we might “know what is the hope of our calling,” not to mention the “riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” And what else? The “exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power” (Eph. 1:17–19).He also prays that we might be “able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height,” and more than that, to “know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge,” and he wants us to be “filled with the fulness of God.” He wants us to ask and think that, and then to commit it all to the one who can do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:18–20). He wants us to grasp the ungraspable, and to know the unknowable, and to be filled with the infinite. And then he wants us to be hungry for more than that.“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” (1 Peter 1:8).This is the reality that will make evangelism potent. Knowing what it is to fear the Lord, we seek to persuade men. As we reflect Christ, we point the way to Christ. And as we witness to Him, we pray for the fire to fall.

Remember the objective. The first stage of parenting is to make self-controlled children who live joyfully under life-giving authority. If we can keep the unity of command, maintain our lines of communication, concentrate our forces, and stay mobile, victory is to be had.But the victory is not through our own doing, it is the work of Jesus Christ our Savior. For indeed, this is entirely an effort in faith. We live in faith and we parent in faith. Enjoy session 4 of 7 from Grace Agenda 2022 Main Conference in Moscow, ID.When a man and woman say, “I do,” they are launched together into a grand adventure with numerous unexpected twists and turns. Along with all the blessings from marriage, there are also sleepless nights with crying babies, expensive car repairs, burnt dinners, potential drama with extended family, and turmoil in the world. The world thinks that when a marriage is confronted with hardship, either spouse can push the emergency eject button and simply move on due to “irreconcilable differences.” But Christian couples are commanded, in sickness and health, riches and poverty, good times and bad, to display the glory of Christ and the church. To do this takes gritty faith, covenant fidelity, and joyful forbearance.Grace Agenda 2022: Marriage Bootcamp aims to equip Christian couples to ride into the turbulence of the world in which we live with a fearless resolve to glorify God in their home and so advance the kingdom of God in the midst of the smoking crater that is Western Civilization.—The last several years Christ Church has tried an experiment in grace and has not charged for the Grace Agenda conference. In keeping with this spirit of grace, we are accepting free will donations at https://www.graceagenda.com/donate.

Enjoy session 3 of 7 from Grace Agenda 2022 Main Conference in Moscow, ID.When a man and woman say, “I do,” they are launched together into a grand adventure with numerous unexpected twists and turns. Along with all the blessings from marriage, there are also sleepless nights with crying babies, expensive car repairs, burnt dinners, potential drama with extended family, and turmoil in the world. The world thinks that when a marriage is confronted with hardship, either spouse can push the emergency eject button and simply move on due to “irreconcilable differences.” But Christian couples are commanded, in sickness and health, riches and poverty, good times and bad, to display the glory of Christ and the church. To do this takes gritty faith, covenant fidelity, and joyful forbearance.Grace Agenda 2022: Marriage Bootcamp aims to equip Christian couples to ride into the turbulence of the world in which we live with a fearless resolve to glorify God in their home and so advance the kingdom of God in the midst of the smoking crater that is Western Civilization.—The last several years Christ Church has tried an experiment in grace and has not charged for the Grace Agenda conference. In keeping with this spirit of grace, we are accepting free will donations at https://www.graceagenda.com/donate.

Enjoy session 1 of 7 from Grace Agenda 2022 Main Conference in Moscow, ID.When a man and woman say, “I do,” they are launched together into a grand adventure with numerous unexpected twists and turns. Along with all the blessings from marriage, there are also sleepless nights with crying babies, expensive car repairs, burnt dinners, potential drama with extended family, and turmoil in the world. The world thinks that when a marriage is confronted with hardship, either spouse can push the emergency eject button and simply move on due to “irreconcilable differences.” But Christian couples are commanded, in sickness and health, riches and poverty, good times and bad, to display the glory of Christ and the church. To do this takes gritty faith, covenant fidelity, and joyful forbearance.Grace Agenda 2022: Marriage Bootcamp aims to equip Christian couples to ride into the turbulence of the world in which we live with a fearless resolve to glorify God in their home and so advance the kingdom of God in the midst of the smoking crater that is Western Civilization.—The last several years Christ Church has tried an experiment in grace and has not charged for the Grace Agenda conference. In keeping with this spirit of grace, we are accepting free will donations at https://www.graceagenda.com/donate.

Women are the glory of their husbands, and that glory should be as obvious as a pillar of fire by night. It needs to be as obvious as a circlet of diamonds around his forehead.How would biblical obedience in this instance be slandered and caricatured? If we were really living this way, it could never be that “those Christian men browbeat their wives.” A more plausible slander would be that Christian men glorify their wives to the point of encouraging vanity. Let us not fall into the sin—but we should be careful to live in a way that provokes the slander.Enjoy session 5 of 7 from Grace Agenda 2022 Main Conference in Moscow, ID.When a man and woman say, “I do,” they are launched together into a grand adventure with numerous unexpected twists and turns. Along with all the blessings from marriage, there are also sleepless nights with crying babies, expensive car repairs, burnt dinners, potential drama with extended family, and turmoil in the world. The world thinks that when a marriage is confronted with hardship, either spouse can push the emergency eject button and simply move on due to “irreconcilable differences.” But Christian couples are commanded, in sickness and health, riches and poverty, good times and bad, to display the glory of Christ and the church. To do this takes gritty faith, covenant fidelity, and joyful forbearance.Grace Agenda 2022: Marriage Bootcamp aims to equip Christian couples to ride into the turbulence of the world in which we live with a fearless resolve to glorify God in their home and so advance the kingdom of God in the midst of the smoking crater that is Western Civilization.—The last several years Christ Church has tried an experiment in grace and has not charged for the Grace Agenda conference. In keeping with this spirit of grace, we are accepting free will donations at https://www.graceagenda.com/donate.

The Reformation that has to take place for this country to be salvaged has to occur marriage by marriage, family by family, congregation by congregation. It cannot be a top-down solution. Enjoy session 7 of 7 from Grace Agenda 2022 Main Conference in Moscow, ID.When a man and woman say, “I do,” they are launched together into a grand adventure with numerous unexpected twists and turns. Along with all the blessings from marriage, there are also sleepless nights with crying babies, expensive car repairs, burnt dinners, potential drama with extended family, and turmoil in the world. The world thinks that when a marriage is confronted with hardship, either spouse can push the emergency eject button and simply move on due to “irreconcilable differences.” But Christian couples are commanded, in sickness and health, riches and poverty, good times and bad, to display the glory of Christ and the church. To do this takes gritty faith, covenant fidelity, and joyful forbearance.Grace Agenda 2022: Marriage Bootcamp aims to equip Christian couples to ride into the turbulence of the world in which we live with a fearless resolve to glorify God in their home and so advance the kingdom of God in the midst of the smoking crater that is Western Civilization.—The last several years Christ Church has tried an experiment in grace and has not charged for the Grace Agenda conference. In keeping with this spirit of grace, we are accepting free will donations at https://www.graceagenda.com/donate.

Enjoy session 6 of 7 from Grace Agenda 2022 Main Conference in Moscow, ID.When a man and woman say, “I do,” they are launched together into a grand adventure with numerous unexpected twists and turns. Along with all the blessings from marriage, there are also sleepless nights with crying babies, expensive car repairs, burnt dinners, potential drama with extended family, and turmoil in the world. The world thinks that when a marriage is confronted with hardship, either spouse can push the emergency eject button and simply move on due to “irreconcilable differences.” But Christian couples are commanded, in sickness and health, riches and poverty, good times and bad, to display the glory of Christ and the church. To do this takes gritty faith, covenant fidelity, and joyful forbearance.Grace Agenda 2022: Marriage Bootcamp aims to equip Christian couples to ride into the turbulence of the world in which we live with a fearless resolve to glorify God in their home and so advance the kingdom of God in the midst of the smoking crater that is Western Civilization.—The last several years Christ Church has tried an experiment in grace and has not charged for the Grace Agenda conference. In keeping with this spirit of grace, we are accepting free will donations at https://www.graceagenda.com/donate.