Faith, Part 1

Ruth 3:1-18
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Welcome back to our engaging series on the Book of Ruth, as we delve into the timeless lessons drawn from the lives of Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz. In today’s episode of Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, we explore why an ancient love story still holds relevance in our lives. Brimming with themes of love, loss, and divine providence, the narrative beautifully reflects how our extraordinary God uses ordinary people to fulfil His gracious plans. Pastor Colin explains how love can guide us towards appreciation, selflessness, and rest. Join us as we uncover profound insights from Ruth’s world to enrich our faith journey.

100:00:00,660 –> 00:00:09,820Well, we are returning this morning to our series on Ruth, this beautiful story of the200:00:09,820 –> 00:00:17,400lives, the loves and the losses of three ordinary people. Now, why should we be300:00:17,400 –> 00:00:24,680interested at all in this ancient love story? Welcome to Open the Bible with400:00:24,680 –> 00:00:29,740Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick. Glad you could be with us today. Now, Colin,500:00:29,940 –> 00:00:34,599we’ve got our attention, so now you’ve got to answer that question, why should we600:00:34,820 –> 00:00:36,480be interested in this ancient love story?700:00:36,939 –> 00:00:41,020Well, I mean, I think the first thing would be everyone’s interested in a love800:00:41,020 –> 00:00:45,700story. This is a story that speaks directly into our lives today because it900:00:45,700 –> 00:00:52,919is a story about love, it’s a story about loss, and it’s a story about the help1000:00:52,919 –> 00:00:57,820and the provision and the kindness of Almighty God. And every one of these1100:00:58,180 –> 00:01:00,599things speak directly into our lives today.1200:01:00,959 –> 00:01:04,800I think the book of Ruth is one of the most beautiful stories in all of the1300:01:04,800 –> 00:01:10,160Bible, and I’m so glad that we’re able to look at it together today and to see1400:01:10,320 –> 00:01:14,940how God ministers to us in the realities of our lives.1500:01:15,180 –> 00:01:19,680So join us in the book of Ruth, chapter three if you can, today, as we begin1600:01:19,680 –> 00:01:21,559a message entitled Faith.1700:01:21,760 –> 00:01:22,440Here’s Colin.1800:01:23,279 –> 00:01:27,419Well, we are returning this morning to our series on Ruth.1900:01:27,459 –> 00:01:33,660This beautiful story of the lives, the loves and the losses of2000:01:33,660 –> 00:01:36,019three ordinary people.2100:01:36,540 –> 00:01:41,040We have met Naomi, who endured great sorrow and great loss.2200:01:41,779 –> 00:01:47,660She had moved with her husband and her two sons to Moab because there was a2300:01:47,660 –> 00:01:49,099famine in Bethlehem.2400:01:49,120 –> 00:01:55,500She had stayed there 10 years and during that time she had suffered a triple2500:01:55,900 –> 00:01:56,800bereavement.2600:01:56,820 –> 00:02:02,400First, she had lost her husband Elimelech, then she had lost her two married2700:02:02,400 –> 00:02:05,699sons, Malhan and Chullian.2800:02:06,580 –> 00:02:13,279And then we met Naomi’s daughter-in-law Ruth, a Moabites who had come to faith in2900:02:13,279 –> 00:02:14,619the living God.3000:02:15,199 –> 00:02:19,419And she also, of course, had endured a triple bereavement.3100:02:19,460 –> 00:02:24,500She’d lost her husband, she’d lost her father-in-law and she had lost her3200:02:24,500 –> 00:02:25,539brother-in-law.3300:02:26,600 –> 00:02:32,699When Naomi returned to Bethlehem, we saw earlier in the story that Ruth made an3400:02:32,699 –> 00:02:36,880astonishing commitment of faith and of love.3500:02:37,419 –> 00:02:44,979She says to Naomi, where you go, I will go, where you live, I will live and your3600:02:44,979 –> 00:02:48,440God will be my God.3700:02:49,399 –> 00:02:52,539And then we were introduced to the third character, Boaz.3800:02:53,240 –> 00:03:00,380Boaz was a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband, Elimelech, and he was a man of3900:03:00,380 –> 00:03:05,539some means, and it seems clear as we’ll see from the story today that he was in4000:03:05,539 –> 00:03:08,139midlife or older.4100:03:08,720 –> 00:03:15,419We saw how when Naomi and Ruth came back to Bethlehem, Ruth went to glean in the4200:03:15,880 –> 00:03:17,899fields during the barley harvest.4300:03:18,399 –> 00:03:23,479Gleaners would follow the harvesters and basically pick up the small amounts4400:03:23,479 –> 00:03:26,139of grain that they left behind.4500:03:26,679 –> 00:03:32,580And it just so happened, that word is in chapter two and verse three, that the4600:03:32,580 –> 00:03:39,259field in which Ruth chose to glean belonged to this man, Boaz.4700:03:40,020 –> 00:03:45,740Now, why should we be interested at all, in this ancient love story?4800:03:45,740 –> 00:03:50,660What does this have to do with all of us here today?4900:03:51,259 –> 00:03:56,100And we’ve been seeing that this is a story for us because it’s not only a5000:03:56,100 –> 00:04:01,660story about three ordinary people, it is a story about our extra ordinary God.5100:04:01,899 –> 00:04:08,259And what we learn from it at its heart is that our extraordinary God weaves5200:04:08,259 –> 00:04:18,179our lives and our loves and our losses into his hidden plan to bring blessing5300:04:18,619 –> 00:04:19,459to the world.5400:04:19,459 –> 00:04:22,260That’s what the book of Ruth is all about.5500:04:22,619 –> 00:04:25,480God is able to work through your life.5600:04:26,480 –> 00:04:29,500God is able to work through your loves.5700:04:30,399 –> 00:04:36,579God is even able to work through your losses in order to bring blessing to you5800:04:37,420 –> 00:04:38,940to others.5900:04:39,540 –> 00:04:45,059Now, we take up the story then today in chapter 3 and verse 1, where we read that6000:04:45,059 –> 00:04:54,320then Naomi, her mother in law said to her, that is Ruth, my daughter, should I not6100:04:54,320 –> 00:04:59,100seek rest for you that it may be well with you.6200:04:59,140 –> 00:05:06,859Now, Naomi was an older woman and Ruth had made this extraordinary commitment6300:05:06,859 –> 00:05:13,260of love and loyalty to support her, to care for her. Where you go where you live6400:05:13,260 –> 00:05:18,119I will live. Where you die I will die. But here’s the point, what would happen6500:05:18,119 –> 00:05:24,600to Ruth when Naomi was gone? And I want you to see here that Naomi gives to us6600:05:24,600 –> 00:05:32,820a marvelous snapshot of love in action. Notice that love appreciates what6700:05:32,820 –> 00:05:37,459others have done and seeks to do good for them.6800:05:37,459 –> 00:05:44,040We want to grow in faith, hope, and love. And here’s a snapshot of what it looks6900:05:44,040 –> 00:05:48,320like to grow in love right here. There’s actually a remarkable change that’s7000:05:48,320 –> 00:05:53,679taken place in Naomi. At the end of chapter one, not surprisingly, after a7100:05:53,679 –> 00:05:58,500triple bereavement, her thoughts were all about herself, and all about her loss.7200:05:58,500 –> 00:06:02,320That was what was consuming her mind and her heart. She’d gone through this7300:06:02,320 –> 00:06:10,260bitter, bitter experience and it really had taken its toll. But God’s provision7400:06:10,260 –> 00:06:15,540for Naomi through Ruth, and through Boaz, had given her a new7500:06:15,540 –> 00:06:22,480sense of hope. It had given her a new sense of purpose. There’s a reason why7600:06:22,480 –> 00:06:30,880I’m still here, and God has something for me to do. And notice that our focus now7700:06:30,880 –> 00:06:37,959is not so much on herself, but on what she can do for Ruth. Now remember in Old7800:06:37,959 –> 00:06:42,859Testament times particularly, seniority really carried an awful lot of weight.7900:06:42,859 –> 00:06:48,720And Naomi could easily have said, well, you know it’s the job of the younger to8000:06:49,459 –> 00:06:56,799us older ones. It’s Ruth’s calling to meet my needs. Now what’s Ruth gonna do for me?8100:06:56,799 –> 00:07:04,359But you see by God’s grace, this older woman has come to a better place.8200:07:04,359 –> 00:07:10,980Naomi is not asking, in chapter 3 in verse 1, what can Ruth do for me? She is8300:07:11,179 –> 00:07:19,519asking, what can I do for Ruth who has loved me so well? How can I make her life8400:07:19,519 –> 00:07:25,059better? My daughter, should I not seek rest8500:07:25,059 –> 00:07:34,059for you, that it may be well with you? Now love appreciates then what others have8600:07:34,119 –> 00:07:41,640for us and therefore seeks to do good for them. So who has brought blessing8700:07:41,640 –> 00:07:48,480into your life? Just think about that and ask yourself, rather than saying what8800:07:48,480 –> 00:07:55,799more can they do for me, how can I bring blessing to them? Who supports and helps8900:07:55,799 –> 00:08:03,700and encourages you? Well now, how can you help and support and encourage them? Who9000:08:03,739 –> 00:08:11,619has been a true friend to you? How can you then be a true friend to them? And9100:08:11,619 –> 00:08:17,380then think about what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for you, and then ask9200:08:17,380 –> 00:08:23,760with all the good that he has done for you, what are you prepared to do for him?9300:08:23,760 –> 00:08:28,559Naomi is a marvelous example of love because she appreciates what Ruth has9400:08:29,239 –> 00:08:36,020And then I want you to notice as we think about what it means to grow in love,9500:08:36,020 –> 00:08:43,020that love wants others to enjoy gifts that we have not received. Think about9600:08:43,020 –> 00:08:48,280this, what Naomi wants when she says, should I not seek rest for you, very9700:08:48,280 –> 00:08:53,200clearly what she wants here is that Ruth will find another husband.9800:08:53,799 –> 00:08:54,880Well very obviously9900:08:54,880 –> 00:09:01,099that’s a gift that Naomi herself did not receive. God did not give Naomi10000:09:01,099 –> 00:09:07,000another husband. And of course the temptation in that situation would be to10100:09:07,000 –> 00:09:13,500say well I’ve not had that gift, why should she? But you see that’s not love.10200:09:13,500 –> 00:09:19,919Naomi wants for Ruth what she herself was not given. There’s not a hint of10300:09:19,919 –> 00:09:25,559envy here. None of this why should she enjoy what I10400:09:25,559 –> 00:09:33,260was denied. None of this why should she have an easier life when I’ve had it so10500:09:33,260 –> 00:09:38,559hard. Love rejoices with those who rejoice and10600:09:38,559 –> 00:09:46,619love wants others to enjoy gifts that we have not received. It’s beautiful.10700:09:46,619 –> 00:09:53,840Then notice this that love moves a loved one in the direction of rest. Notice10800:09:53,840 –> 00:09:57,900that marriage because that’s what’s being spoken about here is described10900:09:57,900 –> 00:10:06,840very beautifully as rest. My daughter should I not seek rest for you that it11000:10:06,840 –> 00:10:15,900may be well with you. So marriage very simply is a good gift from God in which11100:10:16,099 –> 00:10:22,440one man and one woman are brought together in a lasting union of love and11200:10:22,440 –> 00:10:31,260mutual support in which they find rest. That’s beautiful that is the purpose of God11300:10:31,260 –> 00:10:40,859rest. God’s purpose in marriage is that it should have a settling effect on the11400:10:40,859 –> 00:10:45,299lives of both of the people who come into it that it should bring a greater11500:10:45,340 –> 00:10:51,960peace, that it should bring a greater stability, that it should have a calming11600:10:51,960 –> 00:10:58,380kind of an effect on all of our inner restlessness and Naomi says this is what11700:10:58,380 –> 00:11:05,500I want for you Ruth I want you to find someone with whom you will find rest and11800:11:05,500 –> 00:11:11,299I want this that it maybe well with you now here’s the very obvious question for11900:11:11,340 –> 00:11:18,039all of us who are called to marriage if God’s purpose in marriage is that we12000:11:18,039 –> 00:11:24,299will find rest then all of us who are married must surely ask this question12100:11:24,299 –> 00:11:34,000how can I make this marriage a place of greater rest for the spouse that God has12200:11:34,000 –> 00:11:40,520trusted to me so do you see here is a marvelous12300:11:40,520 –> 00:11:48,039snapshot of love love appreciates what others have done for us and therefore12400:11:48,039 –> 00:11:54,919tries to do good for them love wants others to enjoy gifts even gifts that we12500:11:54,919 –> 00:12:05,559ourselves did not receive and love moves a loved one in the direction of rest12600:12:05,679 –> 00:12:13,859now Naomi wants Ruth to find a husband and she’s pretty sure that she has12700:12:13,859 –> 00:12:20,200worked out who that husband should be she has picked up on Boaz kindness to12800:12:20,200 –> 00:12:26,200Ruth remember in chapter 2 and verse 11 he had already heard before he met Ruth12900:12:26,200 –> 00:12:31,659he’d already heard about her loving extraordinary commitment of loyalty to13000:12:32,059 –> 00:12:37,380her mother-in-law and he was intrigued just to meet this remarkable woman about13100:12:37,380 –> 00:12:41,359who he had heard so much and it was quite clear from chapter 2 that really13200:12:41,359 –> 00:12:46,440from the moment they met there was a connection between them Boaz we saw last13300:12:46,440 –> 00:12:52,820time had invited Ruth to lunch he’d made sure that she had plenty to show for13400:12:52,820 –> 00:12:57,500her day’s work when she went home gave it all EFA of Barley which was about 3013500:12:58,280 –> 00:13:03,260in weight and when Naomie can you picture this Ruth comes home with she’s13600:13:03,260 –> 00:13:08,940been gleaning and she comes back with thirty pounds worth of barley and Naomie13700:13:08,940 –> 00:13:14,700eyes must have been wide and my goodness someone’s really helped you13800:13:14,700 –> 00:13:21,880and indeed she says chapter two in verse 19 blessed be the man who took notice of13900:13:22,799 –> 00:13:28,619someone noticed you and helped you big-time no other Gleaner comes back14000:13:28,619 –> 00:13:35,739with an IFA of barley and you remember that Ruth told her the name of the man14100:13:35,739 –> 00:13:43,380with whom I work today is boaz and it did not take Naomi long to work out the14200:13:43,380 –> 00:13:46,419possibilities she says now you just keep going back14300:13:46,419 –> 00:13:51,460to boaz field you don’t go anywhere else and that’s what Ruth did and that’s the14400:13:51,500 –> 00:13:56,619end of chapter 2 if you just glance back to it she kept close to the young women14500:13:56,619 –> 00:14:04,219of boaz gleaning until the end of the barley and the wheat harvest so now14600:14:04,219 –> 00:14:10,799we’ve come to the end of the barley harvest14700:14:11,039 –> 00:14:14,799you’re listening to open the Bible with pastor Collin Smith and a message called14800:14:14,799 –> 00:14:20,580faith it’s part of our series ordinary people extraordinary God and if you’ve14900:14:20,659 –> 00:14:24,780missed any of the series so far or if you want to go back and listen again you15000:14:24,780 –> 00:14:29,380can always do that by coming online to our website that’s open the Bible dot15100:14:29,380 –> 00:14:33,280org dot uk they’ll you’ll find all the messages which have already been15200:14:33,280 –> 00:14:38,080broadcast you can also find past of college teaching as a podcast if that’s15300:14:38,080 –> 00:14:41,460a better way for you to keep up with it and those are on all the main podcast15400:14:41,460 –> 00:14:46,580sites search for open the Bible UK and subscribe if you want to be regularly15500:14:46,580 –> 00:14:51,820reminded to listen to the podcast open the Bible is supported by our listeners15600:14:51,820 –> 00:14:56,320financially and if you already give to support the work we want to say thank15700:14:56,320 –> 00:15:00,559you so much if you’re considering supporting open the Bible financially in15800:15:00,559 –> 00:15:05,280the future and you’re able to set up a new direct debit in the amount of five15900:15:05,280 –> 00:15:09,659pounds per month or more or a one-off gift of fifty pounds or more16000:15:09,659 –> 00:15:15,440we’d love to thank you by sending you a copy of Lee strobel’s book the case for16100:15:15,799 –> 00:15:20,539Easter along with pasteur Collins booklet six days that change the world16200:15:20,539 –> 00:15:27,820and a lovely open the Bible tote bag pen and bookmark Colin what makes this book16300:15:27,820 –> 00:15:32,700so useful oh well it’s author least Robo was a journalist for the Chicago16400:15:32,700 –> 00:15:37,239Tribune when he began exploring the Christian faith and in the case for16500:15:37,239 –> 00:15:42,500Easter he actually retraces his steps showing the biblical evidence that led16600:15:43,099 –> 00:15:48,140to the conclusion that Jesus really rose from the dead its fascinating but16700:15:48,140 –> 00:15:52,900because he interviewed expert to help us to sort through the bible’s evidence16800:15:52,900 –> 00:15:58,539for the resurrection so for example he interviews a medical doctor to help us16900:15:58,539 –> 00:16:01,619examine the evidence that Jesus really died17000:16:01,619 –> 00:16:07,020and psychologists to help us see that Jesus appearances could not have been17100:16:07,179 –> 00:16:12,440simply hallucinations so the case for easter really helps Christians know why17200:16:12,440 –> 00:16:17,299we believe in the Resurrection and it can provide a wonderful pathway to faith17300:16:17,299 –> 00:16:21,940for someone who’s beginning to explore the truths of Christianity17400:16:37,020 –> 00:16:50,580Now there are three things that I want us to notice in the passage17500:16:50,580 –> 00:16:56,000that’s before us today. First Naomi’s counsel second Ruth’s initiative and17600:16:56,000 –> 00:17:02,380third Boaz’s resolve. First then Naomi’s counsel verse two to17700:17:02,799 –> 00:17:09,079four is not Boaz our relative with whose young women you were. See he is winnowing17800:17:09,079 –> 00:17:13,780barley tonight on the threshing floor wash therefore and anoint yourself and17900:17:13,780 –> 00:17:18,540put on your cloak and go on down to the threshing floor but do not make yourself18000:17:18,540 –> 00:17:22,180known to the man until he is finished eating and drinking but when he lies18100:17:22,180 –> 00:17:28,900down observe the place where he lies then go and uncover his feet and lie18200:17:28,979 –> 00:17:35,739down and he will tell you what to do Naomi tells her daughter-in-law to make18300:17:35,739 –> 00:17:41,099herself as attractive as possible to sneak upon a man who has already shown18400:17:41,099 –> 00:17:46,459interest in her when he’s on his own in the middle of the night and lie down at18500:17:46,459 –> 00:17:56,339his feet it is not surprising that Naomi has come in for some harsh criticism for18600:17:56,380 –> 00:18:03,660her plan is Naomi suggesting that Ruth should seduce Boaz so that he would feel18700:18:03,660 –> 00:18:10,400that he had to marry her did she not realize the terrible danger that she was18800:18:10,400 –> 00:18:17,180putting Ruth in by sending out a loan at night to the threshing floor is she18900:18:17,180 –> 00:18:24,579guilty of trying to nudge the hand of God when she should have waited for God19000:18:24,579 –> 00:18:32,979to work out his own perfect plan and purpose well karen and I have enjoyed19100:18:32,979 –> 00:18:38,739watching a TV program called alone which some of you may also have seen and19200:18:38,739 –> 00:18:45,260enjoyed volunteers endure extreme weather conditions forage for food19300:18:45,260 –> 00:18:50,859protect themselves against attack from wild animals to see who can survive the19400:18:50,859 –> 00:18:55,780longest in some remote corner of the planet and at the beginning of every19500:18:55,780 –> 00:19:03,040episode you see this warning do not try this yourself19600:19:03,040 –> 00:19:15,380now that warning should be attached to any study of Ruth chapter 3 do not try19700:19:15,699 –> 00:19:23,420what Naomi proposed and what Ruth did yourself it would not be wise for a19800:19:23,420 –> 00:19:27,699young woman to steal into the house of a man she hopes to marry and lie down at19900:19:27,699 –> 00:19:31,739his feet while he is sleeping and if someone were to do this it would be20000:19:31,739 –> 00:19:39,479quite wrong to claim Scripture as your reason for what you did this is not an20100:19:40,479 –> 00:19:47,099to follow. why? well at least one reason. there are not many men who would have20200:19:47,099 –> 00:19:53,939the self-control that Boaz did but having given the do not try this20300:19:53,939 –> 00:20:01,140yourself warning I want us to see that Naomi’s counsel is a beautiful20400:20:01,859 –> 00:20:10,140expression of faith and hope and love Boaz had clearly shown interest in Ruth20500:20:10,140 –> 00:20:16,439but he had done nothing to move the relationship forward and there may be a20600:20:16,439 –> 00:20:23,359hint as to why this was in verse 10 where Boaz says may you be blessed by20700:20:23,540 –> 00:20:31,020the Lord my daughter that’s how he addresses Ruth so the fact that Boaz20800:20:31,020 –> 00:20:36,859addresses Ruth as daughter indicates that there was a very substantial20900:20:36,859 –> 00:20:44,040difference in age Boaz was much older than Ruth and you see21000:20:44,040 –> 00:20:47,540that is why he says in verse 1021100:20:53,520 –> 00:21:01,339young men whether poor or rich the natural thing for Ruth to have done of21200:21:01,339 –> 00:21:05,979course would have been to go after someone of her own age21300:21:05,979 –> 00:21:13,520and if Boaz had any romantic thoughts in regards to Ruth he would have been21400:21:13,520 –> 00:21:18,020very quick to put these out of his mind I mean why would a young woman like21500:21:18,020 –> 00:21:26,760Ruth have any interest in an aging man like me so you see when Ruth came home21600:21:26,760 –> 00:21:33,459from the fields day after day during the barley harvest Naomie would ask her did21700:21:33,459 –> 00:21:42,920you see Boaz today oh yes I had lunch with him and the others did he say21800:21:42,920 –> 00:21:46,140anything to you today21900:21:46,140 –> 00:21:51,420no nothing unusual22000:21:52,040 –> 00:21:59,719and now it’s the end of the barley harvest and Naomi is thinking he is22100:21:59,719 –> 00:22:05,420never gonna have the courage to ask her well we all know how this story should22200:22:06,239 –> 00:22:11,719but time has passed nothing has happened22300:22:11,719 –> 00:22:18,819until Naomi came to the rescue the barley harvest is over and Naomi reckons22400:22:18,819 –> 00:22:24,579it’s now or never and so she encourages Ruth to take a risky initiative of faith22500:22:24,579 –> 00:22:29,859what she’s saying to her is basically this put away your morning clothes and22600:22:29,900 –> 00:22:35,040and dress yourself as if for a wedding because that’s what’s ahead of you22700:22:35,040 –> 00:22:40,959that’s Naomi’s counsel you’ve been listening to open the Bible with Pastor22800:22:40,959 –> 00:22:45,599Colin Smith and a message called faith part of our series ordinary people22900:22:45,599 –> 00:22:49,780extraordinary God based on the book of Ruth and today we’ve been looking at23000:22:49,780 –> 00:22:56,319Naomi’s council next time we’ll look at Ruth’s initiative and Boaz’s resolve so23100:22:56,319 –> 00:22:59,800I hope you’ll join us for that don’t forget if you ever miss one of23200:22:59,800 –> 00:23:03,560the programs or if you want to go back and listen again come to our website23300:23:03,560 –> 00:23:09,439open the Bible dot org dot UK or find us as a podcast and those are on all the23400:23:09,439 –> 00:23:15,920main podcast sites search for open the Bible UK here’s open the Bible’s Amanda23500:23:15,920 –> 00:23:20,739Cunningham with news of a special promotion by open the Bible this Easter23600:23:20,739 –> 00:23:25,719how will you reach out to your local community this Easter with the good news23700:23:25,800 –> 00:23:31,380of the gospel how will you inspire or in your church family and the wonder of the23800:23:31,380 –> 00:23:38,119cross when the story is familiar open the Bible UK would love to help you we23900:23:38,119 –> 00:23:43,920filmed a one-actor one-hour performance of Colin’s well-known book heaven how I24000:23:43,920 –> 00:23:47,239got here the story of the thief on the cross24100:23:47,239 –> 00:23:51,920it’s a powerful gospel message and we’re making the film available to you for24200:23:52,219 –> 00:23:57,800free alongside it we have also created a complete Easter resource pack including24300:23:57,800 –> 00:24:03,359event artwork and an event guide designed as an easy evangelistic event24400:24:03,359 –> 00:24:08,479for inviting friends or the local community it’s also perfect for small24500:24:08,479 –> 00:24:13,640groups to watch and discuss during holy week to find out more go to open the24600:24:13,640 –> 00:24:19,660Bible org UK that open the Bible we welcome contact with our listeners you24700:24:19,739 –> 00:24:25,819can email us by using the contact form on our website open theBible.org.uk24800:24:25,819 –> 00:24:33,060forward slash contact you can write to us at open the Bible P.O. Box 142024900:24:33,060 –> 00:24:43,699Cheltenham GL 50 9 P.G. or you can phone us on 0330 335 8089-25000:24:44,420 –> 00:24:49,579if we’re not available when you call, leave a message for us and we will25100:24:49,579 –> 00:24:53,900return your call. All of these contact details are available on our website25200:24:53,900 –> 00:25:00,319opentheBible.org.uk For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,25300:25:00,319 –> 00:25:03,000I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time.25400:25:03,000 –> 00:25:14,239Here about Ruth’s risky initiative of faith, next time on Open the Bible.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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