The Int. Sunday School Lesson Rev. Dr. James A. Lee

Acceptance in the Community (Ruth 2:5-12; 3:9-11)



The coach of the local football team began his season opening address by saying he wanted his team to be relevant when the league’s playoff picture began taking shape in the last few weeks of the season. I don’t ever remember hearing a coach use the term relevant to measure the success or failure of his team.

Relevant. Important. Impactful. Vital. Significant. A team could play well for a few games and still have no bearing on the championship. A team could be surrounded with enough drama to grab the headlines of the evening news and the daily paper and still have a stranglehold on last place. Its roster could be loaded with players capable of padding their individual stats, making all-star teams, and shattering performance records, and still be irrelevant in the hunt for the prize.

Relevant for Her Works
Ruth was relevant. By her good works, she caused people to notice her and she made a positive impact on those around her. Having turned down her mother-in-law’s “greener pastures” offer, this Moabite woman stood by Naomi. She unassumingly toiled behind the regular harvesters, content with the leftover grain rather than demanding the best the fields had to offer. She also expressed kindness and loyalty to Boaz. He noticed, and word spread to all of the people of the area who had taken notice of Ruth’s character (Ruth 3:11).

Motivated by His Love
There are plenty of people in our communities who pull on the jersey of faith and attempt to be players for Christ. Some on our team want to exercise their world-class criticism talent to point out the faults and sins of others. Many of us are more tactical. We boycott and denounce ideas and initiatives with which we disagree. A few of us even look to pad our stats of the faith by serving on every civic committee and community watch group we can find.

But if these things are not done in the name of the love that Christ demonstrated for each one of us, we risk becoming nothing more than the clanking, out-of-tune instruments Paul writes about (1 Corinthians 13:1).

We may show up for practice every Sunday. We may grab the attention of the local media with our marches and sit-ins. We may outwardly wear the uniform with pride. But without the sincerity, humility, and devotion that Ruth showed, we are unaccepted by our community. Then the message of Christ we try so desperately to deliver falls on deaf ears, and we are irrelevant to the cause for Christ.

I recently watched the local team play a game that had championship relevance. Late in the game, one of our players tackled an opposing player for a short loss. The tackler sprang from the turf, pointed at the downed player, and celebrated as if his team had just conquered the world.

In reality, his team faced a 30-point deficit and had not scored a single point. One great tackle, as flashy as it was, had no impact. No one cared. It was irrelevant to the outcome of the game.

Example to Our Neighbors
So, as we go through the seasons of our lives, let us do so with humility and motives like Ruth’s. If we’re in the game for fame and glory, self-promotion, or for reasons other than wanting to bring people closer to a relationship with Christ, then we run the risk of our actions having no relevance in the very community we are trying to serve. The people of Bethlehem noticed how Ruth went about her work as much as they did the deeds themselves. Likewise, we need our neighbors and coworkers to know we feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, and love the unlovable because Christ first loved us.

My playbook tells me that gentleness and meekness will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). My Coach also tells me that, after this season of life is over, his postseason definitely is worth the training!

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*All Scripture references are from the New International Version, unless otherwise indicated.


HOME DAILY BIBLE READINGS

Education and Hope The Joy of Jesus Church

The world is lacking hope and opportunity for the average person. Jobs and resources are as a tight as ever and we need leaders who may trumpet both Hope and Opportunity. The Joy of Jesus Church , The Rev. Dr. James A. Lee is making great efforts to impart these two elements to his world vision for the average person and organization through The Joy of Jesus Opportunity Ministries.http://thejoyofjesuschurchonline.blogspot.com/

The World of Ex-Change is our main arm for both hope and opportunity. The big programs include: Jobs/Careers, Education, Business Development,E-Stores, Health Care Services, Parenting Skills, Poverty Research, and Green Technology/Business Opportunities and information . These are the services that peoplen need to start a new social economic movement.

You may wish to assist The Joy of Jesus Church which is open to all people regardless of any factor. Our free toolbar and sponsors all donate to The Red Cross. One may wish to donate directly as well. Do visit these opportunity centers and promote the hope that all people need to advance the betterment of our planet together in peace.
http://thejoyofjesuschurchonline.blogspot.com/

A Story of Business and Faith by The Joy of Jesus

The worst of the recessions is just about over. Most of the leading economic indicators suggest that growth is small yet growing. The Joy of Jesus Church http://thejoyofjesuschurchonline.blogspot.com/ believes this is the time to make ones best moves through a series of measures to make the best of this situation.

First, one must think positive about the future, with a strong plan. This plan should include the following: Education, Business Development, Green Technology, Jobs/Career and an end to poverty. The Joy of Jesus Church offers programs in all of these areas to get one started.

Hope is so important. Our faith is based on hope and tools to make it. The governments can only do so much. People must do their best at all levels. You can help the Joy of Jesus in several ways with spending one cent. Visit us and get our free toolbar, visit our sponsors and or give a small donation if you can. We WANT TO MOVE PEOPLE FORWARD, CAN YOU HELP? http://thejoyofjesuschurchonline.blogspot.com/

The Lee Bible University

University
Press Release:
Dr. James A. Lee
5050 LSD
Chgo., IL60615
773-494-9375

A True Educational Reform

The Joy of Jesus Church is in the move. The Dr. James A. Lee Bible
University -LBU is now open for study
http://thejoyofjesuschurchonline.blogspot.com/ This university's
mission is to provide the best resources and tools for scholarship
today. Dr. James A. Lee is both the Pastor of The Joy of Jesus and
Chancellor of LBU.

People need hope and skills today to survive to rigors of life. The
Joy of Jesus has been bold in terms of clustering centers of vital
information to assist in the process of social economic development.
Our centers include; Business, Education, Health Care, Jobs/Careers
and Poverty Centers to this end. Now our LBU Bible University of Pure
Enlightenment for all people.

The Bible University is committed to excellence of scholarship in
divinity. We need donations to grow our work. We encourage people to
share our vision and work to all. Join The Joy of Jesus today and
share in our Glorious Quest of Perfection.



--
Dr.James A. Lee
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