The Christian life is a bit counter-intuitive at first (ie. the least is the greatest, the servant is the leader, and weakness is a place of strength). It takes a bit for the newly budded Christian to grasp such an upside down pattern, but when it’s finally grasped, the path opens up for great spiritual growth and maturity. This message focuses on the arduous year of 1793 in Great Britain—a year of war, famine, and economic instability—and it showcases how difficulty can actually be a good thing—a tremendously beneficial thing when embraced and received with faith.

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» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/

» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/

» For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily

» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/

» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/

Throughout Ruth 1–2, God has been at work, seemingly behind the scenes. Naomi has seen His hand move and how He has orchestrated things to this point; God has not forsaken His hesed (lovingkindness). Yet Boaz is not moving things forward with Ruth even though it has been a couple months. In a “last chance” effort, since the harvest is nearly finished and Ruth will no longer be going to Boaz’s field, Naomi takes things into her own hands and crafts a sketchy scheme to make something happen. Join Nathan in this study of Ruth 3:1–5 as we investigate Naomi’s “sketchy scheme” and how it points to our response to Christ and His work upon the cross.

The Christian life is intended to get stronger and stronger and stronger with time. Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the experience of many believers in the modern era. But that isn’t because it isn’t God’s pattern, it’s because often modern Christians are lacking the key ingredient of persistence in their walk. They give up at the first sign of challenge—they give up when they reach the first obstacle. Ancient Christianity is built on the premise that when you are knocked down you get up, and you keep getting up after every single knock down until finally you breakthrough and knock out your opponent. William Wilberforce is an amazing picture of this indomitable perseverance.

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» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/

» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/

» For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily

» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/

» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/

In a desperation for food, Ruth decides to glean in the fields of Bethlehem. Not knowing where she is going, she “just so happened” to find herself in the fields of Boaz. This miraculous meeting becomes the avenue for God to showcase His lovingkindness (hesed) to Ruth and Naomi, providing far more than they could ever have hoped or imagined. In this study of Ruth 2:1–23, we discover that even when it feels that God is distant or not doing anything, He IS at work and He has not forgotten us—for His lovingkindness endures forever.

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» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Nathan, Eric, Leslie, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/

» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/

» For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily

» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/

» Discover more Christ-centered teaching and resources from Nathan Johnson that will help you grow spiritually by checking out his website at: https://deeperchristian.com/

There are two particular behaviors that are strangely missing in many Christian lifestyle patterns today. The first is sharing the Gospel with the lost. And the second is sharing one’s resources and time with the poor and needy. For many in the Western Christian culture, these behavioral functions (though theologically highly esteemed) have been relegated to an almost mythical fictitious status—as if they are something to intellectually believe are correct but are not practically expected to be implemented in the Christian life. Ironically, these two behavioral functions have been deemed two of the most important throughout Church history and, therefore, getting them back into our behavioral arsenal is of the utmost importance.

Difficulties and uncertainty often arise in our lives when we least expect it. The question we must answer in such moments is not “why” but “how”…“how does God want to use this challenge in my life?” In this study from Ruth 1:3–22, we discover that Naomi’s life is at rock bottom, her life is practically over—and sadly, she blames her bitterness on God. Yet amidst the story, we find beautiful hope in Ruth the Moabitess. Join Nathan as we explore this stirring story from Ruth 1 and what it practically means for our lives today.

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» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Nathan, Eric, Leslie, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/

» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/

»For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily

» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/

» Discover more Christ-centered teaching and resources from Nathan Johnson that will help you grow spiritually by checking out his website at: https://deeperchristian.com/

The Body of Christ is uniquely designed as a purging agent of cultural fungus. But to effectively wipe out the demonic ideas and the sinful societal fog of the hour, the Church needs to do its cleansing work in accordance with the Christ pattern. And this involves a two-handed approach to the work of rescue and resuscitation. In other words, both the right and left hands are needed to carry out the job. The head and heart are both essential and mustn’t be disconnected. And truth and mercy must both attend the work and the two must never be estranged. When we emphasize one side over and above the other side, the cultural fungus just laughs at our do-gooder attempts. The secret is found in both hands working in perfect coordination according to the perfect mixture as assigned by the Holy Spirit.

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» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/

» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/

» For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily

» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/

» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/

As we begin our eight-part study in the book of Ruth, it is necessary to zoom out and examine the book from a 10,000 foot view—who wrote the book, how is it structured, where is it placed in Scripture, etc. These broad sweeping strokes help us set the stage to see the focus and major themes of the book—primarily, the redemption and lovingkindness of our God. Moreover, in order to properly understand this little gem of Scripture, we need to be acquainted with three key tensions that appear at the beginning of Ruth.

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» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Nathan, Eric, Leslie, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/

» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/

»For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily

» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/

» Discover more Christ-centered teaching and resources from Nathan Johnson that will help you grow spiritually by checking out his website at: https://deeperchristian.com/