Ruth (Discussion Questions)

Read Ruth

Friendship

• The name Ruth means friendship.
• What is a friend?
• Describe your best friend.
• What qualities are necessary to make a good friend?
• Are you a good friend?
• After reading the story of Ruth, what qualities did Ruth express?
• Are these qualities similar to your description of a good friend?
• Would Ruth make a good friend? Why or why not?
• How can you improve your FQ (friendship quotient)?
• Why is it important to be a good friend?
• Have you ever considered making God your best friend?
• Have you thought of a brother or sister as a friend?
• Do you realize God gave you your brother (s) or sister(s) to love and to be your great friend (s)?
• How might you work on your friendship with your siblings?
• Do you let your friends get by with bad behavior (shop lifting, lying, cheating, gossiping, bashing)?
• How do you help a friend who makes bad choices?
• Who are some of the best friends in the Bible?

Family

• What kind of a family member was Ruth?
• Would you like her in your family?
• What happened to Ruth?
• How important is God to your family?
• Do you show appreciation for every family member?
• Why is it important for everyone in a family to take responsibility for helping?
• What are some ways you help your home run smoothly?
• Do you do your tasks with love?
• Can you imagine Ruth being less than happy to serve?
• What major sacrifice does Ruth make? (gives up her family and training to establish her relationship with God)
• What kind of a relationship do you have with God? (Father? Mother? Friend?)
• Name some of the families you are familiar with in the Bible?
• What are their strengths?
• Any weaknesses?
• How do we overcome weaknesses in a family?
• Do you pray together as a family?
• At meal time?
• Before bed?
• In the morning?
• Any other time?
• Why is it important to pray together?

Naomi

• Think about what kind of woman Naomi must have been. Neither of her daughter-in-laws wanted to leave her. Ruth begged to stay. This wonderful verse tells us something about Naomi's spiritual commitment when Ruth says, " Ruth 1:16 … whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:"
• How are people learning about God from the way you live your life?
• Is there anything you could do differently? What?

Boaz

• Who was Boaz?
• What advice did Naomi give Ruth about Boaz?
• Do you think Ruth tricked Boaz into marrying her?
• How did Boaz make sure he was able to marry Ruth? (Ruth 4)
• What kind of a man was Boaz?
• Farming
• With younger children, you might talk about farming.
• Have you ever been on a farm?
• What kinds of crops did the farm grow?
• What animals live on a farm?
• What was the custom for poor people to gather or glean in the fields? (God had commanded the farmers to harvest the middle section of the land and leave the corners for the poor.)