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Church Camp 2026 – Session 4 – Ruth 4

Sunday 15th February 2026

Read: Ruth 4

Ruth 4 – Preserving the Name

What’s in a name?

A quick run through the Bible
Genesis 2 and 3

Noticing Genesis 3:15
    And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head,
    and you will strike his heel.”
    [Genesis 3:15; NIV]

Tracing a Story
    Genesis 12:1-3
    Genesis 22:15-18

Genesis 38

Joshua 2 and 6

Ruth 4
    Boaz and Rahab
    Boaz at court
    The blessing of the people
    The result

Matthew 1 and 28
    Matthew 1
    Matthew 28

Reflecting on Ruth 4
Noticing the Lack of the Miraculous

Practicing Titus 2:11–14

 

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Church Camp 2026 – Session 3 – Ruth 3

Sunday 15th February 2026

Read: Ruth 3

Ruth 3 – Kindness and Risk

What sort of people are these?
An Introduction to extraordinary people

Orientation to an Extraordinary Chapter
Remembering Where We Were

A Quick Run Through What Happens
    Verses 1-7
    Verses 8–9: Night-Time Initiative (and ‘wings’)
    Verses 10–12: Wish and Desire but Problems
    Verse 13: A Promise
    Verses 14–18: Advice, Gifts, Report to Naomi and Waiting

Some Interesting ‘ambiguities’

What the passage is about

Clues from the author: Rest

What should we make of all this?
Thinking some more about ‘Rest’ and ‘Security’

Risks and Boldness

Results

A few footnotes

What happened on the threshing floor

‘Hesed’ again
    “The LORD bless you, my daughter,” he replied.
    “This ḥesed is greater than that which you showed earlier:
    You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.
    [Ruth 3:10; NIV]

Emptiness and Naomi (verse 17)
    … “‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’”
[Ruth 3:17; NIV]

For us
The Practice of ḥesed

Returning to CT Studd and our initial question

Facing a shortage of risk taking, risk takers, and gospel-hearted people

 

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1 Samuel 19 God’s anointed king: a good shepherd or terrifying threat

Sunday 8th February 2026

Read: Psalm 59:1-10; Acts 4:1-31; 1 Samuel 19:1-24

Sermon: 1 Samuel 19:1-24

 

Introduction

Samuel and the Bible

1 Samuel 19:1-7 David saved by Saul’s son

1 Samuel 19:8-10 David escapes from Saul’s spear

1 Samuel 19:11-17 David saved by Saul’s daughter

1 Samuel 19:18-24 David rescued by the Spirit of God

Acts 4 The rule of Jesus: goodness or threat

 

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1 Samuel 17 The king’s heart and corresponding actions

Sunday 25th January 2026

Read: Psalm 27; 1 Samuel 17:1-58

Sermon: 1 Samuel 17:1-58

 

Introduction

Samuel and the Bible

1 Samuel 17:1-11 The enemies of God’s people
17:1-3 The Philistines and the Israelites

17:4-10 Goliath

17:11 The fear of Goliath

1 Samuel 17:12-30 The Philistine threat and David’s family
17:12-16 The youngest David and his brothers

17:17-27 David and the Philistine threat

17:28-30 David and his brothers: what have I done now!

1 Samuel 17:31-40 The youth David and the king Saul!
17:31-37 Yhwh will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine

17:38-40 Saul’s way and David’s way

1 Samuel 17:41-58 David and Goliath
17:41-44 Goliath’s disdain

17:45-47 David’s confidence in Yhwh

17:48-54 David’s victory

17:55-58 David the nobody and Saul the king

 

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1 Samuel 16 Introducing Yahweh’s king

Sunday 18th January 2026

Read: Psalm 138; Acts 10:34-43; 1 Samuel 16

Sermon: 1 Samuel 16

 

Introduction: Yahweh’s rejection of the king his people chose

16:1 Samuel sent to search for the king after Yahweh’s heart

16:2-5 The troubled interregnum (the period between reigns)

16:6-13 The king Yahweh is looking for

16:14-23 David enters Saul’s service

Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (Acts 10:34-43)

 

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Psalm 122 Jerusalem – The city of peace

Sunday 4th January 2026

Read: Revelation 21:1-10; Psalm 122

Sermon: Psalm 122

 

Introduction: Family reunion

v1-2 Context – The joy of Jerusalem (Deut 12:1-7)

v3-5 Unity of Jerusalem

v6-9 Pray for Jerusalem

The fall of Jerusalem (Psalm 137, Ezra 3:12, Luke 19:42-44, Isaiah 60)

The new Jerusalem (Rev 21:3-4, 22:3)

Jerusalem now? (John 4:21-23, Eph 2:13-14)