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Central UMC Lenoir City
When Your Name Changes: Naomi & Ruth
9:00am Modern Worship / 11:00am Traditional Worship Helping People to Find and Follow Jesus
Locations & Times
Central UMC Lenoir City Tn
301 Hickory Creek Rd, Lenoir City, TN 37771, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
This series is about there is power in a name. Each week we will look at at different Old Testament characters and see how their names changed.
May 17 - Jacob renamed to Israel - When God changes your name
May 24 - Shamrock, Meschack, and Abendigo - Being Named by Others
May 31 - Ruth // Mara - Names we give ourselves.
Names are important / often tell a lot about our identity
What does your name mean?
Backstory
Naomi's life was torn apart -- had to move to move to a strange land because of a famine. Lost both her husband and both of her sons.
Grief took over and her story become a tragedy. While Naomi's name means "pleasant", it's hard to be pleasant in grief -- she is bitter and angry at God.
Decides to go back to her original home and her daughter-in-law Ruth is determined to go with her. Ruth, whose name means "friend", become a covenant friend to Naomi.
As they get back to Bethlehem, people are thrilled to see Naomi. She changes her name to "Mara" which means "Bitter." She feels that God has dealt with her very bitterly. She changes her name due to the circumstances that she's in.
Ruth goes to the field every day to work; she is determined to save her life and Naomi. Ruth's hard work was noticed by Boaz and Naomi works a plan for Boaz and Ruth to be married. They have a son --> ends up being King David's grandfather. Jesus will descend from this lineage as well.
Ruth and Naomi realize that God was working for their good; was always underneath the scene of their life. Naomi was quick to blame God but she was also quick to praise God.
Application
1. How is God present in our world today, working in surprising & unexpected ways? Slow down and notice God's work in your life.
2. Claim who you are in Christ! We may have a negative impression of ourselves, give ourselves a negative name. Work on replacing those lies with God's truth.
Don't let circumstances rule our life -- Claim that we are always God's beloved!
May 17 - Jacob renamed to Israel - When God changes your name
May 24 - Shamrock, Meschack, and Abendigo - Being Named by Others
May 31 - Ruth // Mara - Names we give ourselves.
Names are important / often tell a lot about our identity
What does your name mean?
Backstory
Naomi's life was torn apart -- had to move to move to a strange land because of a famine. Lost both her husband and both of her sons.
Grief took over and her story become a tragedy. While Naomi's name means "pleasant", it's hard to be pleasant in grief -- she is bitter and angry at God.
Decides to go back to her original home and her daughter-in-law Ruth is determined to go with her. Ruth, whose name means "friend", become a covenant friend to Naomi.
As they get back to Bethlehem, people are thrilled to see Naomi. She changes her name to "Mara" which means "Bitter." She feels that God has dealt with her very bitterly. She changes her name due to the circumstances that she's in.
Ruth goes to the field every day to work; she is determined to save her life and Naomi. Ruth's hard work was noticed by Boaz and Naomi works a plan for Boaz and Ruth to be married. They have a son --> ends up being King David's grandfather. Jesus will descend from this lineage as well.
Ruth and Naomi realize that God was working for their good; was always underneath the scene of their life. Naomi was quick to blame God but she was also quick to praise God.
Application
1. How is God present in our world today, working in surprising & unexpected ways? Slow down and notice God's work in your life.
2. Claim who you are in Christ! We may have a negative impression of ourselves, give ourselves a negative name. Work on replacing those lies with God's truth.
Don't let circumstances rule our life -- Claim that we are always God's beloved!
