The book of Ruth is one of my favorite books of the Bible as it is small yet steeped in so much knowledge about the love of God and Jesus. This Bible study does a good job at going beyond the surface of the romance between Ruth and Boaz and diving deep into the love of God, Jesus as our kinsman redeemer and the love they have for us. I love that the lessons are concise, the questions are gripping and that the overall study pulls you deep into the Word of God and helps you to examine self. Definitely would recommend this for group study and personal use.

A great ten week study for a small group or personal study. This would work for both men and women. The author makes sure to let the reader know that the book of Ruth is about God's care in the midst of life's disappointments.

I liked how the author showed how Ruth is our story too. Like a family heritage.

I’m going to be honest.

I don’t always like Bible Study materials. Quite frankly, I find that they’re often not all that helpful. Perhaps I have just picked up poor materials? Who knows.

That’s confession one.

Confession two: I’m going to write a joint review on both Study Guides.

However, when I saw that not only had New Growth Press released new Bible Study Materials, but that Iain Duguid and Jared Wilson were the authors on separate studies in Jonah and Ruth respectively, I was immediately intrigued – akin in fact like a child in a toy shop! OK, maybe that is too much hyperbole. But I was excited – I have benefited greatly from other works by these two authors previously.

Released by New Growth Press under their “The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible” series (there are presently two in the Series – hopefully there will be many more!), their goal is not merely to study the respective books and respond to comprehension type questions or to download facts and knowledge about the book only. New Growth Press want readers to “keep [their] eyes on Jesus and the good news of God’s love…” and to let the Gospel permeate and affect our lives, pointing always to Jesus.

The Bible Studies, consisting of ten studies, contain the following elements:

Big Idea – A summary sentence / comment on the main point of the lesson and big idea of the text at hand;
Bible Conversation – Bible passage with some questions to open up conversation;
Article – A teaching article written by the author which really provides the main backbone to the study;
Discussion – Questions to help apply the teaching;
Exercise – This operates like a reflective study with the aim to get participants to share something they have learned with the group;
Wrap-Up and Prayer

My Thoughts
Personally New Growth Press has provided some attractive, well published Bible Study materials written by top-notch Pastor-Teachers and Scholars, which are more than a welcome addition to the long available list of Bible Study materials, which should be on the priority list when looking for solid resources. My reasons, well, in summary here they are:

Studies authored by excellent reformed and evangelical churchmen who are also pastors and scholars, and those who just get that people need the Gospel;

Grace and Gospel focused, not merely a character study. The big aim is to give people, especially broken people, the gospel;
Redemptive-historical in approach;
Inclusion of a teaching article.

For those wanting a sneak peak, New Growth Press has provided a sample over at their web page here in terms of Jonah.

I have now read and own a number of various works published by New Growth Press and they are fast becoming one of my favourite Publishers. They publish helpful edifying materials with a solid Gospel focus and do so in a fresh modern way which is appealing.

I would thoroughly recommend picking a copy of these Bible Study materials.

NB: I received free review copies from the Publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review. I was not obliged to post a positive review.

The book of Ruth is a story of redemption. Not just the redemption of Ruth, or Naomi, but it points to the plan for redemption that God had set up to redeem all who believe.
This resource steps us through the story of Ruth while looking at the brokenness, bitterness, and the like in our own life.
In Eight weeks you and a life group will journey together looking at how God can take the brokenness in our lives and redeem and restore us.
This book is written for groups, but could be adapted for just personal study, yet the value in the questions is group discussion.
Each weeks structure is very simple and easy to follow without a large amount of prep for a group leader.