In the face of overwhelming loss, Naomi does what many of us do when we’re hurting: she isolates and cuts herself off from those around her. But Ruth embodies a dramatically different response. As we’ll see, Ruth’s response to the experience of loss becomes the core theme of the entire book and solidifies her place as one of the most inspiring characters of the Hebrew Scriptures. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a deeper appreciation for the power of community to help you practice faithfulness in the face of adversity.

• What was your biggest takeaway from the teaching? 
• What is your overall impression of Naomi’s response, and can you imagine any reasons why she (and we) might push people away? 
• What are some of the stories/experiences in your life where you’ve experienced the “clinging love” of a community? 
• One of the great paradoxes of our age is that despite being more “connected” than ever, we live in a world that’s lonelier than ever. How might you/we nurture and cultivate the kind of relationships that make this “clinging love” possible? 
• How will you begin living out the truths of this teaching this week?  

• Status Quo (featuring Walter Brueggemann) – a short film by The Work of The People 
• Strong As Death Is Love by Robert Alter 
• Ruth (One Hour. One Book.) by Randall Smith 
• Ruth Photo Companion to the Bible by BiblePlaces.com 

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