05/13/2026
In the book of Ruth, one man refused to redeem her because it might “endanger his estate.” Boaz, on the other hand, stepped toward Ruth the outsider and gladly tied his name, his future, and his reputation to hers. The sermon this past week reminded us:
We as a church often act more like the first man than like Boaz.
The easy thing is to protect our comfort—talk only to people we know, worry about how others will affect “our” church, and quietly hope that messy stories stay at a distance. The way of Jesus is different. He moves toward the outsider, the newcomer, the one with a past, and calls them family.
This shows up in very ordinary moments: who you sit by on Sunday, who you greet in the lobby, whether you judge someone by appearance or story before you’ve even learned their name. It shows up when we’re willing to hand off “our” space, “our” roles, and “our” preferences so others can belong and grow.
Who is God asking you to welcome this week—at church, at work, or on your street—and what is one concrete way you will step toward them?
