March 23, 2025
“Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer.” ~ Ruth 4:14 (NIV) ~
KINSMAN-REDEEMER
Years ago, during a Monday night football game, one of the announcers observed that Walter Payton, the great running back for the Chicago Bears, had accumulated more than nine miles in career rushing yardage a phenomenal feat. The other announcer underscored the accomplishment by noting: “And that’s with someone knocking him down every 4.6 yards!”
That’s right, Walter Payton’s average carry of the football was less than five yards. Payton’s brilliance was not in long sprinting runs from goal line to goal line. Rather, it was in his ability to keep getting up each time he was tackled and to keep running again and again and again.
We all experience failure and we all make mistakes. We give up, give in, say the wrong things, and fall short of who we’re striving to be. But in those moments God always stands ready to help in time of need always willing to forgive. God always stands ready with the offer of restoration an offer of redemption!
This Sunday morning, we will be coming to the end of my sermon series on Ruth: AStory of Redemption. We will discover three truths which tell you that you have a bright future.
Perhaps, for many of you reading this, that may not ring true in your ears. You may have already resigned yourself to a life of heartache and failure. That is exactly where Naomi was when we encountered her in chapter one of the book of Ruth. For over a decade, she and her family had been hit hard, over, and over, and over again. She was ready to give up in grief and failure.
However, right at the end of that chapter she made that one vitally important decision that changed everything for her and her daughter-in-law Ruth. She turned to go back to Bethlehem to her home to the place where she encountered God. It was not just a story of redemption it was a journey of redemption.
If you’ve been hit and hit hard, you may need a little time to catch your breath. But then, get up and choose to move forward. Press on, even if it means taking just one small step. If there are lessons to be learned, learn them. If you need to grieve a loss, do so. If you need to make amends, make them. If you need to get a fresh perspective or to set new priorities, sit down and reestablish what is truly important.And in the process ask the Lord to heal your heart.
How do I know that He will do that for you? Because Jesus is your kinsmanredeemer. This Sunday morning we will explore that statement in greater detail, but for now just know that He went to the cross in your place to redeem you to pay the price for all your failures and sin so that you can be made whole before God. He did the hard work the work you could not do in your place.
Don’t give up. Don’t decide it’s not worth it, because it is. Each time you get up, you will find that you are a little stronger, a little more resilient, a little more able to press forward with courage.
Blessings on your week as you prepare to encounter potential life storms with the strength and confidence that only comes though hope in the Lord and let’s meet in worship together Sunday morning as we discover, along with Naomi and Ruth, that the FUTURE IS YOURS!
Pastor Terrell
ScheduleforSunday,March23,2025
Morning Worship at a Glance
“Majestic” “Holy is the Lord”
“Stand Up and Bless the Lord” “O Worship the King”
Welcome & Offertory Prayer STEP INTO THE STORY
Kidz4Christ dismissed
“Trading My Sorrows”
“My Savior, My God”
“No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus” … A STORY OF REDEMPTION
THE FUTURE IS YOURS Ruth 4
“Now I Belong to Jesus” “Trust the Lord”
Offerings and Connection Cards will be collected in the Offering Boxes located just inside the two main entrances into our Worship Center, as well as in the Office Hallway.
2820 N. Pleasant View Drive Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
928-772-7218
fsbcpv@firstsouthernpv.org
www.firstsouthernpv.org
Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30AM - 2:30PM
Senior Pastor Terrell Eldreth: 619-244-6265
PastorTerrell@firstsouthernpv.org
Worship Pastor Bart Young 928-254-8713
PastorBart@firstsouthernpv.org
Advancing the Kingdom of God one heart at a time.
TO RECEIVE OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER THROUGH YOUR EMAIL SIMPLY MARK THE FRONT OF YOUR CONNECTION CARD.
THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO RECEIVE CURRENT INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.