LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Ruth 2:1, we meet Ruth, a widow from Moab who has moved to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law, Naomi, also a widow. With no husband to provide for her, Ruth goes out to the barley fields to pick up the leftover grain the harvesters leave behind, a practice available to the poor under God’s law. She happens to work in a field owned by Boaz, a wealthy man who is related to Naomi’s late husband. Boaz notices Ruth’s hard work and her devotion to Naomi, and he responds with unusual generosity, making sure she has plenty of grain, water, and protection while she works.
Naomi recognizes that Boaz could become more than a kind employer. Following the customs of their culture, she guides Ruth to approach Boaz at the threshing floor and ask him to act as a kinsman-redeemer, a close relative with the right to care for a widow and her family’s land. Boaz agrees, but first honors the process by offering the opportunity to a relative with a closer claim. When that man steps aside, Boaz marries Ruth. Their son, Obed, becomes part of a family line that leads to King David and, generations later, to Jesus. Through every twist in Ruth’s story, from loss to uncertainty to a new family, God is quietly at work, showing that His love does not depend on how a family looks or what a person has been through.
OPENING ACTIVITY 6:00-6:15 | Ruth Gleaning the Field
Items Needed
- Ruth in the Field Print Out
- Glue
- Stick Pretzels
- Crayons
Allow children time to color their printout. Then give them glue and stick pretzels to glue on as the grain. As they work on the craft, explain to them that in our Bible story today, Ruth picked up (gleaned) grains from the field to feed her and to feed Naomi. Explain to them what gleaning is.
BIBLE STORY 6:15-6:25
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? Ruth
Question 2: Is this in the Old Testament or New Testament? Old Testament
Today we are going to hear about a lady named Ruth. Can you say “Ruth”? [Wait for response] Great job!
Ruth lived with her mother-in-law, Naomi.
Ruth needed food, so she went to a big field to pick up grain. [Make a scooping motion with your hands] Can you scoop like Ruth? [Let kids scoop]
She scooped up grain all day long. It was really hard work.
The field belonged to a man named Boaz. Can you say “Boaz”? [Wait for response] Boaz saw Ruth working so hard. Boaz told the other workers in the field to be kind to her and to leave extra grain for her to find. [Cup your hands like you are dropping grain] Drop, drop, drop!
Ruth brought her grain home to Naomi.
Naomi told Ruth that Boaz was kind. He could take care of their family.
Boaz decided to marry Ruth. Later, Ruth and Boaz had a baby boy named Obed. [Rock arms like holding a baby] Can you rock a baby with me?
Grandma Naomi loved that baby so much. Their family looked different, but do you think God still loved them? [Wait for response] Yes! God always loves us!
Even when families change, God’s love never changes. God is always watching over us, just like He watched over Ruth and Naomi.
Theological Questions:
- Who gave Ruth kind people to take care of her? (God did)
- Does God love us even when we feel alone, like Ruth did? (Yes, He always loves us)
Life Application Questions:
- Who are the people in your family that love you? (Children answer)
- What can you do when something changes at your house? (Talk to God, ask for help, remember He loves you)
Prayer (teaching how to pray scripture): Dear God, thank You that Your love endures forever, just like it says in Psalm 136. Please help us remember that no matter what changes in our family, You always love us. Amen.
WORSHIP IN SONG 6:25-6:35
PRAYER 6:35-6:45 p.m.
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time. Pray for families, that every child would know and feel that God loves them no matter what their family looks like or what changes they go through.
BIBLE STORY GAME 6:45-6:55 | Gleaning in the Field Game
Supplies
- Small pieces of wrapped candy, plastic coins, pom-poms, or pretend grain
- Small baskets, cups, or paper bags for the children
Set Up
Scatter the items around the room to represent grain in a field. Put plenty in easy-to-see places, but also scatter some near the walls and corners. Have the children stand together on one side of the room. Give each child a small basket or cup.
Say: “Ruth was poor and needed food. She went into the fields and gathered grain that the farmers left behind. This was called gleaning. Let’s pretend we are Ruth and gather some grain!”
When you say “Go glean!”, the children walk around the room collecting the scattered pieces.
Add one important rule: they may only pick up one piece at a time. After picking up a piece, they must put it in their basket before finding another.
For another round, give them different instructions:
- Round 1: Glean normally.
- Round 2: Glean only pieces near the “edge of the field.”
- Round 3: When you find two pieces, keep one and leave one for someone else.
- Round 4: Work together to see if the whole class can collect enough “grain” to fill one large basket.
BIBLE CRAFT 6:55-7:10 | Grains of Love Craft
Items Needed
- Manilla Paper
- Green Crayons
- Yellow Cutout Hearts
- Glue Sticks
Teach children how to draw lines for grain stems on their paper. Then allow them to glue hearts onto the show the grain Ruth gleaned in Boaz’s field. Optional: You may add a small basket at the bottom to hold the grain.
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 7:10-7:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat while watching a Bible story video.
BONUS ACTIVITY | Build a Basket
Items Needed
- Strips of Paper
- Small cups
- Staplers or Tape
- Pipe Cleaners
- Beans
Allow kids to be creative and make their own baskets out of materials laid out. Once their baskets are complete, try placing beans inside of them to see if their baskets can hold things.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Read here.
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: God always loves us.
What I learned today: Today we learned about Ruth, who worked hard to gather food for her family. A kind man named Boaz took care of Ruth, and God used his kindness to give Ruth a new family. We learned that no matter what our family looks like, God always loves us.
Questions to ask me:
Theological:
- Who took care of Ruth even when her family looked different? (God did)
- Did God stop loving Ruth when sad things happened? (No, He never stopped)
- Who was kind to Ruth in the field? (Boaz)
- What did Ruth and Boaz name their baby? (Obed)
- What does God’s love do, even when our family changes? (It stays the same / never changes)
Life Application:
- Who are the people in your family that love you? (Answers will vary)
- What can you do when something changes at your house? (Talk to God, ask for help)
- How can you be kind to someone in your family, like Boaz was kind to Ruth? (Answers will vary)
- Who can you thank God for today? (Answers will vary)
- How do you know God loves you? (Answers will vary, guide toward: He tells us in the Bible, He takes care of us)