There are two particular behaviors that are strangely missing in many Christian lifestyle patterns today. The first is sharing the Gospel with the lost. And the second is sharing one’s resources and time with the poor and needy. For many in the Western Christian culture, these behavioral functions (though theologically highly esteemed) have been relegated to an almost mythical fictitious status—as if they are something to intellectually believe are correct but are not practically expected to be implemented in the Christian life. Ironically, these two behavioral functions have been deemed two of the most important throughout Church history and, therefore, getting them back into our behavioral arsenal is of the utmost importance.

Difficulties and uncertainty often arise in our lives when we least expect it. The question we must answer in such moments is not “why” but “how”…“how does God want to use this challenge in my life?” In this study from Ruth 1:3–22, we discover that Naomi’s life is at rock bottom, her life is practically over—and sadly, she blames her bitterness on God. Yet amidst the story, we find beautiful hope in Ruth the Moabitess. Join Nathan as we explore this stirring story from Ruth 1 and what it practically means for our lives today.

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» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Nathan, Eric, Leslie, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/

» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/

»For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily

» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/

» Discover more Christ-centered teaching and resources from Nathan Johnson that will help you grow spiritually by checking out his website at: https://deeperchristian.com/

The Body of Christ is uniquely designed as a purging agent of cultural fungus. But to effectively wipe out the demonic ideas and the sinful societal fog of the hour, the Church needs to do its cleansing work in accordance with the Christ pattern. And this involves a two-handed approach to the work of rescue and resuscitation. In other words, both the right and left hands are needed to carry out the job. The head and heart are both essential and mustn’t be disconnected. And truth and mercy must both attend the work and the two must never be estranged. When we emphasize one side over and above the other side, the cultural fungus just laughs at our do-gooder attempts. The secret is found in both hands working in perfect coordination according to the perfect mixture as assigned by the Holy Spirit.

As we begin our eight-part study in the book of Ruth, it is necessary to zoom out and examine the book from a 10,000 foot view—who wrote the book, how is it structured, where is it placed in Scripture, etc. These broad sweeping strokes help us set the stage to see the focus and major themes of the book—primarily, the redemption and lovingkindness of our God. Moreover, in order to properly understand this little gem of Scripture, we need to be acquainted with three key tensions that appear at the beginning of Ruth.

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» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Nathan, Eric, Leslie, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/

» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/

»For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily

» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/

» Discover more Christ-centered teaching and resources from Nathan Johnson that will help you grow spiritually by checking out his website at: https://deeperchristian.com/

William Wilberforce is one of those rare men in history that lived life as God intended life to be lived. He boldly acted on behalf of Truth—risking his life, forsaking his comforts, and letting go of his reputation—and, therefore, altered the course of world-history. Many men of antiquity can clearly be deemed culpable for the downward trajectory of nations, but few men in history can actually be pinpointed to have turned their entire culture in the direction of God. William Wilberforce is one of them. Because of Wilberforce, the wicked practice of slavery was completely abolished in England in 1833. This massive work of 48 years can all be traced back to a day in 1785 when William Wilberforce awakened. May the same soul awakening happen within all of us.

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» Take these studies deeper and be discipled in person by Eric, Leslie, Nathan, and the team at Ellerslie in one of our upcoming discipleship programs – learn more at: https://ellerslie.com/be-discipled/

» Receive our free “Five Keys to Walking Through Difficulty” PDF by going to: https://ellerslie.com/subscribe/

» For more information about Daily Thunder and the ministry of Ellerslie Mission Society, please visit: https://ellerslie.com/daily

» If you have been blessed by Ellerslie, consider partnering with the ministry by donating at: https://ellerslie.com/donate/

» Discover more resources, books, and sermons from Eric Ludy by going to: https://ellerslie.com/about-eric-ludy/

In this special episode, Eric Ludy and Nathan Johnson discuss their two new series launching November 5 … and give some encouragement to believers as the election in America approaches.

This is the thirty-fourth and final installment in Eric’s series entitled Spiritual Lessons from The Times of Nero. In this episode he explores the strange and bewildering happenings of the 17th of Tammuz in the year 70 AD. On this day, in the midst of the Roman’s siege on the city of Jerusalem, the priests came down to their final lamb to sacrifice in the daily temple sacrificial ritual. The Jews still remember this difficult day nearly two thousand years later.

This is the thirty-third installment in Eric’s series entitled Spiritual Lessons from the Time of Nero. In this episode he does a deep dive into the extraordinary story of the Jewish historian, Josephus. The first-century writings of Josephus hold a weighty position in Christian history, for they offer us a unique perspective into the climate surrounding first century Christianity and also showcase the startling fulfillment of the very words of Christ spoken to His disciples prior to His death in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The supernatural preservation of Josephus is an extraordinary parallel with the supernatural preservation of sacred history in and through his life.