Midway Baptist Church Sermons

11.9.25 Thankful for God and Country by Midway Baptist Church

11.2.25 A Month Starts with a Single Day by Midway Baptist Church

10.26.25 Getting From Here to There by Midway Baptist Church

10.19.25 Called to Service by Midway Baptist Church

10.12.25 Craig Church Evening by Midway Baptist Church

10.12.25 Craig Church Morning by Midway Baptist Church

10.5.25 The Authority of the Holy Scriptures by Midway Baptist Church

9.28.25 The Infallibility of the Holy Scripture by Midway Baptist Church

9.21.25 PERFECT HOLY SCRIPTURES by Midway Baptist Church

9.14.25 You Are The Salt of The Earth by Midway Baptist Church

9.7.25 Guest Steve Levinson by Midway Baptist Church

8.31.25 Money Matters by Midway Baptist Church

8.24.25 Welcome Larry Stanley by Midway Baptist Church

8.17.25 Making Your Time Matter! by Midway Baptist Church

8.10.25 When Doing Less is Doing More by Midway Baptist Church

8.3.25 God's Blessing for God's People by Midway Baptist Church

7.27.25 Your Prayer Life Matters by Midway Baptist Church

7.20.25 Having The Right Faith Does Matter by Midway Baptist Church

7.13.25 How To Make Your Rest Matter by Midway Baptist Church

7.6.25 How To Make Your Work Matter by Midway Baptist Church

6.29.25 ARE YOU REALLY FREE by Midway Baptist Church

6.22.25 Compel Them to Come by Midway Baptist Church

6.15.25 Father's Stand Firm in a Shifting Culture by Midway Baptist Church

6..8.25 Ruth and the Road to Redemption by Midway Baptist Church

6.1.25 Communion Service by Midway Baptist Church

5.25.25 Saved for Service by Midway Baptist Church

5.21.25 Revival Lewis Smith by Midway Baptist Church

5.20.25 Revival Lewis Smith by Midway Baptist Church

5.19.25 Revival Lewis Smith by Midway Baptist Church

5.18.25 REVIVAL SUN. EVENING by Midway Baptist Church

5.18.25 Revival Kick-Off Pastor Lewis Smith by Midway Baptist Church

5.11.25 .mp4 Models for Mothering by Midway Baptist Church

5.4.25 Prayer for Revival by Midway Baptist Church

4.27.25 Easter's Marching Orders by Midway Baptist Church

4.20.2025 The Best Side of the Cross by Midway Baptist Church

4.13.25 Jesus Bore it All by Midway Baptist Church

4.6.25 I Love You to Death by Midway Baptist Church

3.30.25 Singing and Baptism by Midway Baptist Church

3.23.25 The Deacon and the Church by Midway Baptist Church

3.16.25 A Love that Leads to Eternal Life by Midway Baptist Church

3.9.25 The Things Prayer Can Open by Midway Baptist Church

2.23.25 The Urgency of Sharing the Gospel Audio by Midway Baptist Church

2.16.25 The Worth of Just One by Midway Baptist Church

2.9.25 Hearing is Not Listening by Midway Baptist Church

2.2.25 Made for Contribution Not Just Consumption by Midway Baptist Church

1.26.25 A Church with an Open Door by Midway Baptist Church

1.19.25 Living Life on Purpose by Midway Baptist Church

1.12.25 It's Time to Move Forward by Midway Baptist Church

1.5.25 New Year New Opportunities by Midway Baptist Church

1.7.24 - The Importance Of Reading The Bible by Midway Baptist Church

Text: Ruth 1:6-17 Opening Statement: In each of these widows there are lessons to learn. In one we have a troubling example, in one a tragic example, and finally in one a thrilling example. These three widows illustrate three responses of people. First, we see in Naomi: I) A DISCOURAGING WIDOW (6-13) Naomi illustrates how the life of a believer that is not living for God, is often a discouragement to others knowing God. As we view this scene, we see that: A) Naomi Was Being Observed When she started back her daughters-in-law followed her. In their hour of grief, they looked to her for guidance. They were watching to see what Naomi would do. Whatever she did, they would do. Every action and step of Naomi was being observed. We as believers need to be constantly reminded that we are being watched by the unsaved. Whether we admit it or not, accept it or not, or acknowledge it or not, we are being watched by those around us. As we continue looking at this scene, we also see that: B) Naomi Was Being Obstructive One of the chief occupations of a believer is to try and lead unbelievers to the Lord. A person going to heaven is to work to take people to heaven. Naomi was only thinking of their material circumstances rather than their spiritual condition. She was only thinking of their physical needs and not their spiritual needs. Naomi reminds us of those who are professing Christians but are not practicing Christians. The second widow in our story that I want us to consider is Orpah. In her we see: II) A DEPARTING WIDOW (14) Orpah illustrates those who turn away from God and reject Him as their Lord and Savior. As we look at Orpah, we first see her: A) Returning To Moab Orpah chose to stay in a cursed land. She chose to live in a place of spiritual darkness and desolation. Orpah reminds us of those who are given the opportunity to be saved, yet they reject that offer and choose to live a life without God. We not only see Orpah returning to Moab, but we also see her: B) Remaining In Moab How tragic it is for someone to have heard the Gospel; to have been given the opportunity to be saved; to say no, and then die lost without God. The great tragedy is that not one person in hell had to go there. All could have been saved, but they like Orpah rejected the opportunity to be saved. The third widow in this story is Ruth. In her we see: III) A DECIDING WIDOW (16-17) We see Ruth making a decision that changed her life. We read that instead of leaving Naomi, “Ruth clave unto her” (Vs.14). The decision Ruth made gave her a: A) New Life Salvation gives a person a new life. Paul said, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things pass away and behold all things are become new” (II Cor.5:17). Salvation makes us a new person and gives us a new life. We also see that her decision gave her a: B) New Lord No doubt she had worshipped the false idols and false gods of Moab. She had known nothing but paganism. Now she has a new Lord in her life. Her life is now centered around Him and His people. Finally, we see that her decision gave her a: C) New Loyalty Ruth was saying, “This decision is for the rest of my life.” She had no desire to go back nor plans to return. Her decision was for time and eternity. There is nothing behind us and everything before us. Closing Statement: Which of these poor widows best represents the life you are living right now? If you are saved and away from the Lord, I invite you to come home. If you are lost and are thinking about a life of faith, I invite you to receive Jesus today. If you are saved, secure and settled I invite you to come before Him to worship, praise and thank Him for grace. Watch us here on our YouTube channel, our website or our Facebook page https://midwaybaptistnc.org https://facebook.com/midwaybaptistnc