June 24, 2025
Ruth 3
In his sermon on Ruth 3, Ryan reframes the story not as a romantic tale centered on Boaz, but as a bold narrative of radical inclusion with Ruth as its courageous, Christ-like hero. He challenges the traditional reading that casts Boaz as the redeemer, instead lifting up Ruth’s agency, loyalty, and willingness to take great personal risk to secure dignity and belonging—not just for herself, but for Naomi and even for Israel. By drawing connections to the stories of Tamar and Rahab—outsider women who also defied societal boundaries—Ryan suggests Boaz’s openness to Ruth may stem from being raised in a lineage shaped by such redemptive acts. Ultimately, he calls the church to embrace the Christ-like path of inclusion, recognizing that true transformation happens in proximity to those we’ve othered, and asking what bold steps we might take for the good of another.