Grace for the Outsider

Dec 14, 2025 • Mark South

This sermon from Pastor Mark, emphasizes the theme of 'Grace for the Outsider' as part of our Advent series “Roots of Redemption”. The sermon explores the story of Ruth, a Moabite woman and a triple marginalized figure, showing her journey from an outsider to an insider within the lineage of Jesus Christ. By examining Ruth 1:1-18 and Ruth 4:13-22, Pastor Mark outlines four aspects of covenantal comfort—its difficulty, attachment to a person, redefinition of identity, and lifelong commitment. The sermon underscores how Christ, much like Boaz did for Ruth, redeems and brings outsiders into the family of God through his ultimate sacrifice.

00:00 Scripture Reading

03:28 Introduction

05:10 Understanding Advent

06:50 Feeling Like an Outsider

12:02 Ruth's Journey of Loss

16:38 Ruth as an Outsider

23:01 Naomi's Bitterness vs. Ruth's Loyalty

28:34 The Comfort of Community

29:03 Struggles of Sentimentality

31:23 Covenantal Comfort in Ruth's Story

34:48 Theological and Social Transformation

43:48 Boaz: The Redeemer's Sacrifice