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From Text to Message
Teaching Ruth & Esther
Ruth and Esther are two prophetic pictures of the same gospel. One speaks of a last–minute rescue from death, the other of a long–awaited filling of a terrible emptiness. One ends with a baby; the other concludes with an annual remembrance of an amazing escape. But neither really ends, until they find their fulfilment in Jesus Christ. Part of the Teaching series, this book is designed to help the pastor/preacher, small group leader, or youth worker in preparing and presenting studies.
- GenresTheology
288 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2018
9 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Ash
54 books79 followersChristopher Ash works for the Proclamation Trust in London as director of the Cornhill Training Course. He is also writer in residence at Tyndale House in Cambridge, and is the author of several books, including Out of the Storm: Grappling with God in the Book of Job and Teaching Romans. He is married to Carolyn and they have three sons and one daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 10, 2021
Christopher Ash is becoming one of my favorite theological resources. He is dependably God-centered. I used this commentary on Ruth and Esther as I led a Bible study discussion on the book of Esther. This was not my first study of this narrative but I will say that because of this commentary my understanding of the purpose and themes of the book were absoluteley transforming. I was caused to see that this is not just a story about a brave Jewish woman and her relative Mordecai. While they are very central to the historical story, and are absolutely brave and heroic, they are ultimately pointing the reader to the greater Rescuer to come. This is true of his commentary on the book of Ruth as well. Christopher Ash's writing shifts our eyes off ourselves to Jesus, our Savior!
December 27, 2019
‘Teaching Ruth & Esther - From text to message’ by Chris Ash is a super helpful book. It’s technically a guide to preaching on Ruth and Esther but it’s much more than that.
I read the book as a devotional (we’re not preaching on Ruth & Esther until 3rd Term 2020) and found it brought the narrative to life. As Ash guides you through the text you will see repetition and themes and promise and fulfilment. I found I was moved by the depth he brought. I had tears in my eyes as I read chapter 3 of Ruth!
The book begins with some short chapters on how to read OT narrative (ie “storytelling”). They set you up for reading the Bible passages for comprehension. Please don’t be tempted to skip them! Ash is really sensitive to the historical and biblical theological framework. A quote that illustrates this: “No story in the Old Testament really ends.” You will only grow in your appreciation of this biblical truth over time.
The text is then divided up and examined in the following form - overview of the section, verse by verse commentary, review of major themes, a suggestion for how to preach and a comprehensive Bible study on the passage. This description may sound daunting but the book itself is clear and concise and engaging so I’d call it a fairly easy read.
Finally, the application. So often when OT narrative is taught it’s over allegorised or preached as a moral message, or read through the lens of our culture or simply cherry picked for things we think affirm us in what we want to do. Ash knows this and throughout the book he shows us the path we want to take ... but that the text doesn’t allow. He’s also super helpful in guiding us to the hard but beautiful truths we need to hear. He challenges us not to see the story simply for the outcome. He says that books like Ruth do not promise that if we are childless or unmarried or hungry or depressed that God will fix these things in this age and soon. Instead Ash points us to the fullness that Jesus speaks of in John and Paul speaks of in Ephesians that does apply to this age. And he challenges us to consider that “it may be better to fail with steadfast loving-kindness than to succeed while riding roughshod over others.”
Who should read this book? Anyone who wants to go deeper into the Bible. Anyone who wants to learn to teach narrative. Anyone who loves Ruth and Esther.
So ... everyone!
I read the book as a devotional (we’re not preaching on Ruth & Esther until 3rd Term 2020) and found it brought the narrative to life. As Ash guides you through the text you will see repetition and themes and promise and fulfilment. I found I was moved by the depth he brought. I had tears in my eyes as I read chapter 3 of Ruth!
The book begins with some short chapters on how to read OT narrative (ie “storytelling”). They set you up for reading the Bible passages for comprehension. Please don’t be tempted to skip them! Ash is really sensitive to the historical and biblical theological framework. A quote that illustrates this: “No story in the Old Testament really ends.” You will only grow in your appreciation of this biblical truth over time.
The text is then divided up and examined in the following form - overview of the section, verse by verse commentary, review of major themes, a suggestion for how to preach and a comprehensive Bible study on the passage. This description may sound daunting but the book itself is clear and concise and engaging so I’d call it a fairly easy read.
Finally, the application. So often when OT narrative is taught it’s over allegorised or preached as a moral message, or read through the lens of our culture or simply cherry picked for things we think affirm us in what we want to do. Ash knows this and throughout the book he shows us the path we want to take ... but that the text doesn’t allow. He’s also super helpful in guiding us to the hard but beautiful truths we need to hear. He challenges us not to see the story simply for the outcome. He says that books like Ruth do not promise that if we are childless or unmarried or hungry or depressed that God will fix these things in this age and soon. Instead Ash points us to the fullness that Jesus speaks of in John and Paul speaks of in Ephesians that does apply to this age. And he challenges us to consider that “it may be better to fail with steadfast loving-kindness than to succeed while riding roughshod over others.”
Who should read this book? Anyone who wants to go deeper into the Bible. Anyone who wants to learn to teach narrative. Anyone who loves Ruth and Esther.
So ... everyone!
July 31, 2024
Overall, this is a helpful resource for pastors or lay teachers looking to lead a study on these books. He gives you all of the historical or language content you will need while connecting it to the point of the passage. It is firmly focused on the gospel and CHrist without leaving the context behind.
The primary reason I did not enjoy this book as much as his one on Psalms was his section on Esther. He is firmly against moralizing or making the actions of the characters examples to follow or avoid. The problem is the extreme overreaction he takes to this. He goes so far the other way he makes as if the characters are incidental. Or that any attempt to say they give us a good example is abusing the text. It gets more ridiculous as he goes on even though much of what he says in the book is helpful.
January 12, 2019
Helpful commentary on teaching/preaching through Esther and Ruth. Ash works diligently to ensure we don’t unhelpfully moralize these books of Scripture, but I think he occasionally resorts to a reductionistic Christocentric hermeneutic with excessive typology. That said, it’s still a very helpful book to better understand Ruth and Esther.
December 22, 2021
An excellent commentary that will help full-time pastors as much as lay persons. Ash coaches on the meaning and interpretation of the verses as you make your way through the passage. He makes suggestions for preaching approaches to the books and then includes inductive bible study questions for leading a group discussion through the passage.
November 22, 2018
I read through the Ruth part in preparation for teaching the book, and found it extremely helpful! Highly recommended!
November 8, 2019
I've been so blessed by using this in my daily devotions. Opened my eyes and heart to see God's grace to us in Jesus in fresh ways.
December 30, 2020
Excellent book. Not too technical.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews