The Way Home: God's Invitation to New Beginnings by Tessa Afshar

ABOUT THE BOOK

Ruth was a vulnerable, widowed woman starting over in a foreign land. While Naomi was returning to community, Ruth was setting herself up to be the odd one out her whole life. What gave her the strength to do it? Could it be that she sensed all along that her journey away from Moab was a journey toward home?

The story of Ruth is a remarkable tale of bravery, calling, and God’s provision, and it will come to life in new ways as you dig deep in this 6-week Bible study. Tessa Afshar, author of award-winning biblical and historical fiction, teaches you how to study the text, discern meaning, pray through it, and live it out. She’ll show you how to draw on the same strength and courage that Ruth did and accept God’s invitation to new beginnings in your own life.

This Bible study also includes optional teaching videos that can be purchased separately to enrich your study. 

MY THOUGHTS.....

The Way Home has given me an entirely new perspective about Ruth, the young widow who chose to leave her home in Moab so that she could remain with her mother-in-law Naomi. Starting over without your husband would be daunting enough but Ruth was also choosing to abide by the customs and lifestyle of Naomi's home land, Judah. Little did she know that her entire life would be changed by her decision, along with the lives of Naomi and Boaz, a relative of Naomi, who came to their aid. These three people were given new beginnings from God: "a new heart, a new spiritual life, a new future and life."

This is an outstanding six-week Bible study that illuminates Ruth's story and in turn, encourages readers that they also can have new beginnings. This study is very in-depth, and it includes questions and Bible scripture in each of the thirty lessons. I especially liked that each day's study has three sections: “Understanding the Word”; “Applying the Word”; and “Praying the Word” and I found myself highlighting many of the author's observations.

Tessa Afshar is noted for her biblical fiction but she has blessed me with this extensive study of the Book of Ruth. She reminded me that God redeemed Ruth, the Moabite, with the same abundant grace that he showed Naomi, the daughter of Abraham. I have been strengthened in my own faith and inspired to seek my own new beginnings because I have also been given that abundant grace! I recommend The Way Home for personal bible study and I believe that it would be a valuable resource for a group bible study also.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tessa Afshar is the award-winning author of biblical and inspirational historical fiction, including Land of Silence, which won an INSPY Award and was voted by Library Journal as one of the top five Christian fiction titles of 2016; and Harvest of Gold, which won a Christy Award. Tessa was born in the Middle East and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She then moved to England, where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds a Master of Divinity from Yale, where she was co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship. She served in women and prayer ministries for twenty years before becoming a full-time writer and speaker. Tessa is a devoted wife and mediocre tomato grower. But that has not cured her from being exceptionally fond of chocolate.

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