Beauty For Ashes and Ruth Series

For some time, I've been thinking about a topical study around my theme or area of focus this year - "Beauty for Ashes".  So, after prayer and initial preparations for the next Bible Study series, I have found passages that relate to various areas tied in with the theme, based on the Isaiah 61 passage (e.g. "mourning into dancing", "death to life", "healing", "darkness into light", etc). Through this series, may the lessons highlight the HOPE that Christians have, that in the midst of utter devastation and ruins (like ashes), God is able to raise beauty.

Between Labor Day and Christmas, aside from holiday breaks, there are fourteen Sundays.  The "Beauty for Ashes" series would only cover ten weeks; so, most likely, the Book of Ruth, which has four chapters, will cover the other four weeks.  Ruth would be a good choice, since it occurs in the time of Judges, and we now have the context of the background and time period.  In line with "God Delivers" as the title for the Judges series, "God Redeems" would be a good title for the Ruth series.  Also, it leads nicely in the "Beauty for Ashes" theme, for in the midst of the darkness of the nation of Israel's disobedience, the story of Ruth is a beautiful example of hope.