Introduction of Jonah

Text: Jonah 1:1-2

The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

1.  Jonah is considered a prophet and has a specific mission.  What is a prophet’s “job description” exactly and what is Jonah’s God’s given mission?

2.  Is Jonah’s job description all that different than our own as a Christian?  In what ways are they similar or different?

3.  Nineveh is called (by God) a great city.  What makes a city great?  Use any information that you may already know, imagination, or creative reasoning.

4.  To Jonah, Nineveh was the capital of one of Israel’s enemy nations.  Why would God call Jonah to preach amongst his enemies when Israel herself is full of sin and disobedience?

5.  As comfortable Americans, we have a naïve idea of what true enemies would be like.  What is the closest thing we have to an enemy and why would sharing the gospel with them might make us extremely uncomfortable?

6.  Jonah is given a reason for his mission – and it is perhaps one of the most unwelcomed messages of all time – what is it?  Furthermore, why is it so difficult for us to hear that message (especially during a time of prosperity)?

7.  Before this specific calling, Jonah was a prophet of better news: that Israel would be in God’s blessings through wealth and peace.  Next week, we will find that Jonah is less than eager to preach the message of repentance.  God often leads us down unfamiliar or uncomfortable circumstances to bring us closer to Him.  Has there been any time in your life where God has changed your direction?  What was the result (or is it still pending)?