Jonah: Week 7

Text: Jonah 3
Sermon: Ife Ojetayo (We Are Jonah)

1. [v.1-2] Chapter 3 starts off almost exactly like the first chapter.  This is basically God giving Jonah a second chance after phis previous failure.  Discuss a time when you were given a second chance.  How does it feel to get a second chance?  Did you make the most of it?

2. [v.3-5] Does Jonah respond differently with God’s second chance?  What is his response?  How do you think he feels about this calling this time around?

3.  [v.4] Jonah’s main message to the people is one of judgment, yet the people accept God’s message and repent.  Why is Jonah’s ministry successful in Nineveh?

4. [v.4] Even though the message is one of judgment, it is still within God’s grace.  How is that possible?

5. [v.6-10] God’s power is very much alive and active in this chapter.  How does God’s power work through Jonah?  How does God’s power work through Nineveh?

6.  One of the more popular ways to reach non-believers today is through relational evangelism.  This means that Christians aim to build a meaningful friendship with a person before presenting the Gospel.  (This is probably NOT what Jonah did.)  What are the strengths of relational evangelism?  Where does it fall short?

7.  Individually, write out the gospel message on a piece of paper in a way that a non-Christian will understand.  Hint:  Keep it simple.  Bonus points if you have a non-Christian in your group and they comprehend your answer.

8.  How does God use our words and actions for His own glory, despite our knowledge, confidence (or lack of), delivery, or motives? 

Jonah: Week 6

Text: Jonah 2
Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy (Salvation Belongs to the Lord)

1. In our moments of despair and hopelessness, what do we usually turn to or cling to?

2.  What is despair and where does it come from?

3.  All people and events are under God’s rule and authority.  Name some situations, personal or biblical, where good has come out of a bad, difficult or frustrating situation.

4.  How do our pains or struggles bring us closer to God?

5.  Often, God’s timing does not match with our own.  We consider God’s action to be too early or too late.  Why does God’s timing always work, even if we don’t see it that way at the time?

6.  Our false idols (pride, alcohol, food, relationships, career, children, past events, etc.) demand that we vow and sacrifice to them, and in return they “save us” or “serve us” in a way that is desirable.  How do these actions change when it comes to the Lord?

7.  Jonah’s experience with God reveals that the Christian life is not without pain or discomfort, but He does rescue us from the worst – eternal death and separation.  Share an experience that has caused you pain or trial as a Christian.

8.  After reading halfway through the book of Jonah, share what you have learned from it so far.  What are a few of the central themes?

Jonah: Week 5

Text: Jonah 1:17-2:1
Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy (Jonah's Great Fish: Miracle or Metaphor?)

1.  We’re told that Jonah is swallowed by a great fish and lives inside it for three days.  This isn’t the only example of a “Biblical impossibility.”  There are a number of other impossibilities in the Bible as well.  Name off as many as you can.

2.  Why are these impossibilities (or miracles) unacceptable or unbelievable by critics?  In other words, what is essential in understanding these miracles?

3.  How should Christians talk to skeptics about miracles?  Should we have to defend them or support them - even if we believe them?

4.  Why does God even use miracles?  Are they even that important in the Bible?  How about miracles in our personal lives?

5.  What’s the difference between a miracle and a parable, myth, or legend?

Jonah: Week 4

Text: Jonah 1 - 2:7
Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy (God Appoints a Fish)

1.  [Jonah 1] What evidences do we see in the Book of Jonah that confirms that the sailors are more compassionate and more faithful than Jonah?

2.  Have you known any non-Christians that are more obedient, more ethical, or more generous than some actual Christians?  What do you think makes them this way?

3.  Regardless of our good deeds, they do not save us.  Why do we want to share the gospel with other people?  Important: It’s not so they can “become good.”

4.  [Jonah 1] What transformation do we see in the sailors throughout first chapter?

5.  [Jonah 1] Mercy is not getting what we deserve, and God demonstrates a lot of mercy here.  Which act of mercy speaks the most to you?  Why?

6.  [Jonah 1:17]  Remember, we know the appointed fish is coming because we have probably heard this account before, but Jonah doesn’t.  What is Jonah really asking the sailors to do (to him) and why does he ask such a thing?

7.  [Jonah 2:1-7]  What change do we see in Jonah in the opening verses of chapter 2?

8.  Although far from the Christ himself, we get a glimpse of what Jesus’ life is like through Jonah’s actions.  In what ways is Jonah’s life like that of the Messiah’s?

Jonah: Week 3

Text: Jonah 1:4-16
Sermon: Rev. Anne Kennedy (Jonah and the Storm)

1. [v.4-5] The account shifts with a storm and Jonah sleeping below deck while everyone on the ship is praying and preparing for the worst.  Why is Jonah, a prophet of God, literally sleeping on the job?  What’s his problem?

2. [v. 5] The sailors sacrifice their precious cargo in order to spare their lives.  How does their attitude and actions differ from that of Jonah’s?

3.  Jonah writes his account with an emphasis on direction.  Twice already, Jonah has been asked to “arise” or “get up,” while Jonah’s response to it has “going down” and “sinking.”  Why does Jonah write in this fashion?  What is Jonah trying to say about himself?  What is he trying to say about God?

4. [v.10] In the limited interactions Jonah has had with the sailors, he has already told them that we was running away from God.  Considering that this isn’t what most people share about themselves in first impressions, what would convince Jonah to share this with the sailors?

5.  [v.7–10] After casting lots, Jonah describes who he is and who he worships.  The sailors become terrified.  Why do they look to him to solve their crisis?

6.  [v.11-13] Jonah requests that he’d be thrown overboard, but the sailors refuse his sacrifice at first, only to give-in later.  Discuss some of the thoughts that the sailors might be having at this point in the storm.

7.  [v.13-16] God uses Jonah’s stubbornness and disobedience to produce something good – namely to witness God’s power to the sailors.  Has there been a time in your life where God made something good from your poor decision?

Jonah: Week 2

Text: Jonah 1:1-3

Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy (Jonah Runs from God)

1.  What is the difference between dread and fear?  Does Jonah show signs of either?

2. (v.2) Jonah's understanding of God's will is clear and concise.  This shows us that God's will for Jonah is not something elusive, unreachable or lofty.  God gives us many ways to make certain what His will is for us.  What are they?

3. (v.3)  What is Jonah's reaction to God's calling?  Why does he choose those actions?

4. (v.3)  Jonah uses his effort, his time and money to make himself too busy to follow God to (initially) use.  Has there been a time where you make yourself too busy for God?

5. (v.1-3) Can anyone (including Jonah) flee from God's presence or will?  Read Psalm 139:7-10 for further reference.

6. (App)  Jonah is disheartened at God's plan to redeem Nineveh.  It's not uncommon for God to call us out of relationships, situations and attitudes that are not in line with His plan.  In time, God's way will be done, but only through great hardship.  Share a time where you and God have had to settle things "the hard way."

7. (App) What could have been done on your part to make that situation not so hard?

8.  (Thanksgiving Bonus) What are you thankful for this year?

Jonah: Week 1

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:26-30, Jonah 1:1-2 
Sermon: Rev. Matt Kennedy (Pride and Prejudice)

1.  In the light of God’s grace and mercy, why is it important for Christians to interact and love people who are not like us? 

2.  (1 Cor 1:26-30) How do we get to be Christians?  And how do we define ourselves?

3.  (1 Cor 1:26-30) How are Christians able to “do good” in the world?

4.  When we are not carrying out God’s will, how does God bring us back obedience?  How does God lead us back into acts of mercy, generosity and grace for others?

5.  How can God use blessings (as opposed to trials and sufferings) to call us back to repentance?

6.  Why does God choose people as the main way to spread the Gospel message?

7.  (Jonah 1:1-2) As an Israelite, Jonah probably sees Assyria (Nineveh) as evil, and Israel as a holy and God fearing nation.  God has a very different view on both cultures.  What makes a culture good or evil?  Is there a culture (past or present) that best exemplifies holiness and goodness?  

8.  (Jonah 1:1-2) Jonah is being called by God to do something that is very much against his culture.  When was the last time you had to do something uncomfortable or outside your level of expectation?  Briefly describe what it was and your feelings about it.

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)?