Discovering Your God-Given Mission Through Jonah
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the concept of discovering our God-given mission through the lens of the book of Jonah. We began by acknowledging that understanding God's will for our lives can often feel like being given a big picture without the necessary steps to achieve it. Just as I needed a detailed guide to fix my truck's turn signal, we need detailed guidance to understand and fulfill God's mission for us. Our primary purpose is to be in a relationship with God and to fulfill His will, but how do we discover the specifics of that mission?
We introduced the new series "Made for More," focusing on God's mission for our lives, using the book of Jonah as our guide. Jonah, a historical figure and prophet, was given a mission by God to go to Nineveh, a powerful yet wicked city, and deliver a message of repentance. Despite his initial reluctance, Jonah's story teaches us valuable lessons about obedience, action, and the importance of our unique abilities in fulfilling God's mission.
We emphasized that our life mission comes from God's word and requires obedience. Jonah's mission began with the word of the Lord coming to him, and it required him to take action, even if it meant stepping out of his comfort zone. Similarly, our mission will often require us to do things that are challenging and uncomfortable. However, it is through these actions that we can make a significant impact on the world around us.
We also discussed the importance of our mission being others-centered. Jonah's mission was not for his benefit but for the people of Nineveh, who were living in sin and needed to turn back to God. Our mission, too, is to help others and bring them closer to God. Through the story of Jonah, we see God's grace, mercy, and forgiveness, and we are reminded that God uses imperfect people to fulfill His perfect plan.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Word as the Source of Our Mission: Our life mission will come from God's word. Just as Jonah received his mission through the word of the Lord, we must spend time in the Bible to understand what God is calling us to do. Personal time with God is crucial for receiving His guidance and direction. [18:01]
2. Obedience is Essential: Fulfilling our mission requires obedience. Jonah was instructed to arise and go to Nineveh, which meant taking action. Similarly, we must be willing to step out of our comfort zones and take the necessary steps to fulfill God's assignment for us. [24:58]
3. Our Mission is Others-Centered: God's mission for us is not about our comfort but about helping others. Jonah's mission was to deliver a message of repentance to the people of Nineveh. Our mission, too, is to impact the lives of others and bring them closer to God. [31:34]
4. God Uses Imperfect People: Jonah was a reluctant prophet, yet God used him to fulfill His mission. This reminds us that God can use us, despite our imperfections, to accomplish His purposes. Our unique abilities and experiences are part of God's plan for us. [17:00]
5. The Eternal Significance of Our Mission: The Apostle Paul emphasized that his life was worth nothing unless he used it to finish the work assigned by the Lord Jesus. Our mission has eternal significance, and we must focus on what truly matters, rather than getting distracted by temporary concerns. [08:18]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:34] - Introduction: Fixing the Turn Signal
[01:23] - Understanding God's Will
[02:07] - New Series: Made for More
[02:53] - What is a Mission?
[03:30] - God's Assignment for Us
[04:32] - Ephesians 2:10: God's Workmanship
[05:21] - Unique Abilities and God's Plan
[06:34] - Good Works and Eternal Impact
[07:27] - Jesus' Mission and Our Assignment
[08:18] - Apostle Paul's Focus on Eternal Work
[09:18] - Paul's Transformation and Mission
[10:50] - Investing in Eternal Things
[11:25] - Why We Are Still Here
[12:07] - Learning from Jonah's Life
[14:18] - Historical Context of Jonah
[15:15] - Jesus' Reference to Jonah
[16:01] - God's Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness
[17:00] - Imperfect People in God's Plan
[18:01] - God's Word as the Source of Our Mission
[18:50] - Spending Time in God's Word
[19:46] - Learning from Others
[20:34] - Friends Who Speak Truth
[21:22] - Visions and Dreams
[22:19] - Study to Show Yourself Approved
[23:09] - Vision vs. Verse
[23:58] - God's Word is Living and Active
[24:58] - Obedience is Essential
[25:58] - The Great City of Nineveh
[27:55] - Jonah's Reluctance
[28:38] - The Challenge of Obedience
[29:28] - Stepping Out of Comfort Zones
[30:15] - Starting Unleashed Church
[31:34] - Our Mission is Others-Centered
[32:35] - Nineveh's Wickedness
[33:24] - God's Message of Repentance
[35:00] - Sin and Separation from God
[36:17] - God's Heart for the Lost
[37:37] - Invitation to Accept Christ
[38:51] - Prayer for Salvation
[40:13] - Next Steps and Closing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Discovering Our God-Given Mission
#### Bible Reading
1. 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.'"
2. Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
3. Acts 20:24: "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Jonah's initial reaction to God's command to go to Nineveh? [16:01]
2. According to Ephesians 2:10, what are we created for, and how does this relate to our mission? [04:32]
3. How does the Apostle Paul describe the significance of his mission in Acts 20:24? [08:18]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of spending time in God's word to understand our mission? [18:50]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jonah was reluctant to go to Nineveh, and how does this reflect our own hesitations in following God's commands? [16:01]
2. How does understanding that we are God's handiwork (Ephesians 2:10) influence our perception of our abilities and mission? [04:32]
3. In what ways does Paul's statement in Acts 20:24 challenge us to prioritize our life mission over temporary concerns? [08:18]
4. How can spending time in God's word help us discern our specific mission, as suggested in the sermon? [18:50]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt reluctant to follow a command from God. What were your reasons, and how did you overcome them? [16:01]
2. Identify one unique ability or talent you have. How can you use this ability to fulfill a good work that God has prepared for you? [05:21]
3. Paul considered his life worth nothing unless he completed his God-given task. What temporary concerns or distractions are currently hindering you from focusing on your mission? [08:18]
4. How can you make spending time in God's word a regular part of your routine to better understand His mission for you? [18:50]
5. Think of a situation where you need to step out of your comfort zone to obey God's call. What practical steps can you take to move forward in obedience? [29:28]
6. Jonah's mission was others-centered. Identify a person or group in your life who needs to hear about God's grace and forgiveness. How can you reach out to them this week? [31:34]
7. Reflect on a time when you felt unqualified or imperfect for a task God called you to. How does Jonah's story encourage you to trust that God can use you despite your imperfections? [17:00]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into understanding and applying the lessons from the sermon on discovering our God-given mission. Use the questions to foster meaningful discussion and personal reflection.
Devotional
Day 1: God's Word as the Source of Our Mission
Our life mission will come from God's word. Just as Jonah received his mission through the word of the Lord, we must spend time in the Bible to understand what God is calling us to do. Personal time with God is crucial for receiving His guidance and direction. [18:01]
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)
Reflection: How can you create a daily habit of spending time in God's word to better understand His mission for your life?
Day 2: Obedience is Essential
Fulfilling our mission requires obedience. Jonah was instructed to arise and go to Nineveh, which meant taking action. Similarly, we must be willing to step out of our comfort zones and take the necessary steps to fulfill God's assignment for us. [24:58]
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific step of obedience you can take today to move closer to fulfilling God's mission for you?
Day 3: Our Mission is Others-Centered
God's mission for us is not about our comfort but about helping others. Jonah's mission was to deliver a message of repentance to the people of Nineveh. Our mission, too, is to impact the lives of others and bring them closer to God. [31:34]
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can help or encourage today to bring them closer to God?
Day 4: God Uses Imperfect People
Jonah was a reluctant prophet, yet God used him to fulfill His mission. This reminds us that God can use us, despite our imperfections, to accomplish His purposes. Our unique abilities and experiences are part of God's plan for us. [17:00]
"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:27, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel inadequate? How can you trust God to use you in that area despite your imperfections?
Day 5: The Eternal Significance of Our Mission
The Apostle Paul emphasized that his life was worth nothing unless he used it to finish the work assigned by the Lord Jesus. Our mission has eternal significance, and we must focus on what truly matters, rather than getting distracted by temporary concerns. [08:18]
"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." (2 Corinthians 4:16-17, ESV)
Reflection: What is one temporary concern that is distracting you from focusing on your eternal mission? How can you shift your focus to what truly matters today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Number one, we were made, every single person was made for God to be in relationship with our Heavenly Father. That is our purpose. That is the number one thing that we were created for is to be in relationship with our Creator." [01:23] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God has something says that God prepared beforehand that God already knew what he wanted you to do before you were ever even born. How awesome is that? He already had your purpose planned out and he also has your mission your assignment planned out and it says so that we would walk in them. We would live in it." [04:32] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus says the same way that I had a mission that I had an assignment. Can we admit Jesus had an amazing assignment? He came into the world. His mission was to save the world from their sin to pay the price on the cross. He says God the same way that you sent me on mission on an assignment. We're sending them now." [07:27] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God wants to use your abilities. God wants to use what he has how he's created you for an assignment for a mission to do something significant with your life. And so there's nothing greater than that. No, it said in the text. It said that God has this be that he prepared this work beforehand." [06:34] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God's heart looking at this place and saying turn back to me turn back and I'll show you this as we get into chapter three and chapter four and I want you to know church as we go through this series we're going to show you the steps on how to fulfill your god-given assignment to impact the world around you." [36:17] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The Apostle Paul says this in Acts chapter 20 verse 24. This is a guy who literally changed the world. He literally changed the world. God used them in a mighty way and look what he says here in Acts chapter 20 verse 24. He says even though he's done all these things says but my life is worth nothing to me. Unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus." [08:18] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When God calls us into something it gets us out of our comfort zone. It's not going to be easy. Sometimes it's not going to make sense. You can see here, you know Jonah going but I'm here with my people. I'm doing my first assignment. My first assignment was right here, you know preaching to the Israelites in this little town. And so I'm good here. That's what I'm going to do. And God says no, I got something bigger for you in store, but you got to get out of your comfort zone." [29:28] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you want to know what God what your next steps are in your life. We've got to spend time in God's word. We've got to do that. You know God God has so many things planned for us and he shows us through his word through the Bible. I tell people spend time in your Bible. There are too many times that all we do is we're listening to everyone else's interpretation of Scripture." [18:50] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When I'm reading God's word. I say God. Show me what my next step is God shows it you start to look at Scripture. You're like wow, there's something that God wants me to do through this and so that's what he did. He said, okay Jonah arise and go to Nineveh this great city. Now the reason he said great city wasn't because they're all nice people like they're so great. Nineveh was a great city because it was powerful." [24:58] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "God's heart looking at this place and saying turn back to me turn back and I'll show you this as we get into chapter three and chapter four and I want you to know church as we go through this series we're going to show you the steps on how to fulfill your god-given assignment to impact the world around you and so what I'm asking is this be here for the series and then also bring someone new with you we're going to show them that God has a purpose for them too that God has an assignment for them as well." [36:17] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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