Embracing God's Call: Lessons from Jonah
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, church. Today, I want to share with you the importance of being on mission with God, using the story of Jonah as our guide. Jonah, a minor prophet with a major message, teaches us about the sovereignty of God, second chances, and the call to missions. Despite being called to preach to Nineveh, Jonah initially ran in the opposite direction, highlighting the human tendency to resist God's call. However, God’s relentless pursuit of Jonah, even sending a big fish to redirect him, shows that God will go to great lengths to get our attention and bring us back to His purpose.
Jonah's story is a powerful reminder that there are great needs in faraway places, and we have a choice to obey God's call. Whether it's fear, prejudice, or apathy that holds us back, we must remember that God equips and provides for those He calls. The book of Jonah also emphasizes the power of prayer and preaching in accomplishing God's will. Jonah's simple yet profound message led to the entire city of Nineveh repenting and turning to God.
Moreover, God is a God of second chances. Just as He gave Jonah another opportunity to fulfill his mission, He offers us the same grace. Finally, God seems to have a special focus on places with many children, as seen in His compassion for the 120,000 children in Nineveh who didn't know their right hand from their left. This underscores the importance of reaching out to the younger generation.
In light of this, I urge you to support the Nazareth Baptist School, the only K-12 evangelical school in the Middle East, which is facing significant challenges due to recent conflicts. Your support can help ensure the safety and continued education of these children in Jesus' hometown. Let’s be on mission with God, using whatever time we have left to make a difference for His kingdom.
### Key Takeaways
1. Great Needs in Faraway Places: There are immense needs all around the world, not just locally. God called Jonah to go to Nineveh, a city far from his home, to address its wickedness. Similarly, we must be willing to go wherever God sends us, recognizing that His call often leads us to places of great need. [36:43]
2. Choice to Obey God: Jonah had a choice to obey or disobey God's call, and he initially chose the latter. This disobedience led him down a path of hardship. We, too, have the choice to follow God's call, and while it may be challenging, obedience leads to fulfillment and purpose in God's plan. [40:36]
3. God's Relentless Pursuit: God will go to great lengths to get our attention and bring us back to His purpose, as seen in Jonah's story with the big fish. This pursuit is not just an act of sovereignty but also of grace, showing that God cares deeply about our alignment with His will. [46:19]
4. Second Chances: Our God is a God of second chances. Jonah was given another opportunity to fulfill his mission, and God's word and will for him did not change. No matter how much we have messed up, God offers us grace and another chance to align with His purpose. [47:37]
5. Focus on Children: God has a special focus on places with many children, as seen in His compassion for the 120,000 children in Nineveh. This highlights the importance of investing in the younger generation and ensuring their safety and spiritual growth, as exemplified by the Nazareth Baptist School. [55:10]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[27:33] - Update from Israel
[29:03] - Introduction and Personal Connection
[31:13] - The Call to Missions
[32:09] - Overview of Jonah
[34:15] - Jonah's Journey: Running from God
[36:43] - Great Needs in Faraway Places
[40:36] - Choice to Obey God
[46:19] - God's Relentless Pursuit
[47:37] - Second Chances
[50:18] - Power of Praying and Preaching
[55:10] - Focus on Children
[56:33] - Nazareth Baptist School
[59:28] - Call to Support and Final Thoughts
[01:01:46] - Invitation and Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Jonah 1:1-3 (ESV): "Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.' But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord."
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Jonah's initial reaction to God's command to go to Nineveh? ([35:24])
2. How did Jonah's disobedience manifest in his actions? ([35:55])
3. What lengths did God go to in order to get Jonah's attention? ([46:19])
4. How did the people of Nineveh respond to Jonah's message? ([53:51])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jonah chose to flee from God's command instead of obeying it? ([41:35])
2. How does Jonah's story illustrate God's relentless pursuit and grace? ([46:19])
3. What does Jonah's second chance to fulfill his mission tell us about God's character? ([47:37])
4. Why is it significant that God showed compassion for the 120,000 children in Nineveh? ([55:10])
#### Application Questions
1. Have you ever felt called by God to do something that you were reluctant to do? How did you respond, and what was the outcome? ([35:24])
2. What are some "faraway places" in your life where you see great needs but have hesitated to act? How can you take a step towards addressing those needs this week? ([36:43])
3. Reflect on a time when you felt God was pursuing you to align with His will. How did you recognize His pursuit, and what was your response? ([46:19])
4. In what areas of your life do you need a second chance from God? How can you embrace His grace and move forward in obedience? ([47:37])
5. How can you support the younger generation in your community, similar to how the Nazareth Baptist School supports children in Jesus' hometown? ([56:33])
6. What specific fears, prejudices, or apathy might be holding you back from obeying God's call? How can you address these barriers? ([44:09])
7. Identify one person or group in your life who needs to hear God's message. What practical steps can you take this week to share God's love with them? ([53:51])
Devotional
Day 1: Responding to Needs Beyond Our Borders
Description: There are immense needs all around the world, not just locally. God called Jonah to go to Nineveh, a city far from his home, to address its wickedness. Similarly, we must be willing to go wherever God sends us, recognizing that His call often leads us to places of great need. Whether it's fear, prejudice, or apathy that holds us back, we must remember that God equips and provides for those He calls. The story of Jonah is a powerful reminder that there are great needs in faraway places, and we have a choice to obey God's call. [36:43]
Isaiah 6:8 (ESV): "And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'"
Reflection: Think of a place or community far from your own that you know is in need. How can you begin to pray for them and seek ways to support or serve them, even from a distance?
Day 2: The Challenge of Obedience
Description: Jonah had a choice to obey or disobey God's call, and he initially chose the latter. This disobedience led him down a path of hardship. We, too, have the choice to follow God's call, and while it may be challenging, obedience leads to fulfillment and purpose in God's plan. Jonah's story highlights the human tendency to resist God's call, but it also shows the importance of making the choice to obey, despite our fears and reservations. [40:36]
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV): "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God calling you to do something difficult. What was your response, and how did it impact your life? How can you choose obedience in a current situation where God is calling you?
Day 3: God's Relentless Pursuit
Description: God will go to great lengths to get our attention and bring us back to His purpose, as seen in Jonah's story with the big fish. This pursuit is not just an act of sovereignty but also of grace, showing that God cares deeply about our alignment with His will. Jonah's experience in the belly of the fish is a vivid illustration of God's relentless pursuit and His desire to bring us back to the path He has set for us. [46:19]
Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV): "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me."
Reflection: Consider a moment in your life when you felt far from God. How did He pursue you and bring you back to Him? How can you remain open to His guidance and correction today?
Day 4: Embracing Second Chances
Description: Our God is a God of second chances. Jonah was given another opportunity to fulfill his mission, and God's word and will for him did not change. No matter how much we have messed up, God offers us grace and another chance to align with His purpose. This aspect of Jonah's story is a testament to God's unwavering grace and His willingness to give us new opportunities to serve Him and fulfill our calling. [47:37]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Think about an area in your life where you feel you have failed or fallen short. How can you embrace God's grace and seek a second chance to align with His purpose?
Day 5: Investing in the Next Generation
Description: God has a special focus on places with many children, as seen in His compassion for the 120,000 children in Nineveh. This highlights the importance of investing in the younger generation and ensuring their safety and spiritual growth, as exemplified by the Nazareth Baptist School. God's concern for the children of Nineveh underscores the significance of nurturing and protecting the faith of the next generation. [55:10]
Matthew 18:10 (ESV): "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: Identify a child or young person in your life who you can invest in spiritually. How can you support their growth in faith and ensure they feel valued and loved by God?
Quotes
1. "The Nazareth Baptist School is the only K-12 evangelical school in all of the Middle East. And it's been a beacon of hope for almost one and a half years. The enemy would like nothing more than to destroy and eliminate the witness of our school, but he will not succeed. Will you prayerfully consider how you can help Friends of Nazareth and the Nazareth Baptist School finish the task?" [28:20] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Missions, I know for Underwood, is a part of your DNA. The whole time I've known you, whether it's locally or regionally or globally, Underwood has been a church that's been on mission with God. So what I want to simply do today is come alongside of you and reinforce that idea of what does a church on mission with God, truly look like?" [31:13] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "In the book of Jonah, there's a number of themes that are there. There's a theme of praying, but there's also a theme of preaching. There's a theme of rebellion, but there's also a theme of revival. When you read this book, you can learn something about the sovereignty of God, but you can also read something about second chances. But it's also a book about missions. The call to and the result of missions." [32:52] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Every one of us in this room this morning are living in one of those chapters. Not just me, but all of us. You're either running from God. There might be some here. might need to run to God. I hope you will. You might be running with God, or you might be running against God. But for whatever reason, God has you here this morning to learn what it means to be on mission with Him." [34:15] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "There are great needs in far away places. Can I get an amen to that today? Now there's a lot of great needs all around us. There's great needs in the Shoals area. There's great needs in Alabama. There's great needs in America. But there's great needs all over the world. So here's what God did. God said to his preacher, I want you to get up and I want you to go to Nineveh. And I want you to cry out against them for their wickedness, he says, has come up before me." [36:43] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "You and I have a choice as to whether or not we're going to obey the Lord. God said to Jonah, I want you to go this way, but Jonah chose to go this way. Now I'm not trying to be hyper spiritual about something, but did you notice when he made the wrong choice how he kept going down? He goes down to Joppa, he goes down to the boat, goes down in the boat, goes and lays down in the boat, gets thrown down in the water, ends up down in the fish. I want to tell you, disobedience is always costly and it'll always bring you, here's Jonah, you and I have a choice whether or not we're going to obey the call of God to do what God has called us to do." [41:07] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "God will go to great lengths to get your attention. He'll even send a crazy preacher here to tell you this, but I'll tell you something, folks. God will go to great lengths to get your attention. If God calls you to go one way and all you know how to do is go the other way, God will go to great lengths to get your attention. You say, how do you know that? I think a big fish qualifies. Hello. People say to me, they say, preacher, man, poor Jonah, poor Jonah ends up in the belly of a big fish. Can I tell you something, beloved? That fish was there not only as a sovereign act of God, but as a part of the gracious plan of God. God rescued his rebellious preacher. If Jonah had not been swallowed up by the big fish, he would have drowned in disobedience and died out of the will of God. What a picture of the grace of God." [46:19] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Our God is a God of second chances. Our God gives second chances. I want you to look at what it says in chapter 3 and verse number 1. Notice this. The word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time. Saying, Arise and go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you. Beloved, don't do this now, but do this later. Go back and look. Chapter 1 verses 1 through 3. Chapter 3 verses 1 and 2. Now watch this. Watch this. Don't miss this. God's word to Jonah did not change. And God's will for Jonah, did not change. Chapter 1. Chapter 3. Get up. Go to Nineveh." [47:37] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "God uses, now don't miss this, praying and preaching to accomplish His will. I said earlier that the book of Jonah is filled with many themes, and it really is. Two of them that are so prominent. One is praying. I mean, just about every chapter, you have some type of prayer. I mean, the sailors are praying. Jonah's praying. Jonah prays a great prayer in a terrible place. In the belly of a fish. And then he prays a terrible prayer in a great place, right on the hills of Levi. God, kill them all. Take my life. A lot of prayers in the book of Jonah. God uses praying. Now watch. God uses preaching." [50:54] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "God seems to specialize, in places, where there's a lot of children. So where'd you get that? Look at the very last verse, in the book of Jonah. Look at what it says. When Jonah's griping, and arguing, and complaining with God, about moving upon the whole town, here's what God said to him. God said, should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city, now watch, in which there are more than 120,000 persons, who do not even know the difference, between their left and their right hand? God said, Jonah, you wanna have compassion on a plant, and all of this other that's giving you shade? God said, should I not have compassion, on a city, where there's children, 120,000 of them, that are so young, or so immature, they don't even know the difference, in their left, and their right hand." [55:10] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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