Jonah_Part_4.pdf

Devotional

Day 1: God’s compassion crosses the lines you draw

God’s mercy does not stop at the borders you make in your mind. When God looks at people, he sees souls made in his image and the possibility of repentance and new life—even among those you mark as enemies, outsiders, or wrong. When mercy comes to someone you didn’t expect or someone you dislike, it’s a moment to pause and let God reshape your view of who belongs to him.

This week, pay attention to where your heart tightens when God shows grace to another. Let that discomfort become a doorway to prayer: ask God to soften your vision, to show you the person behind the label, and to give you a small, concrete way to express his compassion to someone outside your circle.

Acts 10:34–36 (ESV)
So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the word that he sent to Israel as he proclaimed good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),”

Reflection: Name one person or people-group you instinctively exclude from God’s mercy. For the next five mornings, pray specifically for them and ask God to give you compassion and one small action you can take toward them.

Day 2: Obedience shapes more than your own story

Obedience to God is rarely private; it sets off ripples that touch other lives. When someone refuses God’s call, the consequences can fall on those around them—friends, family, coworkers, even strangers who will never know the reason a door opened for them. The responsibility of following God matters because God uses obedient people as instruments of rescue and hope.

Consider the small, uncomfortable steps God might be asking of you—an awkward conversation, an invitation, a moment of truth. These are not just personal holiness exercises; they can be lifelines for others. Choose one obedient step today and follow through, trusting that God can use it for eternal consequence beyond what you see.

Ezekiel 33:7–9 (ESV)
“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me... If when I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning... he shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.”

Reflection: What is one specific thing God is asking you to do that you have delayed—an invitation, a conversation, a sharing of your faith? This week take the first concrete step (send the message, make the call, accept the invite) and note what happens.

Day 3: Anger at grace exposes your heart’s compass

When grace to others makes you angry, that anger is a mirror. It reveals what you treasure—comfort, control, a sense of fairness—and how those things can outweigh your love for God’s purposes. Jonah’s fury over God’s mercy showed that his priorities were skewed; when grace comes to someone else, ask whether your reaction is rooted in love for God or love for your own rights.

Bring that anger honestly to God. Confess the ways your desires and wounds have shaped a begrudging heart. Ask God to turn resentment into rejoicing and to replace a posture of judgment with one of humble gladness when the lost are found.

James 4:1–3 (ESV)
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.

Reflection: Think of a recent time you felt angry at God for blessing someone else. Write down what you wanted instead, then pray a short prayer asking God to change that desire and to give you joy in their good.

Day 4: The gospel’s reach does not mirror your preferences

The good news is for people, not political tribes or social circles. God’s heart seeks the repentance and restoration of all kinds of people, and his work often crosses lines we’d rather keep intact. If the gospel is only good news for people who look or think like you, then it’s not the whole gospel; it’s a mirror of your comforts, not God’s mission.

Let the reality that God commands repentance “for all people everywhere” shape how you live and love. Rejoice when someone different comes to faith. Make space in your life to befriend those outside your usual groups so the message of hope can reach where your comfort zone does not.

Acts 17:30–31 (ESV)
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed...

Reflection: Identify one person outside your social or political circle. This week, do one concrete act of kindness for them—bring a meal, offer help, or invite them for coffee—and look for a natural chance to share why the gospel matters to you.

Day 5: Comfort can quietly become your chief god

Comfort is small and persuasive; it claims loyalty by promising ease and avoiding cost. Jonah cared more about shade than souls. In modern life, comfort shows up as protected schedules, curated reputations, or guarded resources—things we will defend even when God’s mission asks for vulnerability or loss.

Examine what you are protecting at the expense of others’ salvation and flourishing. Consider a deliberate sacrifice of time, money, or convenience this week: let the discomfort be a practice that loosens your grip and opens your hands for God’s work among those you’d otherwise ignore.

1 Timothy 6:6–10 (ESV)
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.

Reflection: Take inventory of one comfort you fiercely protect—time, a hobby, or a possession. For five days, give it up or reduce it and use that time, money, or energy to serve someone in need or to intentionally share the gospel.

Sermon Summary

of the Sermon**

This sermon, “Jonah: Why So Mad?”, explores the final chapter of Jonah and the deeper issues of anger, priorities, and God’s mercy. Pastor Floyd walks the congregation through Jonah’s story, highlighting God’s sovereignty, justice, and grace—not just for Israel, but for all people, even those we might consider enemies. The message challenges us to examine our own hearts when God extends mercy to people we dislike or disagree with, whether for cultural, political, or personal reasons. Using Jonah’s anger as a mirror, the sermon calls us to embrace God’s priorities over our own comfort, and to rejoice when God brings hope and salvation to others, no matter who they are.

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Key Takeaways

1. God’s Mercy Extends Beyond Our Boundaries The story of Jonah reminds us that God’s compassion is not limited by our cultural, political, or personal boundaries. He desires repentance and salvation for all people, even those we might consider undeserving. When we find ourselves resisting God’s call to reach out to “the other,” it’s worth asking if we’ve made our own comfort or preferences more important than God’s heart for the world.
2. Obedience Has Eternal Consequences Jonah’s initial refusal to obey God didn’t just affect him; it had consequences for the sailors, the people of Nineveh, and potentially for generations. Our willingness—or unwillingness—to follow God’s leading can impact the eternal destiny of others. This should sober us and remind us that our choices in following God’s call are never just about us.
3. Anger at God’s Grace Reveals Our Priorities Jonah’s anger at God’s mercy toward Nineveh exposes a heart that values personal comfort and self-righteousness over the salvation of others. When we find ourselves upset at God’s work in someone else’s life, especially someone we dislike, it’s a sign that our priorities are out of alignment with God’s. God’s question to Jonah—“Is it right for you to be angry?”—is a question for us, too.
4. The Gospel Is Good News for All, Not Just Us The message of Jesus is one of hope and joy for all people, not just those who look, think, or vote like us. If we find ourselves resenting God’s work in the lives of people who are different from us, we need to revisit the heart of the gospel. True joy comes when we celebrate God’s grace wherever it appears, even in unexpected places.
5. Comfort Can Become an Idol Jonah cared more about a plant that gave him shade than about the lives of thousands in Nineveh. It’s easy to let our own comfort, status, or preferences become more important than God’s mission. God calls us to put aside our temporary comforts and join Him in sharing a message of hope and joy with the world, even when it costs us something.

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Jonah – Why So Mad?**

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### Bible Reading

- **Jonah 4:1-11** (Main text: Jonah’s anger and God’s response)
- **2 Peter 3:9** (God’s desire for all to repent)
- **Luke 2:10-11** (The gospel is good news for all people)

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### Observation Questions

In Jonah 4:1-3, what is Jonah’s reaction to God showing mercy to Nineveh? How does he express his feelings to God?
According to Jonah 4:6-10, what does God use to teach Jonah about his priorities? What happens with the plant?
In 2 Peter 3:9, what does it say about God’s heart toward people who are far from Him?
In Luke 2:10-11, who is the good news of Jesus meant for, according to the angel’s announcement?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jonah was so upset when God forgave the people of Nineveh? What does this reveal about his heart?
How does God’s question to Jonah in verse 4 (“Is it right for you to be angry?”) challenge the way we think about God’s mercy toward others?
What does the story of the plant in Jonah 4 say about the things we care about most? How does God use this to show Jonah (and us) something about misplaced priorities?
How does the message in 2 Peter 3:9 and Luke 2:10-11 connect to the story of Jonah? What does this say about who God wants to save?

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### Application Questions

Can you think of a time when you were upset or uncomfortable because God showed kindness or blessing to someone you didn’t like or disagreed with? How did you respond?
Are there people or groups in your life that you find it hard to believe God could love or forgive? What would it look like to pray for them or reach out to them?
Jonah cared more about his own comfort (the plant) than the lives of thousands in Nineveh. What are some “plants” in your life—comforts, preferences, or routines—that might be getting in the way of God’s mission?
When you hear stories of people from different backgrounds, cultures, or even political views coming to faith, do you feel joy, skepticism, or something else? Why do you think that is?
The sermon said our obedience to God can have eternal consequences for others. Is there something God has been nudging you to do or someone He’s calling you to reach out to, but you’ve been resisting? What’s holding you back?
How can you make God’s priorities—like sharing hope and joy with all people—more important than your own comfort this week? What’s one specific step you could take?
The gospel is good news for all, not just people like us. What’s one way you can celebrate or support God’s work in someone’s life who is very different from you?

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Sermon Quotes

Even when we are not faithful to do what God has called us to do, God is still faithful. Our actions have consequences, not just for us, but for the eternal salvation of others.

The Gospel is a message of hope and joy, and if you are angry about what God is doing in someone’s life because they are different than you politically, culturally, or racially…the problem is with you.

Jonah prioritized his own momentary comfort over the souls of others. How often do we let our comfort matter more than someone else’s eternity?

Christians should speak out about injustice, but it’s not social justice, it’s God’s justice. People know right from wrong, and we are called to be a voice for God’s justice in the world.

God does not want anyone to perish. He wants all people to repent. If God wants everyone to turn from their sins, shouldn’t we want that too?

The sad part is many of us know people who respond like Jonah did, instead of celebrating when God reaches someone of another culture, financial, or political perspective.

There are consequences for failing to do what God has called us to do—not just for us, but for the eternal salvation of others. Our obedience matters more than we realize.

If you find yourself upset when God shows mercy to someone you disagree with, it’s time to check your heart. God’s grace is bigger than our biases.

God calls us to share His message with the world, and that message should bring joy—a message of hope and joy for all people, not just those who look or think like us.

Instead of anger, we should respond with joy when God reaches someone we never expected. The real mission is accomplished when hearts are changed, no matter who they belong to.

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