Pathology of Sin by Pastor Steve Lombardo (Jonah 1:3-17)

The story of Jonah is not just about a prophet running from God’s call, but about a God who relentlessly pursues His people—even when they are stubborn, rebellious, or spiritually asleep. God’s pursuit is not limited to those who don’t know Him; He chases after His own children when they drift, using circumstances, discipline, and even storms to awaken hearts and draw them back to Himself. The storm that threatened Jonah’s ship was not a random act of nature, but a purposeful act of divine love—a wake-up call for a wayward son. God’s discipline is not punitive, but restorative, designed to wean our hearts from compromise and attach them to Himself.

Jonah’s journey downward—first to Joppa, then into the ship, and finally into the depths of the sea—mirrors the spiritual descent that comes from choosing our own way over God’s. Sin always brings suffering, not just as a consequence, but as a means by which God shakes us from our slumber. Like Jonah, we often isolate ourselves, preferring comfort and selfishness over community and obedience. Yet, God does not leave us in our spiritual sleep. He sends storms, not to destroy, but to awaken us to the reality of our need for Him and the futility of running from His will.

The narrative also highlights the importance of honest community. Isolation and self-centeredness are symptoms of spiritual slumber, but God calls us into relationships where we can be known, challenged, and encouraged. True Christian community is not about perfect chemistry, but about perseverance, vulnerability, and mutual growth.

Jonah’s refusal to repent, even when confronted with the consequences of his rebellion, serves as a mirror for our own hearts. We may claim to fear God, yet our actions often betray a reluctance to surrender fully. The story ends not with Jonah’s virtue, but with God’s mercy—appointing a great fish to save him from certain death. This points us to Jesus, the greater Jonah, who spent three days in the grave and rose again to offer salvation to all who call on Him.

No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. Even in our darkest moments, God is pursuing us, offering mercy, forgiveness, and a new beginning. The call is to wake up, turn from our sin, and embrace the life and purpose God has for us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Relentless Pursuit: God does not give up on His people, even when they are running in the opposite direction. He orchestrates circumstances—sometimes even storms—to get our attention and draw us back to Himself. His pursuit is an expression of love, not anger, and is meant to restore us to fellowship with Him. [05:28]
• 2. The Consequences of Sin Are Inevitable: Choosing to sin is choosing to suffer. Sin always leads us downward—into isolation, pain, and spiritual numbness. God’s discipline is not arbitrary; it is a necessary intervention to prevent us from destroying ourselves and to bring us back to the path of life. [16:04]
• 3. Spiritual Slumber Is Marked by Isolation and Selfishness: When we are spiritually asleep, we withdraw from God and others, preferring comfort and self-interest over obedience and community. True spiritual vitality requires honest relationships where we are known, challenged, and encouraged to pursue God’s will together. [19:22]
• 4. God’s Discipline Is a Wake-Up Call, Not a Final Judgment: The storms God sends are not meant to crush us, but to awaken us from our spiritual stupor. Like a loving parent who intervenes to protect a child from harm, God’s discipline is an act of mercy, designed to bring us to repentance and renewed faith. [26:49]
• 5. Salvation Requires Repentance, Not Just Recognition: Jonah’s story warns against mere lip service to God. True repentance is not just acknowledging God’s authority, but surrendering our will and embracing His. Even when we have made a mess of things, God’s grace is available, and He stands ready to forgive and restore all who turn to Him in faith. [30:11]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:47] - Introduction to Jonah Series
• [01:22] - Reading Jonah 1:4-17
• [03:25] - Opening Prayer
• [03:50] - God’s Pursuit of His People
• [05:28] - God’s Intent: Reaching Jonah’s Heart
• [07:44] - The Discipline of God’s Love
• [09:25] - Biblical Examples of God’s Pursuit
• [10:49] - God’s Way Is the Best Way
• [12:22] - The Marvel Cavern Story: Trusting the Guide
• [14:10] - Four Spiritual Realities from Jonah’s Story
• [16:04] - The Consequences of Sin
• [18:05] - The Slumber of Sin: Isolation and Selfishness
• [21:28] - The Importance of Christian Community
• [25:43] - God Sends the Storm to Wake Us
• [29:31] - Repentance or Ruin: Jonah’s Crossroads
• [34:24] - God’s Mercy in the Depths
• [36:18] - Jesus, the Greater Jonah
• [38:00] - The Call to Repent and Believe
• [39:18] - Responding in Worship and Surrender

Bible Reading

Jonah 1:4-17 (ESV) —
> 4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.
> 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.
> 6 So the captain came and said to him, “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”
> 7 And they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.
> 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?”
> 9 And he said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”
> 10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.
> 11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous.
> 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.”
> 13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.
> 14 Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.”
> 15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging.
> 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.
> 17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Observation Questions

1. What actions did Jonah take after God called him, and how did his choices affect those around him? ([14:49])
2. How did the sailors respond to the storm, and what did they do to try to save themselves and the ship? ([01:37])
3. What was Jonah doing during the storm, and how did the captain and sailors react to his behavior? ([18:05])
4. What did God do at the end of this passage, and what was the result for Jonah? ([03:25])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says, “God’s pursuit is not limited to those who don’t know Him; He chases after His own children when they drift, using circumstances, discipline, and even storms to awaken hearts and draw them back to Himself.” Why do you think God sometimes uses difficult circumstances to get our attention? ([05:28])
2. Jonah’s journey is described as a “downward” path—first to Joppa, then into the ship, and finally into the sea. What does this downward movement represent spiritually, and how does it relate to the consequences of sin? ([14:49])
3. The sermon points out that Jonah isolated himself and chose comfort over community and obedience. Why is isolation a sign of spiritual slumber, and how can honest community help us wake up spiritually? ([19:22])
4. Even after being confronted, Jonah doesn’t repent but asks to be thrown into the sea. What does this reveal about the difference between recognizing God’s authority and truly surrendering to Him? ([30:11])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says, “God orchestrates circumstances—sometimes even storms—to get our attention and draw us back to Himself.” Can you think of a time when God used a difficult situation in your life to wake you up spiritually? How did you respond? ([05:28])
2. “Choosing to sin is choosing to suffer.” Is there an area in your life right now where you are knowingly choosing your own way over God’s? What are the consequences you’ve experienced or fear you might experience? ([16:04])
3. Jonah isolated himself in the bottom of the ship instead of seeking help or community. When you are struggling or drifting from God, do you tend to withdraw from others? What would it look like to let someone in during those times? ([19:22])
4. The sermon challenges us to be part of honest Christian community, even when it’s uncomfortable or doesn’t “click” right away. Are there relationships or groups you’ve avoided because of discomfort? What step could you take this week to move toward deeper community? ([24:31])
5. Jonah gave lip service to fearing God but didn’t actually surrender. Are there areas where you say you trust God but your actions show otherwise? What would true surrender look like in that area? ([30:11])
6. The story ends with God’s mercy—He appoints a fish to save Jonah. Do you believe that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace, even in your darkest moments? How does this truth affect the way you view your own failures or the failures of others? ([36:18])
7. The call is to “wake up, turn from our sin, and embrace the life and purpose God has for us.” What is one specific step you can take this week to “wake up” spiritually and pursue God’s purpose for your life? ([38:00])