Running to God: Embracing Salvation and Obedience
Summary
The sermon begins with a candid discussion about the discomfort many feel when it comes to preaching against certain behaviors or beliefs. The speaker acknowledges the cultural emphasis on individual freedom and the notion that everyone is inherently perfect, but challenges these beliefs by emphasizing the need for salvation through Jesus Christ. This message is particularly relevant to those raised in the church and those exploring their faith, as it calls for a reflection on what one has been saved from and the realization of the need for more than just a small addition of Jesus in their lives.
The speaker introduces a new sermon series titled "Questioning Jonah," which delves into the Book of Jonah's depth and complexity. They draw parallels between the misconceptions we have as children about various aspects of life, such as money and parents, and our initial understanding of biblical stories like Jonah. A personal story is shared about the speaker's high school years, struggling with anger issues and feeling distant from God. A conversation with their coach reminds them of God's greater, unchanging love, prompting the speaker to ask the audience if their belief in who God is reflected in their choices.
The sermon then explores Jonah's story, focusing on his reluctance to go to Nineveh and his subsequent attempt to flee from God. Despite Jonah's resistance, God's pursuit of him is relentless, and the speaker emphasizes that running from God is futile. The consequences of such actions not only affect the individual but also those around them. The speaker also touches on the broader call for all believers to share God's message, referencing Peter's instruction to do so with gentleness and respect.
The story of Jonah continues with his eventual obedience to God's command after being swallowed by a great fish. The speaker reflects on Jonah's prayer from the belly of the fish and questions whether it can be considered true repentance. The sermon concludes with a prayer for the congregation, inviting those who have been distant from God or who have never had faith to come back to Him. The speaker emphasizes that everyone is loved and pursued by God, and there is joy in salvation and restoration.
Key Takeaways:
- The cultural values of individual freedom and inherent perfection are at odds with the Christian understanding of the need for salvation. This conflict is particularly challenging for those raised in the church, as it requires a shift from seeing Jesus as an addition to recognizing Him as a savior. The speaker urges believers to confront this cultural narrative with the truth of the Gospel. [17:10]
- The story of Jonah is not just a childhood tale but a complex narrative that can teach us about God's relentless pursuit and our own misunderstandings. As we mature, we must re-examine our beliefs and seek a deeper understanding of God's word, just as we come to see the world and our parents in a new light as we grow older. [00:32]
- Personal experiences, such as the speaker's struggle with anger and distance from God, illustrate the transformative power of understanding God's love. When we truly grasp the depth of God's love, it can change our behavior and the choices we make, drawing us closer to Him and aligning our lives with His will. [36:32]
- Jonah's reluctance to go to Nineveh and his subsequent flight from God demonstrate that resistance to God's call is not only futile but also has wider implications. Our disobedience can have a ripple effect, impacting not just ourselves but also those God intends to reach through us. This underscores the importance of obedience and the sharing of God's message. [12:16]
- The sermon concludes with a powerful call to reflection and repentance. The speaker invites the congregation to consider their own relationship with God, whether they have been running away or have never approached Him. The message is clear: God's love and pursuit are for everyone, and there is always an opportunity for salvation and a return to joy in His presence. [38:52]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Questioning Jonah
#### Bible Reading
1. Jonah 1:1-3 (NIV)
> 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.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.
2. Psalm 139:7-10 (NIV)
> Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
3. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
> But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was Jonah's initial reaction to God's command to go to Nineveh, and what did he do instead? (Jonah 1:1-3)
2. According to Psalm 139:7-10, what does the psalmist say about the possibility of fleeing from God's presence?
3. How does 1 Peter 3:15 instruct believers to share their faith, and what attitude should they maintain while doing so?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jonah chose to flee from God's command instead of obeying it? Consider the cultural and personal reasons discussed in the sermon. [10:16]
2. How does Psalm 139:7-10 reinforce the idea that running from God is futile? What does this passage reveal about God's nature?
3. In what ways does 1 Peter 3:15 challenge believers to share their faith differently than Jonah did? How does the instruction to do so with "gentleness and respect" impact our approach to evangelism?
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God was calling you to do something, but you resisted. What were your reasons for resisting, and how did you eventually respond? [10:16]
2. Jonah's story shows that our disobedience can affect others around us. Can you think of a situation where your actions, whether obedient or disobedient, had a significant impact on someone else? How did it make you feel? [29:31]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of recognizing our need for salvation and not just seeing Jesus as an addition to our lives. How has your understanding of salvation evolved over time? [17:10]
4. The speaker shared a personal story about struggling with anger and feeling distant from God. Have you ever experienced a similar feeling of distance from God? What helped you to reconnect with Him? [36:32]
5. Jonah's reluctance to go to Nineveh was partly due to his desire to see the city face judgment. Have you ever struggled with wanting to see someone "get what they deserve"? How can you shift your perspective to align more with God's grace and mercy? [12:16]
6. The sermon concluded with a call to reflect on whether our belief in who God is reflected in our choices. What is one specific area of your life where you feel your actions do not fully align with your beliefs about God? What steps can you take to change that? [37:38]
7. The speaker mentioned that God's love and pursuit are for everyone, and there is always an opportunity for salvation and restoration. Is there someone in your life who you feel is distant from God? How can you gently and respectfully share God's love with them this week? [38:52]
This guide aims to foster deep reflection and meaningful discussion within your small group, encouraging each member to engage with the story of Jonah and its implications for their own lives.
Devotional
Day 1: Salvation Beyond Cultural Comfort
Cultural narratives often clash with the message of salvation, suggesting that individual freedom and inherent perfection negate the need for a savior. Yet, the truth of the Gospel reveals that everyone requires salvation through Jesus Christ, not merely as an addition to life, but as the very core of it. This challenges believers to reevaluate their understanding of Jesus' role in their lives. [17:10]
James 1:21 - "Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."
Reflection: How does the cultural narrative of individual freedom and inherent perfection influence your view of salvation? How can you realign your understanding with the Gospel's message of needing Jesus as your savior?
Day 2: Revisiting Childhood Narratives
The stories of the Bible, like Jonah's, are not mere childhood tales but are filled with depth and complexity that can teach us about God's character and our own misconceptions. As we grow and mature, revisiting these narratives can lead to a deeper understanding of God's relentless pursuit and our need for His guidance. [00:32]
1 Corinthians 13:11 - "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways."
Reflection: What childhood story from the Bible have you not revisited as an adult? How might your understanding of this story change with a more mature perspective?
Day 3: The Transformative Power of God's Love
Understanding the depth of God's love can be a transformative experience, altering our behavior and aligning our choices with His will. This love is not conditional or distant but is a constant invitation to draw closer to Him, even when we struggle with personal issues like anger or doubt. [36:32]
Ephesians 3:17-19 - "So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Reflection: Can you identify an area in your life where understanding God's love could transform your behavior? How can you seek to deepen your comprehension of His love this week?
Day 4: The Ripple Effect of Disobedience
Jonah's story teaches us that resistance to God's call is not only futile but also has consequences that extend beyond ourselves. Our disobedience can impact those around us and hinder God's plan to reach others through our lives. Embracing obedience and sharing God's message are therefore crucial to fulfilling our purpose. [12:16]
Proverbs 10:17 - "Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray."
Reflection: Have you ever experienced the wider implications of your disobedience? How can you practice obedience to God's call today, knowing it can positively affect those around you?
Day 5: The Joy of Salvation and Restoration
Regardless of one's past or current distance from God, His love and pursuit are unwavering. The sermon invites reflection and repentance, offering the promise of joy in salvation and restoration. This call to return to God is open to all, affirming that His love is inclusive and His arms are always open. [38:52]
Lamentations 3:22-23 - "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: Reflect on your current relationship with God. Are there ways in which you have been running from Him? What steps can you take today to move towards His open arms and the joy of His salvation?
Quotes
"There's this whole combination of forces that would keep us from sharing anything from saying anything that contradicts the way that someone is comfortable in being in a given moment, and one of them is just that maybe the most precious value in our culture right now is individual freedom." [15:52]
"Everyone is beautiful, wonderful, and awesome just as they are. It's not true about them, it's not true about you, it's not true about me." [16:31]
"God loves us enough to tell us the truth about our state and about ourselves...to do it with love...Grace without truth is kissing somebody on the cheek before they walk off of a cliff." [20:02]
"Running from God's agenda can cost you time, money, health, peace, and joy. But make no mistake, it will cost you." [28:49]
"Peter tells us to do it with gentleness and respect." [13:31]
"God's goodness is deeper than our badness. God's better than we deserve; he's better than we can give him credit for and just." [33:17]
"God still loves you, he still wants you, he still says come back. It turns out that the same grace and love that is available for somebody who has never even considered seriously God is continually also the same grace that saves us, sustains us." [35:53]
"Why would you think you can run from God? You can't get away from God either, friend. You can get upset at him, be angry at him, get mad at something I say or the sensibility of the Bible, you can run from God but you can't hide because he pursues you." [27:40]
"God says go to Nineveh and it states three different times he went to Tarshish to Tarshish to Tarshish; he was not going to Nineveh and he was fleeing from the Lord's presence." [09:35]
"We're going to learn a lot about God and a lot about ourselves because whenever we first learn about the Book of Jonah we know the bullet points right God says Jonah go Jonah says no ends up in the ocean swallowed spit out and then he obeys all of those things are true it's just that the big picture is truer." #!!02:47!!#
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