Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Jonah 4 Small Group Questions


Our church is doing a four-week sermon series through the book of Jonah called: "Running to God." We are studying the life of the prophet Jonah and what it looks like to run to God even when we don't want to. The book of Jonah is small in size but deep in theology. We read about the unending, gracious, merciful love of God. We see that God is unwilling to give up on anyone and longs for all people to know Him. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone

Small Group Questions ::: A God who cares ::: Jonah 4

The book of Jonah is small in words but deep in theological truth of the love of God. It begins with Jonah fleeing from the Lord and turning to obedience to God. The book concludes with a melancholy prophet seemingly focused on selfish desires. Many times the book of Jonah isn’t read through chapter 4, but we must discuss the emotional state of Jonah as he relates to the great compassion of God. Jonah leaves the city of Nineveh and watches the great city. At this point God asks two questions of Jonah and provides an object lesson to help Jonah see the great love of God. The book ends rather abruptly as Jonah has no response to the great love of God.

1) Neal shared a couple of stories where his kids learned to do the right thing with his guidance and then began to act on their own. How have you learned to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord?

2) Jonah confesses that he knew the character of God (read Jonah 4:1-3). Jonah knew that God was gracious and compassionate (Exodus 34:6, Nehemiah 9:17, & Psalm 145:8). Share about how you’ve seen God’s character in this manner.

3) Some scholars think that Jonah was setting up a location to watch Nineveh burn. Read Genesis 19:1-29 to learn about Sodom and Gomorrah. Discuss how one city was destroyed and one city was spared in different time periods.

4) Read Jonah 4:4-8. Jonah appears to be angry at God for acting in compassion. Compare the state of Jonah here with Peter in John 21. Peter was restored to ministry after denying Jesus. Do you relate more with Jonah or with Peter?

5) The Bible calls believers to invest themselves into growing others believers (read Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 16:1-5, Ephesians 4:2-24, & 1 Thessalonians 1:5). Who are you intentionally investing your life in to help them grow in the Lord?

6) As the book of Jonah nears the end we see God’s great concern for this Nation (read Jonah 4:9-11). What is something in our world that you are concerned for (It might be a people group, an organization, or a personal calling)?

7) It is evident form our text that God has a desire for all people to know Him (read John 3:16, Acts 20:1-6, & 2 Peter 3:9). What role are you currently playing in to help more people know about the great love of God?

Close your time in prayer. Talk about who you will invite to Coastline on Sunday.

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