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 speaks ::: Jonah 3
The book of Jonah is small in size but great in impact. Jonah is one of thirteen minor prophets. Jonah received a call from the Lord to speak to the great city of Nineveh but ran the opposite direction. Jonah was thrown overboard and swallowed by a large fish. He spent three days in the belly of the fish before being spit on to dry ground. Jonah then makes the journey to Nineveh and preaches the word of the Lord. The people heard the message and repented of their sin. The message was so urgent that the king ordered everyone to fast and give up their evil ways. A great spiritual awakening took place in the pagan land. Study Jonah 3.
1) Neal opened the sermon by sharing about a TV show he watched about people who lived alone in the wilderness. What has God taught you in the times you’ve been intentional to spend alone time with him?
2) Read Jonah 3:1-4. God gives Jonah a second chance to preach the message to the great city of Nineveh. Not everyone gets a second chance (read Numbers 20:1-13). Share about a time when God gave you a second chance.
3) The man in Jonah 3 is starkly different than the man in Jonah 1 (although Jonah is the same man). In Jonah 3 we see immediate obedience to God. When have you obeyed God and how did it turn out? (see: 1 Samuel 15:22, Micah 6:8 & John 8:51)
4) Jonah shared with a group of people who were far from God (read Jonah 3:4-5). Read Acts 13:48-49 and 14:1-7. What do you see about the effort given to spread the Gospel message? Where is God asking you to share the Good News of Jesus?
5) The King of Nineveh leads the Nation in a time of repentance (read Jonah 3:6-9). Share of a time where you realized the depth of your sin & the action that followed.
6) The people of Nineveh participated in evil behavior. Another prophet spoke against the evil taking place (Habakkuk 1:12-13). What evil is happening in our world now? Where do you think God is asking you to speak against evil?
7) A personal commitment to repentance of sin is a regular part of following Jesus. Take the time to read through Psalm 51. Talk about the aspects of repentance and how you can have a clean heart before God.
Close your time in prayer. Talk about who you will invite to Coastline on Sunday.
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