JONAH Study Guide Overview (for leaders)

Transcription

1 JONAH Study Guide Overview (for leaders) This is NOT a book about Jonah and a whale. In fact, Whale is never mentioned. Yes he was swallowed by a big fish, and this could have been a whale. But that is not the focal point of the book. The focal point of the book is God s relentless pursuit of the human heart, and his compassion and grace in forgiving sin for those that repent and trust in Him. He pursues Jonah to send him into mission, he pursues the Sailors through Jonah s disobedience, he pursues all of evil Nineveh that repents through Jonah s preaching, and finally he again pursues Jonah s heart to be like his through his provision of the big plant that he sends in chapter 4 as Jonah pouts about God giving Grace to Nineveh. The point? The Point is that God is a God of compassion and mercy that he is eager to extend to all people everywhere, the lost and EVEN the religious person, like Jonah, who has known God their whole lives. Jonah, the prophet of Israel, the religious leader of his day, is seen in this Book of Jonah as the negative example. The Book of Jonah is a book that could be titled don t be like Jonah. He does eventually obey and fulfill the mission God has for him, but in chapter 4 we realize that it was very reluctant obedience. He fulfilled the task but did not care about God s heart in the task. Chapter 4 shows us that God cares not only that we follow him and trust him to carry the Gospel into hard places, but that we do so with God s heart for the lost. But before you think we should Jonah bash as you lead this study, be careful to always point the finger back to youself, and help your small group do the same. Are we much different than Jonah? Do we always respond eagerly to God s calls on our lives? How well are we doing at taking the Gospel to places that don t have it that they might benefit from the Cross and all that God has done for us? Have we turned and repented from our sinful hearts in prayer to God? And finally, do we also have hatred in our hearts toward people, enjoying God s blessing of the Gospel, while not wanting God s blessing to extend to others? God is in the business of transforming our stubborn hearts into those that have been conformed to His gospel of grace and redemption through the person and work of Jesus. Each Week: Follow the flow of the study as directed. Each week has a little variation as to how the right column as used, so you will want to read the guide ahead of time and understand how the week flows together. Encourage your group to read the whole book on their own in their spare time. It is a short and compelling read. Week 1 Jonah 1 Running from God Resisting God s will Week 2 Jonah 2 Turning to God Turning for God s help Week 3 Jonah 3 Responding To God Trusting in God s Salvation Week 4 Jonah 4 Angry at God Desiring God s Heart

2 JONAH WEEK 1 - Running from God Sample Intro Question What comes to mind when you think of the Book of Jonah? (leaders - probably something about a whale this book is not a children s story about a whale) OR Has anyone every run away from home? Do you remember why? Read Chapter 1 together- Jonah 1:2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. Question 1: This is God s command to Jonah. Read Nahum 3:1-4 about Ninevah on the right, what do we learn about Ninevah from that passage? Question 2: Read the Context Clues on the right. What would you be thinking if you were the one called to Ninevah? Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. Question 2: Look at the Map on the Right, where is Tarshish relative to Joppa? Where is Ninevah relative to Joppa? What is significant about this? (opposite direction) Nineveh was the capital of Assyria. In the 7th and 8th centuries BC, Assyria was THE great world power. It chewed up and spit out countries right and left. It basically practiced genocide as state policy. It was God-less, and an enemy of Israel. Question 3: Jonah was a propet of God for Israel. Israel was enemies with Ninevah. Why do you think Jonah ran? Jonah 1:4 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. Question 4: What do we learn about the magnitude of the storm from this passage? Question 5a: Why do you think God sent such a great storm? What was he doing? Jonah 1:5b-6 But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. 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. Question 6: Jonah was probably hiding from the reality of this storm, not wanting to face the catastrophe that he had caused. What are ways that we hide from the consequences of our actions? Jonah 1:9 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. Question 7: This is Jonah s reply to the Sailors question about who he was. The Sailors did not God, they only new myths. How does Jonah s description about God apply to their situation? Jonah 1:12 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. Question 8: Jonah, the prophet, believes in God but he is still does not want to face God and own up for what he has done. We can be religious and still reject God. What ways are you are avoiding God?

3 Jonah 1:15-16 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. Question 9: After trying to find other ways around it, the sailors hurled Jonah into the sea. What did the sailors learn through this experience and how did they respond to God? Jonah 1:17 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. [To be continued next week] Big Idea: God has called all of us to a new relationship with Him and a new purpose in life. Even when we run in the opposite direction, God pursues us so that we would turn back to Him. What s Next Question 1: In what ways are you running from God; what does God want you to do, that you are not doing (or vice versa)? This could be big and obvious ways, or small and secret ways. Question 2: Read Mk 4: Like Jonah, Jesus was asleep on a boat during a storm. Jesus is the God that Jonah (accidentally) revealed to the sailors. Why is it hard to trust Jesus when he asks us to do something hard? Or in hard times? Question 3: What people has God placed in your life that do not know God (like the sailors)? Lets pray that we might help them know Jesus.

4 Jonah Week 2- Turning to God Sample Intro Question When you are in trouble, or need help, what s your response? A) grin and bear it? (handle it yourself) B) talk to the rents? C) Call a friend? D) talk to God? E) Other? Previously in Jonah: God said, Go Jonah said, No God Said, Blow Jonah said, So? Captain said, Bro Jonah said, Throw. Sailors said, Whoa (Have someone recap what all this means ) Jonah 1:17 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. Question 1: This is certainly a miracle. Some people struggle to believe this? Is this hard to believe? Question 2: In Jesus day, Jesus referenced Jonah and that he would perform a similar miracle? What miracle of Jesus mirrors Jonah s experience in the Big Fish? See Matthew 12: Jonah 2:1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, References : Psalm: 69:1, 120:1, 50:14, 69:14-15, 118:5, 31:6, 31:22, 88:6-7, Lamentations 3:54-55, Ephesians 2:1-10 Question 3: Jonah has spent the whole previous chapter running from God, and avoiding God. Why does Jonah turn to God in prayer now? Question 4: Jonah s prayer from the belly of the fish echos many of the Thanksgiving Psalms. Have someone look up and read the Psalm and Lamentations references in the right column and find their spot in Jonah where Jonah prays something similar. Ask of each psalm reference after you read it - Where do we find this idea, concept, or phrase in Jonah chapter 2? Question 5: These concepts that Jonah prays are not new to Jonah. Jonah s life is fading away so he is calling out to God. When was a time in your life where you were deeply distressed (Jonah 2:2)? Question 6: Jonah 2:2 states that God heard Jonah s voice, ultimately meaning that Jonah acknowledged that God has heard Jonah s prayer and answered it. When was a time that you have seen God hear your voice and answer your prayer? Jonah 2:8 Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. Question 7: Jonah here might have been referencing the Ninevites, or he could have been acknowledging that Jonah himself had lost focus on the Lord, and focused instead on his own desires and wants. What areas are of your life can quickly become an idol? (something that takes the place of God in your heart) Jonah 2:9-10 Salvation belongs to the Lord And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. Question 8: Read Ephesians 2:1-10 Discuss how Ephesians 2 relates to Jonah 2 and specifically Jonah 2:9-10. Big Idea: When we are in trouble or in distress (even if we bring the trouble on ourselves), God hears our prayers as we turn to Him for help.

5 Next Steps Question 1: While Jonah is in trouble in the belly of the fish after running from God, he then turns to God in prayer by praying ideas from the Psalms about what is going on in his life right now. We can also pray the psalms as a regular habit. Lets try praying Psalm 51 together. Read it out loud, then we will take turns praying a verse and putting that verse into our own words. Question 2: Is anyone in distress currently? What situations do you need prayer for, whether you caused them like Jonah did or they are out of your control? Share some prayer needs so that we can pray for you. Question 3: One practical take away from this week, would be to keep a journal. Each morning begin by reading a psalm, then praying into that psalm through a journal.

6 Jonah Week 3-Responding to God Matthew 12:41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. Intro Question - When was a time that someone gave you a second (or third or fourth) chance? How did it make you feel? What did you do? Previously in Jonah - Chapter 1 God said, Go Jonah said, No God Said, Blow Jonah said, So? Captain said, Bro Jonah said, Throw. Sailors said, Whoa (Have someone recap briefly what all this means) Then, while in the sea, God provides a fish to Context Reminder: Nineveh was the capital of Assyria. In the 7th and 8th centuries BC, Assyria was THE great world power. It chewed up and spit out countries right and left. It basically practiced genocide as state policy. It was Godless, and an enemy of Israel.Nahum 3:1 [ Woe to Nineveh ] Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder no end to the prey swallow Jonah where he was for 3 days and 3 nights. Jonah then turned to God in prayer and God vomited him onto dry land. Read chapter 3 together- Jonah 3:1-3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you. 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Question 1: How does this response of Jonah compare to the last time God spoke to Jonah? Question 2: This is a 4th chance for Jonah if you count the boat and the big fish as opportunities for Jonah to respond and get it right. Is it hard or easy for you to accept that God s grace is so big that he continues to give you second chances? Jonah 3:3 Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth. Q3: Remember from Week 1 about Ninevah? Read the Conext Reminder from Week 1 on the right, along with Nahum 3:1 on the right. What might this have been like for Jonah? Jonah 3:4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown Q4: There is a good chance that this is just a snap shot of a larger message that God gave to Jonah, but this is probably the main point. What would it have been like to hear this message if you were from Nineveh? Jonah 3:5-6 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Question 5: What do you notice about Nineveh s response to the message Jonah preached? Question 6: Read Matthew 11: What ideas do you see repeated or contrasted in Jonah 3:5-6? Question 7: Using what we learn in Matthew:11:20-21, what does it mean that the people of Nineveh put on Sackcloth and Ashes? What does Sackcloth and Ashes symbolize? Jonah 3:7-9 And he (the king) issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.

7 Q8: What more do we learn here about Nineveh s response from the Kings decree? Question 9: Read Matthew 12:41 on the right. Jesus mentions Nineveh as a good example. What is good about their example? Jonah 3:10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. Question 10: What does this verse teach us about God s character? Question 11: If you had to describe what Repentence is from what we have studied today, how would you describe it? What do we learn about the concept of repentance from Jonah and the other little verses we have read? Big Idea - God is compassionate and merciful and forgives all that Repent. Repentance is believing, hoping, and trusting God that is evidenced by a 180 degree turning to God away from our own evil and selfish ways. From the rest of Scripture, we learn that we trust in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Next Steps Question1: Read Ephesians 2:1-3, and Romans 3:9-18 How do we compare to Ninevah? Make a list of what do these passages have to say about the condition that you and I are in and why are we in this condition? Question 2: Some people think being a Christian means going to church, or just believing that Jesus existed. What we learned today, is that being a Christian means that there is an internal response of our hearts to God repentance. Discuss why is it difficult to really repent? What is challenging about it? Question 3: Repentance is a continual thing for the Christian, not just a one-time thing at our conversion. Take a few moments to think about this question - Have you taken the first step in responding to God in Faith, trusting in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus, and Repented turning to God for your hope in life? If so, where are you today? Are their areas of your life that you are holding back from God that you are not repenting in? Question 4: Share what God is revealing to you as a result of this study today and this examination of your heart. Sharing is a way to praise God for His amazing grace that he is showing you.

8 Jonah Week 4- Angry at God Previously in Jonah - Chapter 1 God said, Go Jonah said, No God Said, Blow Jonah said, So? Captain said, Bro Jonah said, Throw. Sailors said, Whoa (Have someone recap briefly what all this means) Then, while in the sea, God provides a fish to swallow Jonah where he was for 3 days and 3 nights. Jonah then turned to God in prayer and God vomited him onto dry land. Jonah finally fulfilled what God wanted him to do, but preaching God s message to Ninevah. Ninevah responded miraculously by believing God and turning from their evil ways in repentence, and God relented giving Ninevah grace. Intro Question When was the last time you were angry? Describe why you were angry. Read Jonah 4 together- 4:1-2 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Q1 How does Jonah respond emotionally to God giving Grace to Nineveh? Is this response surprising to you in any way? Why or why not? Q2 Jonah explains here why he fled to Tarshish to begin with. Why did he flee? Q3 Often we think that Jonah ran away to Tarshish because he was just afraid of the mission that God called him to. What is the real reason? 4:3-5 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live. 4 And the Lord said, Do you do well to be angry? 5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Q4: What do you notice about this exchange between God and Jonah? Q5: Jonah goes outside the city to watch the city. What do you think he is hoping for? Q6: Read the Context Reminder on the Right. How does this help us understand what was going on in Jonah s mind and heart? What did Jonah want to happen to Nineveh? 4:6 Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. Q7: So Jonah is sitting watching the city not responding to God. What does God do next? Q8: How does Jonah feel about the plant after it was first given to him? Why does he feel this way about it? 4:7-9 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, It is better for me to die than to live. 9 But God said to Jonah, Do you do well to be angry for the plant? And he said, Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die. Q9: What are the actions that God does in this section? Q10: How is Jonah feeling now? What does he say that gives you a sense of his emotions? Why does he feel this way?

9 10 And the Lord said, You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle? Q11: Here God explains the lesson about the plant. What does this mean? Q12: What was the point of God sending the plant? What is God trying to teach Jonah? Q13: What does this teach us about how God feels toward Nineveh? Chapter 4 Big Idea: God cares about every person in the world because He created them and loves them. We are generally self-focused which leads to anger when we don t get our way. God desires for us to have his heart for all the people in the world. For understanding: Who is the hero of the Book of Jonah? Ninevah? Sailors? God? The Big Fish? Why? Next Steps: Jonah was angry that God gave Ninevah grace and that He did not destroy Ninevah. This is pretty harsh. Discuss - But who are you angry at? Is there someone or a group of people that you are struggling to have compassion for? That you maybe even hate? Read Col 3:12-17 What does this passage tell us about how we should love and how and why we should forgive? What does this mean about how we should love our family? Our friends at school? Our enemies at school? How can you help someone who doesn t know Jesus in your family or school, come to know Jesus? How can you show them the love of Christ and introduce them to what He has done for them on the cross? Read this before you close in prayer: The book of Jonah involves a call at the beginning from God, God to Nineveh and share the message I give you. God has given us a message to share to our friends and family as well. God cares for them to be in relationship with Him, even if they don t look like the type of people to go to church. Each of us has a Call to Go to the people around us. And the cool thing about God that we see in Jonah, is that he doesn t just care to use us to spread the Gospel, but he also is pursuing our hearts to be like His in the process. Pray together, that God would use us to reach our friends, and that God would give us more of His heart of compassion and grace in the process.