Jonah: Enjoying Yahweh and His Grace Part 1

Jonah: Enjoying Yahweh and His Grace - Part 1    
Jonah 1:1-3

French philosopher Pascal: “To make a man a saint, grace is absolutely necessary. And whoever doubts it does not know what a saint is or what a man is.”

1. The name Jonah means dove.

2. Jonah is the only prophet that Jesus likened to Himself.

Matthew 12:39-41 -”…Jesus answered … ‘An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and will condemn it because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.’”

Genesis 22:4-5 - “On the third day Abraham…saw the place from a distance. Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go…and we will worship and return to you.’”

Exodus 19:10-11 - “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Go to the people and consecrate them…let them be ready, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.’”

3. Jonah was the only OT prophet commissioned to go to the Gentiles.

2 Kings 14:24-26 - “Jeroboam did evil in the sight of the LORD…he made Israel sin… the God of Israel, spoke through His servant Jonah… For the LORD saw the affliction of Israel.”

4. Jonah is read yearly by the Jews on the Day of Atonement.

     ~ No one is beyond God’s reach.
     ~ God’s grace and mercy is for sinners.
     ~ We are all like Jonah.

5. Jonah records more miracles for its size with at least 11 miracles in 48
    verses.

     The wind (1:4)
     The calm (1:15)
     The sailor’s salvation (1:16)
     The sea creature (1:17)
     Survival in the great fish (2:1)
     Jonah’s salvation (2:7-9)
     Release from the fish (2:10)
     Nineveh’s salvation (3:10)
     The plant (4:6)
     The worm (4:7)
     The east wind (4:8)

6. Jonah 2:9 is the great message of the Bible.

Psalm 68:20 – “Our God is a God of salvation, and escape from death belongs to the Lord GOD.”

7. The real fish story of Jonah is God’s call for world discipleship.

     The fish is mentioned 4 times.
     The city is mentioned 9 times.
     “Evil” is mentioned 9 times.
     “Great” is mentioned 14 times.
     Jonah is mentioned 18 times.
     God is mentioned 38 times.

Begin with prayer
Listen to them
Eat with them
Serve them
Share God’s story with them

Faith Sheet    

Transformation Verse - “…Salvation is from the LORD." Jonah 2:9

Main Themes:  
~ Yahweh’s grace is His eternal and steadfast favour toward His people that
   leads to us to love Him and continually become more like Him. (Eph.
   1:1-14)

~ Personally knowing Yahweh and His truth, as He has revealed Himself
   through His Son and the Scriptures, is crucial to Spirit led worship,
   obedience and joyfully living life with purpose. (John 11:25, 14:6, 17:6-10)

   #1- Reviewing This Past Sunday  
Jonah: Enjoying Yahweh and His Grace -Part 1
Jonah 1:1-3

1. Read Jonah 1:1-3 and discuss the message with someone.
2. Why is the study of who God really is and understanding His truth in the
    Scriptures so crucial to a believer’s life and daily ministry to others?
    (Ephesians 1:3, 1 Timothy 1:9-10, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, John 8:31-32, Titus
    1:9, Psalm 119:65 and 2 Cor. 11:3)
3. Review the B.L.E.S.S. acronym with someone and ask God to create this
    type of heart and lifestyle in you, MCC and His people.

# 2- Preparing for Next Sunday
Jonah: Enjoying Yahweh and His Grace - Part 2
Jonah 1:1-3

1. Read Jonah 1:1-3. The LORD (Yahweh) is sovereign, relational, speaks
    to us through His word and is active in every aspect of our lives today.
2. Read Isaiah 45:22-25 and Philippians 2:9-11. What similarities do you
    see in Yahweh and in Jesus?
3. The name Jesus means Yahweh saves. What has He save you from?
    How is He still saving you? Who specifically could you share your
    salvation with this week? Pray!