Jonah: The Grace of Overcoming our Prejudices

Jonah: The Grace of Overcoming our Prejudice
Jonah 3:10-4:4

“We must get to the root causes of what causes this violence.” Nancy Pelosi

I. WHAT SHAPED JONAH’S PREJUDICES?

Jonah 4:1-2

II. WHAT MADE JONAH’S PREJUDICES SINFUL?

“Do you have good reason to be angry?” Jonah 4:4

III. HOW ARE WE JUST LIKE JONAH?

“With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.” James 3:9-10

IV. WHAT BIBLICAL FOUNDATIONS CALL FOR RACIAL HARMONY AND
      EQUALITY?

Express God’s perspective on the equality of all people

“….and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth...” Acts 17:26

Quit the tendency to stereotype any persons different from yourself

“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.” James 2:1

Understand the God-given worth of all human beings

“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27

Accept your personal God-given worth based on your position in Christ

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace….” Ephesians 1:7

Learn that prejudice is a product of irrational stereotypes and emotionalism, not a result of rational reasoning

“The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is still in the darkness.” 1 John 2:9

Invest in others by having a servant’s heart toward everyone

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” Mark 10:45

Turn from judging others to self-examination

“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold the log is in your eye?” Matthew 7:4

Yield in obedience to the nature of Christ’s living within you

Hebrews 12:14-15   Page #1205

Faith Sheet

Transformation verse – Jonah 4:2 “…You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness…”  

Main Themes
~ The sin of prejudice lies dormant in our hearts waiting for opportunity to
   attack the character of another person with thoughts of superiority based
   on self-righteousness.
~ All of the human race was created in God’s image with a common origin,
   a common need and a common purpose.
~ By God’s grace having a world view based on biblical principles and
   truths allows our hearts to embrace equality while surrendering thoughts
   of being superior or inferior.

#1-Reviewing this past Sunday
Jonah: The Grace of Overcoming our Prejudices
Jonah 3:10-4:4

1. Read Jonah 3:10-4:4 and discuss with someone.
2. When you see different races do you feel superior towards them?
    Inferior? How should you feel?
3. Read Galatians 3:28. How should a believer accept all races of people?
4. Pray the Church shines light into the darkness of the prejudices in
    America.

 # 2-Preparing for Next Sunday
God’s Eternal, Complete, and Sufficient Love for His People
Song of Solomon 1:1-7

1. READ - Read Song of Solomon 1:1-7. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself and
    His truth to you and to others. (Psalm 105:4)
2. EXAMINE- Spend some time asking some questions like who, what,
    where, how, and why. Ask questions like: What is the meaning of the
    passage, the main thoughts or points?
3. APPLY- Apply the text to your own life. Ask these fundamental
    questions:
      ~What does this passage tell me to appreciate about God?
      ~What does this passage tell me about myself?
      ~Is there a command for me to obey, a warning to notice, a sin I must
         repent of, or something that leads me to give thanks?
      ~How will I live differently because of what I just heard from the Lord?

4. PRAY- Pray through the passage and your application asking for God
    and His truth to impact your heart by the power of the Holy Spirit and
    also pray for others.