Play

Jonah's Message: Then & Now

Bobby Blackburn
03/15/20 - Sunday AM

Jonah is one of the first disciples asked to go out and preach the word of God to a group of strangers at Ninevah. God calls Jonah to go in one direction and Jonah runs in the opposite direction. In today's sermon we explore Jonah's choice and reflect on what direction each of us are running in. Are you running away from or towards God?

Biblical References:

• Jonah 1: 1-4 -- Jonah hears God but chooses to disobey
• Jonah 1: 6-9 -- Jonah is worn out from running from God
• Jonah 1: 11-17 -- Other's try to save Jonah but Jonah doesn't try very hard to save others
  • Why all this effort?
    • Nineveh was Assyrian capital
    • They were pagan
    • they were cruel, fierce, warelike people
    • They focused on tormenting God's people
  • Can you see why he was skeptical? Have you ever felt this way about evangelizing?
• Jonah 2: 7-9 -- Jonah realizes he needs saving
  • Jonah cries out to God from fish
  • Psalm of thanksgiving is recorded later
  • God provided salvation beforehand
  • How should we respond to salvation?