Concl: (1:15, Mt 12:38-42)

Digging Deeper into today’s Bible verses & themes               

Here are a few questions to help “Life groups” &/or families spend more time reflecting on this Sunday’s Bible passage & theme. Adapt them as you find helpful.

1. Consider beginning your group time with 1-2 opener questions to get to know each other better - for example: (a) What is something special or important that happened in your life this summer? (b) What is your most scary or uncomfortable experience traveling (in a boat, plan or car)? or (c) another “getting to know you” question.

2. Who do you most identify with in Jonah l? Jonah, the sailors, or the people in Nineveh? Please explain. Is there a time in your past when you would have to answer differently?

3. Do we “run away” from God & His Word in our own lives? How does this work in our lives? In our church(es)? What is it like to be “sound asleep” in sin?

4. What is the role of the storm in Jonah I? What is God trying to do? What do you think is the role(s) of storms in your life? What if God didn’t send any storms?

5. Explain how God seems to have extravagantly loved Jonah & the sailors? Do you believe God has loved you this undeservedly & persistently? What function is God’s love supposed to have in our lives?

6. How do the sailors change as Jonah 1 progresses? What leads to this change?

7. Do you agree that Christians have to guard against looking down on irreligious &/or immoral people in our culture (as did Jonah)? Why is it so easy for us to think we are better than others? Why is it so bard to be both theologically sound (Biblical & orthodox) and also kind & gracious to others?

• Why is this such a precious combination?

• Why is this such a rare combination? (why do we often embody one or the other of these qualities but not both?)

• What can the fellowship of New Hope do (what can you do) to develop both of these qualities in proper balance?

8. What is the main application point for you that flows out of your study of Jonah 1? or is there another insight, principle or observation from Sunday’s message that we have not yet mentioned that you find helpful, eye-opening or troubling? Explain.

Questions for personal (solo) study:

I.  Jonah does not seem to be fully surrendered to God - do you agree? In their book Bookends of the Christian Life. Jerry Bridges & Bob Bevington call this having another savior than Jesus, or having a “functional savior”. They suggest that the following questions help us identify our “functional savior(s)”:

•  If only ________, then I would be happy
• I would protect & preserve __________at any cost

•  When I lose, I get angry, resentful, frustrated, or anxious.

•  The thing that makes me want to get out of bed in the morning is________

Get together with a good friend & discuss: what is one functional savior in your life? How can your friend pray for you about this? Spend time praying together about this!

2. Examine some of the gospel references where Jesus compares himself with Jonah &/or looks back to Jonah - Mt 12:38-42, 16:4; Lk 11:29-32. What do you learn from those comparisons?

3, Make a commitment to read & reread 1 chapter of Jonah a day for the next month. Work thru several different translations.

Z