Jonah - When God Calls

June 29, 2008 - Rev. Greg McKinnon, Rev. Kevin Kelly

Jonah 3 (NIV)

1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city-a visit required three days. 4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." 5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. 7 Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. 8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. 9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

OUTLINE

I. God Never Stops Calling Us
3:1 "Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time."

II. God's Plans For Us Never Change
3:2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you."

III. Obedience is the Only Proof We Are Back in God's Will
3:3 "Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh."

IV. When God Calls Us, He Empowers Us
3:5 The Ninevites believed God.

V. God Can Even Use Our Reluctant Obedience
3:10 "When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. The phrase "a second time" in verse one comes from a single Hebrew word meaning "again." For you personally what does the message of "again" mean to you?

2. Do you think there is ever a time when God stops calling someone? If so, when and why?

3. Why do you think some people hear God calling them after they have gone through so much difficulty as a result of their running from God, while other people do not?

4. Are there things in your own life that God wanted you to do in the past that you didn't do, but that he kept calling you to do and later you did? What was it and how long was it between the first time he brought it to your attention and when you actually did it?

5. What are some of the hurts, habits, hang-ups and other baggage that you picked up along the way when you were not being obedient to God? How have you worked through those things?

6. Obedience is the only proof we are back in God's will. If you were to be completely honest and ask yourself, "Am I doing what I know God wants me to do in my life?" what would your answer be? If you are not yet being obedient, what is keeping you from it?

7. What are some ways that people you know have tried to cover up for their lack of obedience and try to appear more spiritual than they really are?

8. Has there been a time in your own life that you can point to where God worked through you and empowered you in an incredible way? When and what were the results?

9. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Reluctant obedience is better than disobedience? Why or why not?

10. Can you point to a time when you did what God wanted you to do although you didn't want to, were scared to or would have rather been doing something else? What was the outcome?