The Gospel According to Jonah Bible Study Week #2

Sermon: Life Without God
Text: Jonah 2:1-10

Bible Study: The Futility of Life Without God

The prayer of the prophet Jonah praises the sovereign grace of God as the only means of salvation of Him. He realizes to depend upon anything else is idolatry, and it will get him nowhere. The knowledge of the emptiness of idols is of course not unique to Jonah. Isaiah is another prophet who God raised up to speak His Word to His people and Isaiah spent much of his time urging Israel away from idolatry.

The Book of Isaiah is one of the longest in the Bible and is almost entirely filled with God’s admonitions to His people. While some passages are a little complex at first read, others are straightforward and almost satirical in tone. Isaiah 44:6-20 is one of the plainest explanations of idolatry we will find anywhere in the Bible. Considering this passage will help you fully understand the futility of Jonah’s flight, the emptiness of idols, and his confession that salvation belongs to the Lord.

Read Isaiah 44:6-8.

1. Focus in on Isaiah 44:6-8. Summarize the message of these verses into one short thought.

2. This is perhaps the most central teaching of Scripture. Jonah’s prayer acknowledges God’s sovereignty over creation. Yet it took Jonah three days in a fish belly to get to this point. Why is such a simple teaching repeated so often so hard for us to live by?

Read Isaiah 44:9-20.

3. Now look at verses 9-20, specifically the illustrations of the carpenter and the ironsmith. In these illustrations, what do you think the characters and their crafts represent?

4. Relying on verses 17-20 to guide you, what is the simple irony God is communicating in these illustrations?

5. What danger are both Isaiah and Jonah saying comes with idol worship?

6. Ok, time to transition out of the illustrations and into real life. For most of us, we aren’t bowing down to blocks of wood. But we do sacrifice time, money and energy to the things we value. What are common idols among your circles of friends and family?

Bible study by J.D. Greear.

The Gospel According to Jonah Bible Study Week #1

Sermon Title for Sunday, Jan. 5th: I Am Jonah
Text: Jonah 1

Bible Study: Daniel 3

Chapter 3 of the Book of Daniel recounts a well-known story which provides a helpful contrast to the opening chapter of Jonah’s story. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are the main characters in this story. They were all men of Jerusalem living basically as captives of Babylon. Babylon sacked Jerusalem and so they were at this point under Babylonian rule. These three guys, along with Daniel, where chosen by the king’s men because they were on the Who’s Who of Israel’s young guys and the Hebrew Top 30 under 30 lists. They were intelligent, handsome and wise and came from well-to-do backgrounds. But they got into a couple of skirmishes with the king because they refused to compromise their worship of God for favor with the king. In chapter chapter 3, when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego where given an ultimatum to either worship King Nebauchadnezzar’s gods are be thrown into a ferry furnace.

Daniel 3:13-15:
"Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

1. While on the surface these two stories couldn’t be more different, how are the circumstances facing Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego similar to the opening scene in Jonah’s story?

2. Few in the Western world are faced with martyrdom like these guys were. Many can hide in a pseudo-Christian subculture without ever having to face consequences for following Christ. But those hiding places are dwindling. Is there anywhere in your life right now where following Christ puts you at risk? How?

Daniel 3:16-18:
"Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

3. What words or phrases stand out to you in the reply these three guys gave to the king in the face of death? Why?

4. There’s an old saying: “Your true colors show when your feet are put to the fire. Jonah and the three men in Daniel 3 were all men of God. They all knew the same things about God. Why then did Jonah flee whereas the others stood firm?

Daniel 3:19-30:
"Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.” He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon."

What are the similarities between the outcomes of Daniel 3 and Jonah 1?

How does this impact the way we view our love for and obedience to God?

Bible study by J.D. Greeah

Scripture for June 23rd: Nehemiah 1:2-11

Sermon Title: Ask Me If I Care

Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem. They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said, “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses. “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’ “The people you rescued by your great power and strong hand are your servants. O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success today by making the king favorable to me. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.” In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer.

“Who cares?” This attitude is often expressed in the actions of individuals who are busy with the events and circumstances of their own lives to “care” about other people. “I’m too busy to take time for someone else,” their thinking goes, so they don’t take time to care about the needs of the people around them. Because they have this attitude, they miss opportunities to be a blessing to others and to participate in God’s work. As a result, they miss blessing after blessing, and ultimately fail to find their true purpose for their lives: to live for others.

Nehemiah did not have this attitude. Instead, he displayed the exact opposite behavior: he passionately cared for others. He, too, was busy, and his life was filled with great responsibility, wealth and power. And yet he took time to greatly care for those who were in desperate need. By showing such compassion for others, he demonstrates to us what following God looks like: a life lived for others.

This coming Sunday we will talk more about what it means to care for others as we begin the sermon series, “Nehemiah: The Man That Followed God.” Hope to see you then!

Scripture for June 16th: I Peter 3:1-7

Sermon: Demonstrate God’s Love

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

When we read the Scripture above, we are tempted to think that Peter is placing new restrictions in the relationship between a husband and wife. Quite to the contrary, Peter is freeing them to love each other as God intended. You see, Peter was writing to a people who thought of wives as property belonging to their lawful husband. Women had no rights and wives were subjected to the desires and wishes of their husband, whatever they may be. Peter is saying in this passage that both the husband and wife have critical roles to play in a marriage and should treat each other with honor and respect as they fulfill those roles. The Apostle Paul gave even greater instructions to the husband when he said they were to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Eph. 5:25). Think of that – the husband was no longer to view his wife as mere property, but as important as the church is to Christ. This new way of thinking was truly revolutionary. And it still is today. When husbands and wives love each other with sacrificial love, God blesses not only their lives, but so many other lives as well, both in their time and generations into the future. The Apostle Paul reminds us of this great lasting power when he wrote in I Corinthians 13:13: “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love” (NLV).

On Sunday we will talk about how love is a not only powerful and meaningful, but also a decision that is tangible and real as we conclude the sermon series, “All in the Family.” I hope you to see you then as we celebrate Father’s Day!

Scripture for May 26th: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 6:20-25

Sermon: Foster Your Spiritual Connections

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

“Listen, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 6:20-25

“In the future your children will ask you, ‘What is the meaning of these laws, decrees, and regulations that the LORD our God has commanded us to obey?’ “Then you must tell them, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand. The LORD did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes, dealing terrifying blows against Egypt and Pharaoh and all his people. He brought us out of Egypt so he could give us this land he had sworn to give our ancestors. And the LORD our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day. For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the LORD our God has given us.’

"Pastor, I need you to talk to my child..." I have heard this request many times through the years and I have been happy to fulfill the request. However, sometimes I have been asked to talk with an adult child about spiritual matters that the parent has no desire to do so himself. In these cases, the parent is saying, "It's not my job to talk to my children about spiritual matters, its the pastor's job." In reality, every Christian has been called to represent God to others, particularly to his family. Christianity is not a private affair; it is a public relationship with God that is designed to impact those around us, especially our loved ones.

The Scripture above shows the instruction that God gave to the Israelities to ensure that their families continued to walk with God - they were to talk to them about what God had done, teach them His laws and make sure that God's instruction was always before them ("tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders..."). God not only gave the job of teaching the law to the priests and religious leaders - He gave that job to every person, especially parents.

Christians today have the same job. The Apostle Paul reminds us that we are all "ambassadors" for Christ (II Cor. 5:20), and as such, we are to represent God to the world. The place where we are best and most equipped to do this is in the home and among our loved ones. And it is where we have the most influence.

So how can we best influence our loved ones spiritually? By fostering our spiritual connections. We will talk about how to do this on Sunday as we continue our sermon series, "All in the Family." Hope to see you then!

Scripture for May 12th: I Thess. 1:4-7; II Thess. 2:9-12

Sermon: Model Your Relationship With God For Your Family

I Thessalonians 1:4-7
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

II Thessalonians 2:9-12
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

There is an old story about a small boy who closely watched a neighboring pastor building a wooden deck. The boy did not say a word the entire time that he watched. Pleased at the thought that his work was being admired, the pastor finally said to the boy, “Well, son, trying to pick up some pointers on gardening?” “No,” replied the boy, “I’m just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer” (from Linda Belleville).

The truth of that story is our actions speak louder than our words. This is especially true with our families. We can talk a good game about faith, but unless we really live what we say we believe, we will have little influence on our loved ones spiritually. The Apostle Paul was a role model of faith. He spoke God’s Word and taught people how to live pleasing to God. But it was in his actions that he demonstrated the faith most powerfully. He was able to say, “be an imitator” of me because he truly lived out what he taught. Can you sincerely say to your children, grandchildren and loved ones, “be an imitator of me” in my walk with the Lord? Do you role model your faith in God in your actions?

This coming Sunday we will give three rules that must be followed in order to spiritually influence our loved ones as we begin a new sermon series entitled, “All in the Family.” Hope to see you then!

Scripture for April 21st: II Kings 6:24,25; 7:3-11; 7:16

Sermon Title: Hunger Games

II Kings 6:24,25: Some time later, Ben-Hadad king of Aram mobilized his entire army and marched up and laid siege to Samaria. There was a great famine in the city; the siege lasted so long that a donkey’s head sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a quarter of a cab of seed pods for five shekels.

II Kings 7:3-11: Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, “Why stay here until we die? If we say, ‘We’ll go into the city’—the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.” At dusk they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans. When they reached the edge of the camp, no one was there, for the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!” So they got up and fled in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives. The men who had leprosy reached the edge of the camp, entered one of the tents and ate and drank. Then they took silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them. They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also. Then they said to each other, “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.” So they went and called out to the city gatekeepers and told them, “We went into the Aramean camp and no one was there—not a sound of anyone—only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents left just as they were.” The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported within the palace.

II Kings 7:16: Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. So a seah of the finest flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel, as the LORD had said.

Every Christian has a mission given to them by God – a Christian leader and writer, Dennis Bickers, calls it the “Great Commission” and “Great Commandment” calling. This means God calls us to love others and tell others about Him. No Christian is excused from this calling – everyone who comes to faith in Christ has been given this mission as part of their inheritance from God. We should be concerned that we not only carry this mission out in our community, but also throughout the world. It is God’s desire that every person hear the message of the Gospel and experience His love, and it is every Christian’s calling to participate in God’s great work. This Sunday, we will hear that how God has given us an opportunity as a church to be a part of a new church starting in Peoria. God will use the new church to spread the Gospel message and share God’s love with others, thus carrying out the “Great Commission” and “Great Commandment”. Our support of this church plant is one of the ways we fulfill our calling as individual Christians and corporately as a church. Pastor Russ Shearer, the leader of this new church in Peoria, will be sharing about this work and bringing the message on Sunday. He is a gifted speaker and his message will sure to be a blessing. Hope to see you then!

Scripture for April 15th: Proverbs 14:8, 4:23; Ephesians 3:20

Sermon: Reclaim Stolen Dreams (Hope)

Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the wise man is to understand what to do, but lying is the foolish way of fools.

Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart pure for out of it are the important things of life.

Ephesians 3:20
God is able to do much more than we ask or think through His power working in us.

Because of circumstances and difficult trials, many people often find themselves feeling hopeless or in despair. It becomes hard for them to dream and think about the future in positive ways. God does not desire for Christians to live in such a state. In fact, our faith in Christ was described in Hebrews as a “safe anchor” of hope.

Dr. Charles Stanley has written that he understands why Christians often lose hope when going through difficult and challenging circumstances. However, he encourages believers to remember these facts: “God is in control … always. God is always the same in His love toward us and in His offer of mercy, forgiveness, and intimate fellowship. He is always our Savior, Deliverer, Healer, Restorer, and Ever-Living Lord. God alone is always worthy of our obedience and trust. The title of the old Gospel song, “Trust and Obey,” sums up what is always God’s will for our lives. Our confidence must always be in Him. He is the One who loves us beyond measure and calls us His beloved children and the heirs of His abundant promises.”

By remembering these facts about our faith, we can hold on to hope as we go through the most demanding situations. This coming Sunday I will speak about reclaiming dreams and hope in our lives as we continue to the sermon series, “Stolen: Reclaiming Stolen Treasures in Our Lives.” Hope to see you then!