August 23, 2009

Ministry Team News

• Serve Team: Dave Farr• Grow Team : Sara Crane• Rescue Team

Rescue Team• Develop and implement ways for

us to be witnesses to those who visit our class or live in our communities and welcome them into the fellowship of our class and church.

Announcements• Breakfast Sign-up• Missions Conference - Sept 25

- 27• Women’s Fall Retreat – Oct 2

& 3• Email Distribution List

Bcbc-sundayschool.blogspot.com

Prayer Requests &

Praise Reports

Why do believers sometimes run from

doing things God calls them to do?

The Book of Jonah• 800 – 750 B.C.• Divided Kingdoms

– North = Israel (10 tribes)– South = Judah (2 tribes)

• Northern Kingdom had secured its northern border with Assyria

• People were gloating over their favored status with God

Focal Passage

Jonah 1:1-17

Jonah 1:1-17 1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."  3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD

and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to

flee from the LORD.

Jonah 1:1-17 4 Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5

All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw

the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, "How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish."

Jonah 1:1-17 7 Then the sailors said to each other,

"Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity."

They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.  8 So they asked him, "Tell us,

who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is

your country? From what people are you?"

Jonah 1:1-179 He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven,

who made the sea and the land." 10 This terrified them and they asked, "What have

you done?" (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.) 11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they

asked him, "What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?"

Jonah 1:1-1712 "Pick me up and throw me into the

sea," he replied, "and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this

great storm has come upon you." 13 Instead, the men did their best to row

back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14

Then they cried to the LORD, "O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man's life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O

LORD, have done as you pleased."

Jonah 1:1-1715 Then they took Jonah and threw him

overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly

feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him. 17 But the LORD provided a

great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and

three nights.

What are the ways that we can respond to God’s directives?

3 Possible Responses to God’s Directives

1.Run with God

2.Run away from God

3.Don’t run at all

What were the consequences of

Jonah’s disobedience?

3 Consequences of Jonah’s Disobedience

1. Financial– Lost money - boat fare to

Tarshish (1:3)– Lost cargo (1:5)– Lost time (1:17)

3 Consequences of Jonah’s Disobedience

2. Emotional– Isolation / Detachment (1:5)– Afraid (1:4)– Terrified (1:10)– Distressed (2:2)

3 Consequences of Jonah’s Disobedience

3. Physical– Hurled into the deep (2:3)– Waves swept over (2:3)– Wrapped up (2:5)– Life ebbing away (2:7)

Where was Jonah spiritually as he disobeyed God?

Tossed About : a sign of Spiritual Immaturity

11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be

evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for

works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all

reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure

of the fullness of Christ.Ephesians 4:11-14

Tossed About : a sign of Spiritual Immaturity 14Then we will no longer be

infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching

and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

Ephesians 4:11-14

Focal Passage

Jonah 2:9 – 3:1-6,10

Jonah 2:9 - 3:1-6,10 9 But I, with a song of

thanksgiving,        will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good.

Salvation comes from the LORD." 10 And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry

land.

Jonah 2:9 - 3:1-6,101 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.

Jonah 2:9 - 3:1-6,10Now 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.

Jonah 2:9 - 3:1-6,10  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… 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.

What was required before Jonah could be obedient and act on God’s command?

Jonah 2:9 - 3:1-6,10 9 But I, with a song of

thanksgiving,        will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good.

Salvation comes from the LORD." 10 And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry

land.

Imperatives for Obedience

1. Rescued from spiritual drowning

2. Committed to spiritual obedience

3. Returned to firm spiritual ground

What characteristics does God

demonstrate in dealing with Jonah?

What characteristics does God

demonstrate in dealing with the

people of Ninevah?

God’s Character in Dealing with Sin

Jonah• Patience• Tough love• Merciful• Tenacity• Always there• Conviction• Instructed• Loving• 2nd Chance

Ninevah• Merciful• Patient• Compassionate• Forgiving• Always there• 2nd Chance

2 Peter 3:8-9But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day

is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The

Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand

slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Focal Passage

Jonah 4:1 – 11

Jonah 4:1-111 But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD, "O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so

quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, O LORD, take away my life, for it

is better for me to die than to live."

Jonah 4:1-114 But the LORD replied, "Have you any right to be angry?" 5 Jonah went out and

sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would

happen to the city. 6 Then the LORD God provided a vine and made it grow up

over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very

happy about the vine.

Jonah 4:1-117 But at dawn the next day God

provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching

east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah's head so that he grew faint.

He wanted to die, and said, "It would be better for me to die than to

live."

Jonah 4:1-119 But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?" “I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die.“ 10 But the LORD said, "You have been concerned

about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.

Jonah 4:1-1111 But Nineveh has more than a

hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right

hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be

concerned about that great city?"

Why was Jonah displeased with God’s decision?

Was God more interested in the

people of Ninevah or Jonah?

Jonah or Ninevah?• God’s message traveled through

Ninevah faster than Jonah.• God’s message effected change in the

people.• God could have accomplished this

change without Jonah, but chose not to.• Therefore, God’s purpose was not just

about the Ninevites, it was also about Jonah.

Redemption for AllJonah 4:11

11 But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well.

Should I not be concerned about that great city?"

Matthew 9:36

36When he saw the crowds, he had

compassion on them, because they were

harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Homework1. Do you have any spiritual

Ninevah’s in your life today?

2. Are you running with God, away

from God, or not running at all?

3. Do you see the lost as friends or

foes?