Jonah (Part 3)

Worst Missionary Ever!

Jonah 3:1-10

Scripture

Jonah 3:1-10

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city,[a] three days' journey in breadth.[b] 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

6 The word reached[c] the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”

10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.

Pray

God help us to partner with your mission

Story 1

Me trying to ask girl to dance for first time in middle school

Application 1

WE

CHRISTIANS – telling people about Jesus is scary, like asking a girl out

NON-CHRISTIANS – evangelism is kind of weird. “It’s fine that you believe whatever, but why do you need ME to believe it to?”

pushy, insulting, strange

GOD

Chp. 1 – God says go, Jonah says “nope!”

Chp. 2 – Jonah repents

Chp. 3 – Jonah sets out to do what he was supposed to. It’s kind of like the story is FINALLY starting. We’re not even exactly sure what God has told Jonah to say!

Christians – we talked about evangelism being scary … this is nuts! Like going to downtown LA wearing picket signs saying ‘you’re gonna burn!’

Non-Christians – even scarier for you. This guy’s screaming God’s judgment at non-Christians. You’re slowly getting up and moving toward the door.

for you confirms the evil underside of Christianity

What we have to understand, to understand this story: Nineveh's repentance has been God’s plan since the beginning.

God’s been pushing, prodding, and fish-swallowing Jonah all in an attempt to get him into this moment, at this time, so this group of people can have a chance to respond.

This is an incredible story of God’s love to a people who didn’t deserve it

But what about that whole “repent or burn!” part?

WAKING UP IN ANOTHER KINGDOM ANALOGY

CHRISTIANS: There’s another point here though that we can’t miss … power of God in evangelism.

Jonah is worst evangelist EVER!

Fights the entire way

Doesn’t mention the name of God

Doesn’t provide any sort of hope

Disappears after verse 4 and isn’t heard from until the next chapter. Author is REALLY trying to minimize the role of Jonah here.

This was GOD’S plan to save people, and it was GOD’S power that saved them!

POWER OF JESUS

Story 2

My first time telling someone about Jesus and how terrible it went

Supporting Scripture

Matthew 10:19

When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.

Application 2

You have absolutely no idea how God might use you to change someone’s life, and you never will until you become available.

“I’m scared of messing it up!” – God uses all kinds of stuff to change lives!

Tonight, would you be willing to take a step out in faith, and begin to share your faith with people around you?

What if God wants to use you, even your failures, to be a part of His incredible story of redemption?

Pray

Help us to see your power in sharing and not our weakness