The City

Introduction:

· Walking the city streets: “What does God think?”

THIS MORNING I WANT TO LOOK AT GOD’S GRACIOUS GIFT OF SECOND CHANCES, HIS GRACIOUS HEART FOR A SINFUL WORLD, AND HIS GRACIOUS GIFT OF CHANGE.

I) God’s Gracious Gift of Second Chances

A. A God of Second Chances (vs. 1)

i. Jonah is given a very undeserved second change to join in God’s mission

1. It would have been enough to survive! Not a prophet but a new career

2. What does Jonah get? A second chance in God’s mission!

ii. Shaped by failure: (1:2 & vs. 2)

1. Calling against vs. calling to: A message of grace to sinful people

2. Perhaps God is suggesting that Jonah is a wounded messenger

iii. Jesus graciously commissions failed disciplesàWe too get a gracious part!

1. When Jesus commissions Peter Failures! But: GRACE! (Jn 21:17)

John 21:17 ESV

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

2. Not just saved, but also commissioned by grace as partners with God!

B. God Gifts us For Ministry

i. God’s Severe mercy is a gift of Grace

1. The storms of life can be the tools of grace that God uses to humble, teach

ii. God never gives up on his children

1. You may think: “How could God use me anymore?”

2. Instead: “How will can God use my failures to shape me for service?

IT WASN’T JUST JONAH THAT MATTERED TO GOD; IT WAS ALSO NINEVEH.

II) God’s Gracious Heart for Sinful World

A. God Graciously Cares Even for Wicked Cities in This World

i. Nineveh mattered to God – as modern cities do (vv.3-4)

1. Nineveh wasn’t just a massively large city, but it “mattered to God.”

2. Not urban vs rural, but population centers: God’s image is everywhere

ii. Jesus expresses God’s heart for Wicked Cities

1. From Tyre & Sidon to Jerusalem: Jesus loves, grieves, weeps, over cities

2. Do we share the heart God has in Christ for cities?  

B. God Graciously calls us to Love the Cities of Which we Are A Part

i. APPLICATION: Do you love the city?

1. A person sleeping on the step: …“Bums … or image-bearers?”

2. Nuanced problems of Crime, poverty, violence… “Do you love the city?”

3. Do you pray for the city (or do you merely criticize it)?

ii. Loving The World is Difficult

1. Since people are broken à cities are concentrated brokenness: poverty…

2. Since people are sinful à cities are concentrated sin: Crime; racism…

Transition:

III) God’s Gracious Gift of Repentance

A. God doesn’t ignore but warns against evil

i. Jonah’s incomplete message warns of judgment but forgets grace (vs. 4)

1. Jonah’s Message is correct: God judges sin (In our world too!)

2. Jonah’s message is incomplete: NO call to repentance!

ii. Repentance Leads to Change in the World (vv. 5-9)

1. Trusting God at his word: “Judgment is deserved

2. Sorrow for Sin: Not just sorrow about consequence or getting caught

3. Turning from Sin:

B. Who Knows? WE KNOW!

i. “ i. “Who knows?” Will God forgive?

1. The gods of Nineveh were capricious, unpredictable

2. EXAMPLE: A nagging question whether God can forgive

ii. Proof of God’s forgiveness:

1. Our “who knows?” Satan reminds you of guilt; God is always annoyed; I can’t forgive myself

2. We know: On the cross, Jesus “finished it” for us (John 19:30)

John 19:30 ESV

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Conclusion

“When Satan temps me to despair...”