God's Plan

Story Commentary

By now you’ve heard that Michael Packard, a lobster diver in Cape Cod, MA, was swallowed by a humpback whale. The story has been confirmed by an eyewitness and a doctor’s examination of his injuries. It was a rare accident. You might see some similarities between that story and the one Marijo just shared, but you may have noticed some differences: Michael Packard’s experience was a bizarre accident. Jonah’s was not. God provided (exact words) a fish to swallow him, and he stayed there for a few days.

Sermon Introduction - sermon is about misery - story ends with misery;

What leads to misery...unfulfilled, resentful towards God and people,

Lots of things: trauma, addiction, abuse, wrong choices - can’t cover them all; a prophet of

God, gifted, called, successful….miserable contemplating his own death

Theme - What leads to misery...unfulfilled, resentful towards God and people,

3 reasons for misery in ministry Our Lack of Pursuit; Apathy; Labeling the mission field

Is this a feel good message?

Yes? It’s comforting to know that our pain, loneliness, shame can’t separate us from God.

No? God pursues Jonah, (hits low point, successful ministry, still miserable)

God doesn’t stop calling us, and doesn’t stop pursuing us.

Not Pursuing ministry = waiting for right opportunity, pursuing pleasure, convenience

(wait for opportunity that suits our skill set, interest, comfort level,(familiar place, people, tasks)

My call to ministry (Habitat for Humanity, not skilled, but necessary), strange fullfillment = God’s call (it wasn’t clear, because I wasn’t doing what I dreamed, but fulfilled anyways)

There were good reasons not to go: distance; place, people; fear, discomfort, labeling (more later) ; a cruel, warmongering people. artwork depicted their enemies hanging from trees; we do not pursue ministry for far less reasons

Theme - What leads to misery...unfulfilled, resentful towards God and people,

Can you think of a skill you don’t have; a place you would never go; people you would prefer avoid? A place where you wouldn’t go? …. Pursue? Determined to do, go to these things?

Apathy - asleep in the storm

Apathy worse than rebellion, resisting, running - at least you know there is a problem;

Rebellion - know the probem, the people, the expectations

Apathy - don’t even look for it

Theme - What leads to misery...unfulfilled, resentful towards God and people,

Labeling the mission field (the root of all of this)

Miracles, success = misery; ministry not fulfilling men on the boat, Ninevites saved

Without love and compassion, ministry is unfulfilling. Continue to resent, stereotype Make Ourselves Miserable. Unfulfilled - labels stick, labels are stubborn

Labels hurt others, but also hurt us; make others miserable, make ourselves miserable (unfulfilled)

leads to misery...unfulfilled, resentful towards God and people,

There were good reasons not to go: distance; place, people; fear, discomfort, labeling (more later) ; a cruel, warmongering people. artwork depicted their enemies hanging from trees. Enemy nation; of God’s people. Jonah was afraid of them, and he hated them. Here’s the label: Nineveh. Labels stereotype, so by labeling someone as a Ninevite, you assumed they were all cruel, warmongering people to be afraid of.

The underlying problem = labeling the mission field

Last week ended with labeling. This passage begins with labeling.

Last Week I talked about labeling others. (poor, ugly, stupid, medical condition, liberal, conservative) - labels that stick, labels that stereotype, labels we carry, labels we give.

Project Echo, homeless ministry;

labeling homeless (lazy, unintelligent, must have made mistakes, violent, avoid or pity (feel good about ourselves

Misery: Not pursuing; apathy; labeling / lack of compassion all lead to misery...unfulfilled, resentful towards God and people,

Pursue (prayer walk), see (without labeling), pray that God will break your heart for the hurting; stop labeling

Good news: God is still pursuing us