Return to Mission
Jonah: The Relentless Pursuit of a Merciful God • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsFor the sake of his gospel, God offers new life and new mission
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Introduction
Introduction
The story of Jonah is NOT a story about a fish or a prophet - it is a story about God
Illust - What do you wish you could do-over? What do you wish you could use a Mulligan on?
Both the opening and closing verse display a God of second chances
Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
God’s Call to Return to Mission (3:1-4)
God’s Call to Return to Mission (3:1-4)
God is in control of his mission.
God is in control of his mission.
God is winning (and will win) this chess game.
God relentlessly pursues in mercy
Illust - Dad pursuing a child
God can use us in the place of our failure.
God can use us in the place of our failure.
Jonah receives identical second call
God didn’t alter the call because Jonah had failed the first time.
There are no throw-away prophets or throw-away people.
God wants us on mission.
God wants us on mission.
God didn’t give Jonah an altered plan.
The lost didn’t change - they still need to
The mission didn’t change - Jonah did
God hasn’t changed - we must
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.
The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 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, 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. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”
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.
Gospel Repentance of the City (3:5-10)
Gospel Repentance of the City (3:5-10)
The gospel can come through anyone because of God’s empowerment.
The gospel can come through anyone because of God’s empowerment.
The simplicity of the gospel shows a powerful God
The Ninevites didn’t know much about God, but they fell on his mercy
Despite earlier predictions - Jonah did it! - because God empowered him - he only needed to be obedient
The gospel can reach everyone because of God’s love.
The gospel can reach everyone because of God’s love.
it was God’s desire to reach Nineveh - not Jonah’s
This is God’s work - not Jonah’s
The gospel can transform anyone because of God’s work.
The gospel can transform anyone because of God’s work.
The only thing Jonah was to add to the mission was faithful obedience - not talent
The “least to the greatest” were transformed
“believed” is the first word of the verse/section in indicates immediacy of response
The gospel affects everyone because of God’s grace
The gospel affects everyone because of God’s grace
God had / has every right to judge
as we operate in the gospel it affects others
notice God relented from destruction - this affected more than those who believed in the city
Conclusion
Conclusion