The Sign of Jonah

In one paragraph

Ron Turpin spoke from the book of Jonah, tracing Jonah's flight from God's call and his eventual obedience, then connecting the story to the death and resurrection of Jesus. The sermon moved from the stubbornness of one reluctant prophet to the patience of a God who waits for every person to come to the end of themselves. Jonah was an experienced prophet who heard a clear word from God: go east to...

Read together

1. Matthew 12:38-41 Jesus quoted responding to scribes and Pharisees seeking a sign, introducing the sign of Jonah and the men of Nineveh
2. Genesis 10 cited to show that the founder of Nineveh was the same founder of Babylon
3. Jonah 1:1-2 the word of the Lord coming to Jonah, commanding him to go to Nineveh and cry against its wickedness
4. Jonah 1:4-5 God sending a great wind, the mighty tempest, the mariners afraid, and Jonah asleep in the sides of the ship
5. Jonah 1:17 the Lord preparing a great fish to swallow Jonah for three days and three nights
6. Jonah 2:1 then Jonah prayed from the belly of the fish
7. Jonah 2:10 the Lord speaking to the fish and it vomiting Jonah onto dry land
8. Jonah 3:1-2 the word of the Lord coming to Jonah a second time, commanding him again to go to Nineveh
9. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 read during the new member covenant ceremony describing the body of Christ with many members
10. 1 John 3:16 quoted during the new member covenant ceremony about laying down our lives for our brothers as Christ did for us

Talk about it

1. Ron described Jonah going 'down, down, down' in the opposite direction from where God told him to go. When have you found yourself moving away from what you knew God was asking of you, and what did that season feel like?
2. Ron pointed out that all of creation obeys God's voice except for people, because God gave us the choice to obey or disobey. What does it mean to you personally that God would rather tie his hands behind his back than force your love?
3. Ron talked about Jonah spending three days in the fish before he finally prayed, and said 'sometimes I get down to the very end, every resource exhausted, and the very last thing I do is pray.' Why do you think we so often wait until we have no other options before we turn to God?
4. Ron said that when we are disobedient and get off the trail God has us on, He takes us right back to where we got off. Has that been true in your own experience, and how did you respond when God brought you back to the same place?
5. Ron drew a direct line between Jonah in the belly of the fish for three days and Jesus in the heart of the earth for three days. How does seeing the story of Jonah as a picture of death and resurrection change the way you read the Old Testament?