House Group Material – Jonah – Week Three
3. Mission Accomplished.
Jonah Obeys the Lord
Despite Jonah’s disobedience God still wants him to carry out the task he has given to him. This is perhaps something that we would struggle with – trusting someone who has demonstrated that they can not be trusted because they have let us down in the past.
Have you ever given someone clear instructions that they have completely refused to carry out?
How did this affect your ongoing relationship with them?
In Jonah’s case God is not affected by the past and he once again asks Jonah to go and give His message to the Ninevites.
How do you think this reflects the nature of God?
It is important to note that God gives Jonah the words to say. It is not left up to Jonah to come up with some wonderful speech that will convince the Ninevites of their need to repent from their wicked behaviour.
How does this make you think about your own role in God’s mission?
Do we spend sufficient time listening to God so that we can hear the words he wants us to speak?
The Ninevites respond immediately to the words of God, repenting and turning from their wicked ways.
Does this speak to you about the power of words from God in changing people’s lives?
In reflecting on change have you had a significant event which has changed the course of your life?
We all fall short in some aspects of our Christian lives which is why repentence is still an important element of our lives. Repentence has, however, become a slightly out of fashion term and we perhaps are inclined to couch our discipleship in terms of turning to God and seeking to follow him rather than a direct admission that we have fallen short and need to change our ways.
Do you think this changes our relationship with God? If so in what ways?
Does repentence play a part in your daily life?
Read 2 Corinthians 7 verses 9 – 11 and Acts 2 verses 37 – 41
