I am Jonah- God rescues, Jonah repents (Jonah 1:17-2:10) Questions for Reflection and Discussion

Jonah 1:17 reads, “Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah…” The Hebrew word translated “provided” is mânâ meaning literally “appointed or ordained.” While certainly an unpleasant experience, the provision of the “huge (great) fish” is evidence of God’s compassionate pursuit and rescue of Jonah.

Jonah 2:1-9 records Jonah’s prayer from “inside the fish” (2:1) Tullian Tchividjian in Surprised by Grace describes  Jonah’s prayer, as a psalm, “some thirty brief lines of poetry… full of phrases and images that we find also throughout the book of Psalms.” (Page 65)  In these verses Jonah cries out to God in repentance. Spend some time meditating on these verses. Does Jonah’s psalm strike you as him genuinely repenting? Why or why not?

How is the relationship between repentance and transformation (life-change) demonstrated in the following scriptures? List the blessings of repentance revealed in these scriptures.

Proverbs 28:13--

Isaiah 30:15; 57:15; 59:2--

Jeremiah 15:19; 34:15--

Ezekiel 18:32--

Matthew 3:8--

Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 26:20--

2 Timothy 2:25-26

Revelation 2:5--

Read 2 Corinthians 7:8-13. What is the result of godly sorrow?

Read Jonah 3:1. What was the result of Jonah’s calling out to God?

In what ways is the Holy Spirit leading you to repent?

Clean Sheets-- Coming to NMBC on Friday, May 9th

Join us for Clean Sheets, Friday May 9th

Clean Sheets is a 1-woman autobiographical drama by Miho Kahn. This drama reveals the journey of a young artist caught in a world of drugs and violence is told with humor and pathos, interweaving music and storytelling and ultimately bringing the audience together in a celebration of faith and redemption. Miho Kahn's life, like most of ours, has its ups and downs, but hers takes twists and turns to the extreme. With her compass spinning wildly, her roller coaster of experience is a parent's worst nightmare, leading her into deadly situations and violent outcomes. CLEAN SHEETS is the telling of this story. Brutally honest and beautifully told. It is a story of pain and beauty, faith and redemption, life and loss.





Learn more about Oasis Biblical Counceling here.

"An edgy one-woman show that takes you on a 3,000 mile odyssey of betrayal, violence, and emotional nakedness."

When: 8:00 PM Friday, May 10, 2013

Location: New Monmouth Baptist Church
4 Cherry Tree Farm Road
Middletown, New Jersey 07448

Admission is Free!

A free will offering will be taken

Discussion with the Playwright Immediately Following Performance

Think Orange: Spring Youth Semester- God's Story: The New Testament

This Sunday our teens begin a new study on God’s Story: The New Testament. Both the Middle School and Sr. High classes Sunday morning use The Gospel Project for Students. Following are some thoughts and questions to aid you in spiritual conversation with your teenager. Keep in mind the goal shouldn’t be about having all the right answers but simply having conversation. Weekly discussion ideas are available here.

Big Idea: The Messiah-King has come with a distinct identity, witness, purpose, and role.

This statement is the biblical truth the student’s study was built around. Each week there will be one statement that ties the whole study together. These would be great statements to remember together. The hope is that thoughts and ideas will stem from these statements. You can also begin by sharing a thought of your own that you learned during your study of the same lesson. Ask what thoughts were surprising as the study was taught.

Thought From the Study: John wrote his Gospel to help us see how God, by sending His Son, makes Himself known to us. The goal of this Gospel is to demonstrate to us that Jesus is the Son of God, and He accomplished everything God sent Him to do.

How does God make Himself known to us through Christ? How does this help us live on mission for Him?

Quote for Discussion: Discuss this quote together. How does this change your understanding of a relationship with Jesus?

“And there was no illusion or deception in this: the babyhood of the Son of God was a reality. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as is this truth of the Incarnation.” – J.I. Packer

Conversation Questions

Use these questions to begin thinking through and applying the lessons to your family life:


1. Why is it important for our family to understand the importance of the Incarnation?

2. How can our family relationship be strengthened as a result of the Incarnation?


3. How does the Gospel shape our families ability to know God?


4. How does the Gospel motivate our family to live on mission for this knowable God?

 

 

 

Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson speaking about what is important in life

Last week my wife and I watched  Duck Dynasty for the first time and found ourselves laughing hysterically. Duck Dynasty is the reality TV show about the family-operated business, Duck Commander, a Louisiana company that makes products for duck hunters. If you like me have up  until now I’ve missed out on this cultural phenomenon, you can catch the Season Finale is tonight at 10 pm and watch past episodes here.  

Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson here shares about the desire of even the wealthy and famous to know what really matters in life and the importance of each of us being able to tell someone else about life-change in Christ. Be encouraged and enjoy!

George Ludivico's "Jonah Story"

Listen to Pastor Tullian Tchividjian's message Calming the Storm (Jonah 1:11-16) here.

Some thoughts on Earth Day (a biblical perspective of clashing worldviews)

Last week our girls came home from school hyped about Earth Day. This elicited both positive and negative feelings in my wife and me. Positive feelings because we want to raise our girls to be good stewards of the environment. Sustainability and conservation are certainly qualities we want to pass onto the next generation. The negative feelings stem from the underlining political and social views that often accompany Earth Day discussions and celebrations. For starters the earth is not our “Mother.” Each of us are image-bearers of God who “created (our) inmost beings and knit us together in (our) mother’s womb.” This prompts us to praise along with the psalmist, “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:13-14, NIV). Further the earth and its ecosystem belong to their Creator, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 21:1, KJV).

Our duty therefore is to be a steward of what ultimately belongs to the Creator. Genesis 1:26 sums this up, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” God’s command is that mankind “rule” and in verse 28, “subdue” the earth and its creatures.

Willful pollution and misuse of the environment has not occurred because of God’s command to “rule” and “subdue” but because mankind has done so without a sense of accountability to God. In other words, our highest motivation for caring for the environment is that we are called to steward what ultimately does not belong to us.

I came across a couple of stories in the news recently that I believe capture this clashing of worldviews. The first is about an amazing young girl, Deepika Kurup, the 9^th grader from New Hampshire, whose clean water invention won America’s Top Young Scientist-- 2012. Read her story, Young scientist of the year's invention could clean water for 1.1 billion here.

 

The second is Darwinist David Attenborough's asserrtion that mankind is a "plague on Earth." Read more here.

 

I am Jonah-- Jonah runs-- God pursues (Jonah 1:3-16) Questions for Discussion and Reflection

Jonah 1:3 reads that “Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish.” The significance of Tarshish is that it is geographically opposite of Nineveh on the Mediterranean. Of Jonah’s running from God Pastor Tullian in Surprised by Grace writes, “To flee from God is to rise against God. It is stand up, straight-out, in-your-face defiance against the One to whom we owe all loyalty and love. It means insisting that our way of doing things is better than God’s way.” (Pages 32-33)

Tullian Tchividjian’s observations of Jonah’s running from God is similar to the observations Pastor Tim Keller makes of the two brothers in Jesus’ parable commonly referred to as the Prodigal’s Son. Read Pastor Keller's message here. Read Luke 15:11-32. What similarities do you observe between Jonah running from God and the two sons in Jesus’ parable?

What consequences do the following scriptures reveal for those who run away from God?

Psalm 16:4--

Isaiah 5:11-15--

Jeremiah 2:23-25--

Matthew 6:28-32; Luke 12:27-30--

According to the following scriptures what ought we  run away from and how ought we run?

2 Timothy 2:22--

1 Corinthians 10:14--

Psalm 119:32--

Hebrews 12:1--

Galatians 2:2--

2 John 9--

How is the Holy Spirit leading you to respond as a result of this study?

April's Clubhouse (NMBC's preschool ministry) Theme: The Great Shakeup

NMBC's preschool ministry, Clubhouse, introduces preschoolers (birth through 5 years old) to God's story partnering with parents to help them build a spiritual foundation on God's Word. Each week children are introduced to a Bible story and wrap up sketch connecting that story to their world. Every month preschoolers memorize a Bible verse with motions.    

April's Theme is The Great Shakeup and Big Idea: Jesus wants me to tell others about Him. Week One: Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) Week Two: Peter Put in Jail (Acts 12:1-17) Week Three: Saul to Paul (Acts 9:1-19) Week Four: Paul and Silas (Acts 16:16-40)

 

This is a preview of Wonder! Look at God's Story for April 2013.

 

 

Corine Brennan's "Jonah Story"

Listen to Pastor Tullian Tchividjian's sermon, Two Ways to Run from Jonah 1:4-10 here.

What should we tell our children about events such as the bombings in Boston? And this week's parent link.

On several occasions the past couple of days I’ve found myself quickly changing the channel or turning off the TV when one of my daughters entered the room not wanting her to be frightened by the news coming out of Boston. As hard as we might try we cannot completely shield our children from bad or disturbing news. What should we tell our children about events such as the bombings in Boston? How do we lead our families to pray and seek ways to serve others facing tragedy while at the same time not add to the anxiety our children might encounter during such times?

Writing for Focus on the Family Christian counselor Glenn Lutjens has written an excellent article entitled, Parenting in the Midst of Tragedy. You can read or download the article here.  

 

Parent Link:

 

This past week in Club252 and ClubJAM our big idea was friends encourage one another from 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “So cheer each other up with the home you have. Build each other up. In fact, that’s what you are doing.” You can watch the 252 Story for this week here.

Next week’s big idea is friends serve one another based on Galatians 5:13, “My brothers and sisters, you were chosen to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to live in sin. Instead, serve one another in love.”

I am Jonah-- God Calls (Jonah 1:1-2) Questions for Discussion and Reflection

Before Jonah is called by God to prophecy to the nation of Nineveh he prophesied to King Jeroboam II and the people of Israel. (2 Kings 14:25-26) Despite Jeroboam II doing “evil in the sight of the Lord,” (14:23) he is blessed by extended borders, peace and prosperity. The ESV Study Bible observes, “Jonah witnessed first-hand the restorative compassion of God extended to his wayward people.” Having received a call to Nineveh, Jonah rebels fearing God will extend compassion to his nation’s enemy.

Some scholars have read the book of Jonah as allegory or a fictional parable. What evidence to the following scriptures provide for reading Jonah as a historical narrative?

 

Jonah 1:1-3--

Jonah 3:2-10--

Jonah 4:11--

Matthew 12:40-41--

Read chapter one in Tullian Tchividjian’s Surprised by Grace, A Cure for Gospel Confusion. (Pages 15-22) Why is it significant that early Christian writing and art held the “sign of Jonah” in high regard? To what does the “sign of Jonah” point?

Read the book of Jonah in one sitting focusing on Jonah’s character and attitude toward God. Compare Jonah with the two men who went to the temple to pray in Luke 18:10-14. Which of these two men does Jonah most resemble?

Do you agree with the conclusion that the writing of Jonah demonstrates his repentance? Why or why not?

How have you experience God’s call on your life? Where is the Holy Spirit leading you to repent?

Think Orange-- April's Virtue: Friendship

Hey parents, this month in our elementary children’s environments (Club252 Sunday mornings and ClubJAM Wednesday evenings) we’re exploring the virtue of FRIENDSHIP-- spending time with someone you trust and enjoy. God actually MADE us for friendship (see John 17:3). He wants to be our best friend and calls us to be a good friend to others. It’s part of His BIG story.  

Bottom Line: Friends encourage one another.

Memory Verse: “A friend loves at all times. He is there to help when trouble comes.” Proverbs 17:17, NIrV)

Week one we looked at the example of the Saul who was accepted by Ananias in Acts 9. God changed his heart and name to Paul and sent him as an apostle (missionary). In Romans 15:7 Paul writes, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Next week our focus is the encouragement Paul received by his fellow workers (friends) in Thessalonica. 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “So cheer each other up with the hope you have. Build each other up. In fact, that’s what you are doing.”

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Surprised by Grace

You can download the first chapter of Tullian Tchividjian's book Surprised by Grace: God's Relentless Pursuit of Rebels here.

In the following interview Pastor Tullian shares his own "Jonah story" and motivation for writing Surprised by Grace.




Surprised by Grace is available Sunday morning in Welcome Center for a suggested donation of $12. If you prefer an ebook, follow the link below:

Surprised by Grace: God's Relentless Pursuit of Rebels - eBook By Tullian Tchividjian / Crossway Books

Tanya Crevier's "Jonah Story"

Tanya Crevier joined us last month for our Upwards Basketball Rally. While here she agreed to share her "Jonah Story" (how she's experienced the call of God on her life). You can listen to Sunday's message here:

I am Jonah-- The Prequel: Questions for Discussion and Reflection

Before Jonah is called by God to prophecy to the nation of Nineveh he prophesied to the people of Israel during the reign of  Amaziah king of Judah and Jeroboam king of Israel. (2 Kings 14:25-26) Despite a king who “did evil in the sight of the Lord” and a rebellious people, God’s over-the-top mercy spares Israel from defeat and allowing its boundaries to be restored. Recorded in 2 Kings 14:23-29 is the convergence of ancient Israel’s three offices: king, prophet and priest.
 

It is the “Deuteronomistic” priests who are used by the Holy Spirit to record these events. The emphasis given by this record is proportional on faithfulness/unfaithfulness to God than to “actual accomplishments in political (or) military affairs” (August Konkel, The NIV Application Commentary, page 533). The prophet is Jonah (14:26) and king, Jeroboam II (14:23).  

What do the following Old Testament Scriptures reveal about the importance and role of the offices of prophet, priest and king?

Jeremiah 1:4-10, 17-18; Ezekiel 2:1-10--

Leviticus 10:8-10; Malachi 2:7--

Deuteronomy 17:18-20; 2 Samuel 23:3-4--

According to the following Scriptures, how is Jesus the ultimate fulfillment of the offices of Prophet, Priest and King?

Luke 24:19--

Hebrews 8:1-2--

Acts 17:7; Philippians 2:9-11--

 

What does 2 Kings 14:26-27 reveal about God's mercy? When in your life has God shown you mercy by giving you a second chance? Who do you know that needs to experience God's mercy? How is the Holy Spirit leading you to be a messenger of mercy? 

New Men's LifeClasses kickoff next week!

Stepping Up! A Call to Courageous Manhood begins next Wednesday night, April 10th at 7:00 PM in the Griggs Counseling Center. This study by author and speaker Dennis Rainey tackles teh call to living, breathing manhood head-on, offering a simple yet powerful vision for what it means to be a man who truly conquers, and truly wins. Using personal stories and biblical principles this series identifies five stages of a man's journey through life and examines his responsibilities at each step. Men will be called to step up to courageous manhood.

 

Charlie Avery leads this LifeClass. Watch the trailer for Stepping Up below.

 

The Man I want to Be Video study by Neal Jeffrey, former All-American quarterback at Baylor University and quarterback for the San Diego Chargers begins next Thurday morning, April 11th at 7:30 AM. This LifeClass explores the importance of being a man "who believes, a man who is brave, and a man who behaves."

Ideal for men who work 2nd shift, thsi LifeClass meets in the Griggs Counseling building and is lead by George Ludovico.

Kentwood Community Church On Mission in Port Monmouth

Sunday afternoon we were joined by 30 leaders and students from Kentwood Community Church. Pictured here is the team led by Pastor Ian Nacy cleaning out a basement in Port Monmouth. You can view more pictures of the team on Ian's Facebook here.

I'm grateful for these new friends and their desire to serve our neighbors in Jesus' name. Before leaving for New Jersey the team was interviewed by a local Fox News station out of Grand Rapids. You can watch the interview below:

The Biblical Suspects: (Evidence for the Resurrection) Questions for Discussion and Reflection

Read Luke 24:13-49. What were some of the questions Jesus’ disciples had about His resurrection? How did Jesus respond to their doubts?

Read John 13:19. Why is it significant that the gospel writers included so many details about Jesus’ death and resurrection?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. How important is the resurrection to Christianity? What was Paul’s conclusion in 1 Corinthians 15:19 had Jesus not been resurrected?

What insights to the following scriptures provide as to the significance of the resurrection in the life of the believer?

Ezekiel 37:1-14--

Ephesians 2:1, 4-6--

John 5:24-26--

Romans 6:3-5--

Colossians 2:13--

Philippians 3:10--

Galatians 2:20--

Here's the video that preceeded the message:

The Biblical Suspects from andrewmanzano on GodTube.