Tuesday, May 21, 2013

I am Jonah- Jonah's retreat (Jonah 4:1-11) Questions for Discussion and Reflection


In Jonah 4 Jonah retreats to a location east of Nineveh where he awaits God’s judgment of the city. To Jonah’s disappointment God hears and answers the prayers of the king and people of Nineveh to “relent and turn from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish” (Jonah 3:9). Despite Jonah’s hardness of heart God continues to pursue him by sending a plant, worm and revealing to Jonah His heart.

Andy Stanley observes of Jonah, “Jonah’s sin was that his religion was really all about him. While he eventually surrendered to the will of God, he never surrendered to the purposes of God…” (The Grace of God, page 117). What do Jonah 4:2 and 4:11 reveal about God’s purposes?

What does Jonah 4:5-10 reveal about Jonah’s “religion”?

What does Jonah 4:8 reveal about God’s preference of a believer’s godliness over his comfort?

What insights do the following Scriptures provide for understanding our identity, works, and relationship with God?

Identity-- 2 Corinthians 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; Colossians 3:1; 1 John 4:11;    and Zephaniah 3:17--
               
Works-- Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 3:12; 1 Thessalonians    2:19-20; and Revelation 22:12--
  
Relationship with God-- Philippians 3:10; John 17:3; and Jeremiah 9:23

Why do you think the book of Jonah end unresolved? What is the Holy Spirit leading you to do as a result of this study?

To dig deeper into the Christian’s identity in Christ download the bible study by Gospel Transformation, Gospel Identity here

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