Sermon Discussion Guide 8-9-26

Sermon Discussion Guide
Jonah | Slow To Anger | Jonah 3

Gathering Question
What is one way you’ve seen God at work in your life this week?

Gathering Prayer
Father, by Your Spirit, would You guide us into all truth. Help us to hear and be attentive to Your voice as we work through this study. In the name of Jesus, Your Son, we pray, Amen.

Opening Questions
What stood out to you in the sermon?
What insights did you gain?
What questions did it raise?

Read Nahum 3:1-5

• Given the description of Nineveh in Nahum, how likely would you have been willing to obey God and head to Nineveh?
• How does this description of the city in Nahum, or the one in Jonah 3.2 & 3, & 4.10 – that it’s a great city – reflect on how you see and imagine cities? Are there cities you wouldn’t go to? What would it take for you to go someplace God said my heart is for that place?

Read Jonah 3:1-10

• Jonah is seen by many as a ½ hearted prophet. What does his obedience to the bare bones say to you about your own life?
• In contrast, have you ever encountered someone who was brief, yet said much? How did they convey a message of the Lord to you?
• Re. Repentance – the text says that the king sat on an ash heap, and the animals wore sackcloth. How do you express repentance? How do Jesus’ comments in Matthew 6.16-18 speak to you?
• The Lord shows to the people of Nineveh, and to Jonah, what he said to Moses – “I am slow to anger (Exodus 34:6). How does this shape your picture of God? Have you known the embrace of the Kind Father (Luke 15:32)? What is stopping you from knowing God’s mercy? 

Closing Prayer: Wesley Covenant Prayer
I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,
exalted for you or brought low for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and glory.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
You are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.