August 11, 2024
How Not To Talk To Your Friends About Jesus | Jonah 2
In The Belly Of The Beast
What do you do when you’re between a rock and a hard place? Jonah the prophet, did what most of us do—he prayed. Even though he was running from God and was prepared to die rather than obey what God had called him to do, when push came to shove, Jonah prayed. Prayer is a powerful thing to do when you want and need your life to change.
Songs for this week: Spotify
- When was the last time you were between a rock and a hard place? Share that story and how you responded in that moment.
- “God provided a huge fish." This was likely not the type of rescue Jonah had in mind. Has God ever used a tough situation (and maybe some tight quarters!) to help you gain a clearer perspective on life? Explain.
- “I have been banished from Your sight.” What would be the most honest prayer you could offer to God right now? Take a moment to reflect, then share your prayer with the group.
- "But You, LORD my God, brought my life up from the pit.” Many people think that faith in God will give them what they want, but God often has something much better in mind. Have you experienced this in your own life?
- Write a fuller prayer - one that is honest and transparent before God, asking for His intervention and surrendering all outcomes into His hands. Consider sharing your prayer with someone else.
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Recent Sermons
James 3:1-18 -James is at it again! He has a real concern for the words that Christians use on themselves, with each other and with the world. Our tongues (James' favourite image for our words) can cause such destruction, and they are nearly impossible to control.
James 2:14-26 -James continues to press deep into the muscles and tissues of our faith. Is your faith doing what it was designed to do? Just like you might go to the doctor for a physical check-up, James offers a self-administered faith check-up in this passage. Where do you see signs of life in your faith?
James 1:19-27 - James is direct: angry words, thoughtless words, and religious words don’t have a place in a life of faith. Our words don’t work … but God’s word does! Our job is simply to cooperate with his word.
James 1:1-8 - James gets right down to business! For everyone not currently soaking in a hot tub, suffering is a first order of business. In just a few verses, James explains how trials can grow maturity, how wisdom helps the journey, and how to avoid wasting a suffering experience.
Empowered Baptism is recognized throughout the Church as the beginning of a ‘God thing.’ John’s baptism was a visible demonstration of the start of a new life — clearing out the junk to prepare for what God was about to do. Jesus’ baptism reveals the true heart of baptism: God’s desire to bless and express His delight. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the start of the Kingdom. Ordinary women and men were now filled with the Spirit of Jesus to continue on the ministry Jesus started.
Luke 3:21-22 -At Jesus’ baptism, the Father said, “You’re my son. I love you. I’m proud of you.” As Christians, our baptism is a sign that we are in Christ, that what is true about him is true about us, and that the Father’s blessing now defines us.
