Sermon Title: Jonah, pt 1–Why would someone run from God?

Scripture: Jon. 1:1-3, Matt. 5:43-48 & 6:14-15, 2 Cor. 11:23-27, Lu 14:26-30, 2 Ki. 14:23-25, Am. 6:14

Main Points:

1. Forgiveness is Hard: Jonah despised the idea that God wanted to show mercy to Israel’s enemies. An attitude of unforgiveness drives us from God. We run from mercy.

2. The Process is Hard: Jonah would have to travel 500 mi to preach to Nineveh. Sometimes we think the things God is asking are too much. So, we back away from His plans.

3. God Doesn’t Make Sense: God tells Jonah to witness to the enemy that Amos says is going to destroy Israel! When God’s plan doesn’t make sense, we run. Logic and faith are not equals.

Notes: Jonah was alive in the 700’s B.C. He lived and prophesied at the same time as Amos, during the reign of King Jeroboam II. There is wickedness in the Kingdom of Israel. Jonah prophesied that God would still bless Israel, while Amos prophesied punishment. Jonah is speaking of victory over Assyria while Amos is predicting punishment from God at the hand of Assyria. They seem to be contrasting and wrong. Jonah is speaking of God’s blessing through obedience, which Jeroboam II and Israel did not choose, and Amos is giving God’s warning of punishment if Israel does not turn from wickedness. When Israel does not turn, it is Amos’ prophecy that comes true and that directly overturns the prophecy given by Jonah. At the same time, Jonah is being asked to go and witness to this enemy so they can repent. It’s a wild series of events that must be understood in context for Jonah’s response to make more sense.

Sermon Title: This Changes Everything, Pt 3

Scripture: Phil. 4:6-8, Eph. 3:14-21, 8-12, Josh. 1:9, Ps. 34:7, Matt. 18:20 & 28:20, Heb. 13:5

Main Points:

1. Fix Your Eyes On God: We tend to believe that the Presence of God is only in church services or in quiet moments. We can invite God’s presence into everything in our lives!

2. More Than You Can Imagine: God does not give us his power for our use or to do work through us. He wants to give himself to us; just him for no other reason than relationship.

3. God Is Inviting You: We shy away from God because we feel unworthy. We are sinful, but he is merciful. He longs to bring us to the King’s Table and refresh us with his love.

1. What barriers keep you from living in and experiencing the presence of God?

2. When and where do you feel like you are experiencing the presence of God in your life?

3. How could you invite God into the everyday things that keep you busy?

4. Are you a cup or a pitcher? Does God give himself to you for others or just so you can receive?

5. What practical steps can you take in your life to begin practicing the Presence of God?

Notes: Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection was a cook in a French monastery who learned that service for God is more than spending time in solitude and silence. While the Monks around him were devoting themselves in solitude, he was devoting himself in service. He invited God into his work, even work that he did not enjoy, and learned how to Practice the Presence of God in everything. The two greatest barriers to God’s presence are busyness and worthiness. We think that we can only experience God in services or solitude, but we can invite him into everything and then experience even greater times of joy in those places. We also consider ourselves unworthy. We are unworthy, but Jesus did not come for worthy people. His invitation is not for worthy people. His invitation is that of a King to wretches who have no business in his presence, but whom he desires to invite to his table and feed from his own hands. He delights in wretches and elevates us to the status of “Child of the King.”

Sermon Title: This Changes Everything, Pt 2

Scripture: Rom. 8:5-8, Ex. 34:27-30, Matt. 5:17-20, John 14:15-21, 2 Pet. 1:3-11

Main Points:

1. Accept God’s Authority: Our relationship with God is covenantal. Accepting that covenant

means humbly submitting to the sovereignty of God.

2. Keep God’s Commands: Our love for God is not demonstrated in words, but in actions. We

show true devotion to God by keeping the commands found in scripture as our worship.

3. Plow Through the Plateaus: We often ask, “Where is God?” when we experience moments

of difficulty. In these moments, we find a return to God’s faithfulness through scripture and

the testimony of his love for all of us.

Notes: Submission requires taking a lower position while elevating someone or something else to a level that

exceeds our own. When we trust in God and submit to his authority, we relinquish our own in exchange for his.

This exchange is difficult when we are immature, but the more we know about God the better we realize this

trade to be. Love is not a statement of words or a system of beliefs. Love for God is demonstrated through

obedience to the commands that are given in scripture. In immaturity, we see Christianity as a system of dos

and don’ts. As we grow in relationship with Jesus, we learn that he had our best interests in mind from the

start. However, submission and love are challenged when difficulties arise. We may find it difficult to keep

pursuing these things with God when we are hurting, disappointed or steeped in sin. In these moments we

cannot succumb to the lies of the enemy. The only way out is to press in to the goodness of God.