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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John 20:24-29 - All through his ministry, Jesus took time to speak with individuals. Even after the resurrection, he never changed course. John records an interaction with Thomas that speaks to doubt and the struggle it is for each of us to believe.
John 12:9-19 -When Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the shouts and cheers of the crowd, there was no mistaking what was happening: the King was back in his rightful place. There were several responses to this long-awaited event: some celebrated, some grumbled, and then… everyone went home. It may have looked anticlimactic, but Jesus wasn’t going anywhere. He had come to do what only the true King of Israel could do.
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John 8:48-59 -Jesus’ friend John was very careful to record the things that Jesus said about Himself. As an observant Jew, John knew that there is only one God. From time to time, God sent prophets, ordained priests, and crowned kings so that the people of God had someone to lead them to Him. Everyone knew that these leaders only ever pointed to God; they never claimed any status beyond being messengers. But when Jesus came, He was different. He claimed to be “the Light of the World,” “the Truth that sets you free,” and “the Resurrection and the Life”—all of them ridiculous claims for anyone but God to make. That was exactly His point.
Luke 15:11-32 - Jesus tells a story about a father with two lost sons. The rule-breaking younger son was lost in self-indulgence, and the rule-keeping older son was lost in self-righteousness. The father loved both generously and even recklessly. Both needed to be found. Were they?
