Sermon Discussion Questions: Jonah

Week 1: Jonah 1:1-6 (May 17)

1. On a scale of 1-10, how familiar are you with the book of Jonah? (1=I’ve never heard of it; 10=I could teach a course on it)
2. Have you ever tried to run from God’s will for your life? Would anyone like to share about a season when you ran from God?
3. What are some of the ways God pursues Jonah in this passage? What are some of the ways God pursues us when we run from Him?
4. Is there anything God could ask you to do, today, that you would say “no” to? If so, what is it and why would you say no?
5. How do you hope to grow or change through this sermon series? What was your biggest takeaway from the opening scene of Jonah’s story?

 
Week 2: Jonah 1:17-2:2 (May 23 )

1. Growing up, how did you view this famous story of Jonah in the belly of a fish? Did you believe it was literal, allegorical, or completely fictional? Has your perspective shifted since hearing the sermon this week? If so, how?
2. In verse two of our text this week, Jonah says, “From deep in the realm of the dead, I called for help.” Have you ever experienced a dark night of the soul, when you felt like you were “deep in the realm of the dead?” If not, think about the last time you called to God for help. Would anyone like to share what was going on in your life that drove you to Him? 
3. Read Psalm 34:18, Psalm 145:18, and James 4:8. According to these verses, what is God’s posture toward us when we walk through dark nights of the soul? 
4. How have you experienced the “nearness” of God in difficult seasons?
5. One of our House Rules at Grace Church is Genuine Family: Grace frees us from performance and lets us live unafraid. When you walk through trials, do you tend to press in toward church or avoid community? Why is it important to rely on brothers and sisters in Christ when we face difficult seasons?

 
Week 3: Jonah 2:3-10 (May 30)

1. Reread Jonah’s confessional prayer to God in Jonah 2:3-9. Which verse(s) stands out to you the most? Why?
2. Another famous prayer of confession is found in Psalm 51 after David recognizes his sin of committing adultery with Bathsheba and arranging to have her husband killed. Read Psalm 51 aloud and discuss any similarities you notice between these two prayers.
3. After confessing, what do both Jonah and David promise to do? (see Jonah 2:9 and Psalm 51:13-15)
4. Do you testify of God’s goodness and life-changing grace toward you? Who is one person you could share your testimony with this week?
5. So far, what is one thing you’ve learned in this series that has caused you to take a practical next step toward Christ? Is there a next step you feel prompted to take today? How can we support and encourage one another to follow-through?

 
Week 4: Jonah 3:1-10 (June 7)

1. Before listening to the sermon this week, did you ever struggle with the concept of God’s anger? If so, how? As we studied this passage in church, was there an “a-ha” moment that changed your perspective?
2. How was anger handled in your childhood home? (Was it acceptable or unacceptable, discussed or avoided? Was it associated with danger, or viewed as an opportunity for deeper understanding and connection?) 
3. How have your past experiences with anger affected your current relationships?
4. What’s the difference between our anger and God’s anger?
5. Read Romans 1:18, John 3:36, and Psalm 30:5. How do we avoid the wrath of God and experience His favor, which lasts a lifetime? 

 
Week 5: Jonah 4:1-3 (June 14)

1. Could you relate to Jonah’s feelings in this particular passage? Have you ever felt “stumbled” or confused by God? 
2. John the Baptist is another person who felt stumbled by God, not because of His mercy but because of His perceived absence. Read Matthew 11:1-6. Why do you think John asked the question that he asked? What should we do when we experience anger toward God (like Jonah) or doubt in God (like John)?
3. Based on Jonah’s reaction, we can conclude that although He obeyed God outwardly, his heart was begrudging. Do you agree or disagree with the sentiment that “half-hearted obedience is disobedience”? Why?
4. Part of whole-hearted obedience means giving God our very best. One of our core values at Grace is Wow-Making Excellence: We honor God and inspire people with our very best work. Why is it important for believers to strive for excellence in all that we do? How does an attitude of wow-making excellence reflect whole-hearted obedience?
5. How can we inspire and equip the next generation to live lives of radical, wholehearted obedience to God?

 
Week 6: Jonah 4:5-8 (June 21)

1. Would anyone like to share a story about a time when you had a complete meltdown over a seemingly small inconvenience? 
2. Jonah 4:5-8 is a clear picture of God’s sovereignty in the face of shifting circumstances. Where are you tempted to find comfort and security apart from God? 
3. In discussing the American virtue of self-reliance, Matt Hopkins writes: “To be self-reliant and independent is a necessary attribute for survival when you are a frontier nation as America has been for most of its history.” What are the spiritual challenges of living in a culture where self-reliance is highly valued?
4. The book of Job tells the story of a cosmic wager between God and Satan. Satan suggests that Job only honors God because of His blessing, and if God were to allow calamity in his life, Job would curse God to His face. God allows Job to endure testing. Read Job 1:13-19 to see the extent of Job’s suffering. Ultimately, Job responds with an attitude that says: “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him” (Job 13:15). As a group, compare and contrast Job and Jonah. What is similar and dissimilar about their stories?
5. In light of shifting circumstances and personal suffering, how can we resist the temptation to respond like Jonah? What practical steps can we take to cultivate hearts like Job’s heart?

 
Week 7: Jonah 4:9-11 (June 28)

1. Imagine that you could write one more chapter to conclude the book of Jonah. What would happen in that chapter?
2. One of the primary themes of Jonah is that Christ-followers are always called to radical obedience. What makes you afraid when you think about giving yourself to God without reservation?
3. What prayers can you pray that surrender yourself to God?
4. How could we grow toward radical obedience as a gC? What are we doing well? Are there areas where we could push ourselves to grow?
5. One of our House Rules at Grace is Biblical Maturity: We expect to grow. We teach through the Bible verse-by-verse because it is the best way to know the Bible, and the Bible is the best way to know Jesus. How has your understanding of this famous story deepened through studying the book of Jonah verse-by-verse?