Preparing for Sunday - Jonah

July 10, 2014 by Bret Capranica Preparing for Sunday

Read Jonah 1-4.
List what you learn about Jonah. What is his fundamental problem with God?
What does God do in this book. List what you see. What is God doing with Jonah?
How do the pagan people typically respond to God in this book (1:7-16; 3:6-10)? How is this similar or different to Jonah's responses to God?
Where do you find Jonah obeying God? How would you describe his obedience?

Why would Jonah be upset with God's mercy to the Ninevites?
Have you ever found yourself troubled by the prosperity of the unbelieving world while you are experiencing difficulty? How is it similar or dissimilar to what Jonah experiences and responds?
How could you cultivate a heart that is happy with the mercy of God toward the unbelieving world, even when you are struggling with wondering where God's mercy is in your life?
How would Jonah's life encourage and motivate God's people to engage the world with the gospel of Jesus?
How would you describe your repentance of revealed sin? More like the people of Ninevah? Or More like Jonah?

What lessons of encouragement about God's mercy to the undeserving do you need to pause and praise God for? What sins of dissatisfaction with God's mercy (or what you see as the withholding of deserved mercy) do you need to confess?
How could this book assist you in praying for non-Christians who are in your life? Pray for them now specifically. Pray for non-Christians who will be present this Sunday to respond appropriately to God's word.
How should this book impact our congregation as a whole? Pray that God will prepare our hearts for his work of grace this Sunday as we gather.
Pray for those who will be leading our gathering to edify the body well: Joel Conrad, music; Todd Arnold, Elders' Prayer and Scripture Reading; Bret Capranica, teaching.
Listen to the songs we will be singing together and meditate on the message of each song. Prepare yourself to sing together with the church on the Lord's Day.