Sermon Type:              Expository sermon outline on the book of JONAH
Thesis:                        We must trust that God has our ultimate good in mind.
Song of Invitation:      #702;  Trust and Obey
 

Introduction
I.   His name means "dove."
       A.   A man of "peace."
       B.   How much of a person of peace am I?
              1.   It is easy to criticize Jonah.
              2.   Am I as critical with myself on issues of peace with my brethren?

II.   Lived and worked in Judah (the Northern Kingdom)               [2 Kings 14: 25
       A.   During the reign of Jeroboam II (790-750 B.C.)
       B.   He was a very nasty king, but Jonah had his goal set in his mind.

III.   Nineveh was the political capital of the world.
       A.   Its population was 120,000.
       B.   They were famous idol worshipers.
       C.   They were renounced for their cruelty to Prisoners of War.

IV.   Halley's Bible Handbook states that Joppa, where Jonah embarked in order
        to avoid preaching to another nation, was the very place which God chose
        800 years later to tell Peter to receive men of other nations       [Acts 10].
       A.   Jonah was not ready for the responsibility at first.
       B.   Jonah's 3 day sojourn in the belly of a big fish symbolized a tomb.

V.   Just as Jonah was in the whale for 3 days, Jesus Christ was in His tomb
      for 3 days.
       A.   Jesus is the buried and risen Son of man, and One greater than Jonah.
       B.   Jesus Christ spoke of Jonah.

Body

I.   Jonah runs from God.                                             [1: 1-4, 7, 15, 17]
       A.   Nobody can run from God.                               [Ps. 139: 7-12]
       B.   Shows God's providential care for His messengers.
       C.   Jesus Christ could not and would not run from His responsibility.

II.   Jonah runs to God.                                             [2: 1, 4, 6]
       A.   This showed Jonah's repentant heart.
              1.   He had a change of mind/heart.
              2.   He actively prayed.
       B.   He acknowledged that his punishment was from God.
       C.   He had the maturity to turn back and not be fickle towards God.
              1.   How many of us would have this dept of spiritual maturity?
              2.   How many of us would make excuses NOT to continue working
                    for God?

       D.   Jonah's literal humiliation brought repentance.

III.   Jonah ran with God.                                             [3: 1-5, 9-10]
       A.   God is interested in the lost.
              1.   If must decide to repent and turn to Him.
              2.   He will give us another chance to do His will.
       B.   God is a just and merciful.                               [Jer. 18: 7-10]
       C.   Jonah believed that God keeps His promises.

IV.   Jonah ran ahead of God.                                      [4: 1-2, 6-11]
       A.   Jonah was angry with God's compassion with Gentiles/Ninevites.
              1.   God said that Jonah had NO right to be angry.
              2.   The old brother in the Prodigal Son had this attitude.
       B.   When we look at others in the world do we see people who are dying
              spiritually or do we just see people who "do not go to church?"
              [Rom 9: 2-3]
       C.   God is just as concerned about the salvation of our worldly, Godless
             neighbors, as He is with our salvation!
       D.   When we are angry with the successes of others, it is misplaced priorities
              within our own minds that cause the anguish.                [Ps. 37: 3, 5, 7]
       E.   All works for good, for those who are patient!              [Rom. 8: 28]
 

Conclusion
I.   Its audience is to Christians and non-Christians.
       A.   We all need to be saved.
       B.   This book shows God's mercy and forgiveness.          [Mt. 12: 39-40]

II.   It is impossible to hide from God.  He knows everything about me,
       even if I could fool others by my acts, I will never fool God.
       [Gen. 3: 8, Ps. 139: 1-16]

III.   The plant illustration is given so that men will realize that people are more
        important than plants.                                                           [4: 10]

IV.   God also was trying to show Jonah that sometimes we take His gifts for
        granted and do not appreciate them until they have been taken away. [4: 6-8]

V.   If we allow God to do everything with our ultimate good in mind, it will help
       us NOT to be angry or resentful when events in our own lives frustrate us.
 

Invitation
I.     Running away will from Him get us farther away from Him and His purpose
       for life.

II.    Running to Him is the only direction in life.

III.   Running with Him is fulfilling.

IV.   Running ahead of Him is human, but possible to correct.

V.    Running with His plan of salvation in mind is the ONLY running really
        worth running!
       A.   It requires giving our whole life to Him!
       B.   The rewards are everlasting.                               [Rev. 2: 10]
 
 

Copyright 1999 by Neil C. Prokop may be reproducted for non-commercial purposes at no cost to others.