Message Title: Grace and Truth
Message Text: Jonah 2:8
Message Truth: The Gospel of Grace is for Everyone
Introduction: What exactly is grace? And is it limited to Jesus’ life and ministry? You may be surprised to know that Jesus never used the word. He just taught it, and, equally important, He lived it. The old Hebrew term that meant “to bend, to stoop.” By and by, it came to include the idea of “condescending favor.” When love goes up, it’s called worship, when love goes out it’s called affection, when love stoops it’s called GRACE!
Like most Old Testament narratives, the story of Jonah is primarily about God.
- First, the story of Jonah emphasizes the fact that God is the sovereign Creator.
- Second, the Jonah account reminds us that God is the supreme Judge.
- Finally, Jonah’s story reiterates the fact that God is the Savior
Ch. 1: God calls, Jonah runs, God pursues.
The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.” Jonah 1:1-3
Ch. 2: God Rescues, Jonah Repents, God Rescues.
“Those who cling to worthless idols turn (forfeit) away from God’s love (grace) for them.” Jonah 2:8
Ch. 3: God Calls, Jonah Obeys, God Relents.
“Then the Word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.’ Jonah 3:1
Ch. 4: Jonah Pouts, God Responds.
But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”4 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah 4:1-4
Three Takeaway Questions:
- What kind of God do we see?
- How much are we like Jonah?
- How should we respond?
