The Compass

A Daily Personal Reflection & Small Group Discussion Guide

by John Hay, Jr.
Senior Pastor, West Morris Street Free Methodist Church

Serving the World
God Loves Nineveh…Do I?
Jonah 1:1-3; 3:1-5, 10; 4:1-11

TRACKING THE WORD
Jonah's story isn't about being swallowed by a great fish…it's about serving a world we may not particularly like

1. At the heart of Jonah's story and our story is a God of love who desires to save all from sin to live abundantly.

Jonah 1:2; 3:2, 4-10

- Left to our own sinfulness, we sow the seeds of our own despair and destruction.

- God's judgment is intended to bring people to repentance and salvation.

- If we relish God's judgment upon others, we do not understand God's heart or God's intentions.

How have I responded to God's sometimes "tough love" or challenge to serve people whom I really think deserve God's wrath?

2. Our efforts to protect our reputations, feed our prejudices, and choose our preferred futures can land us in some strange and hurtful places.

Jonah 1:3-17; 2:10

What are some sources of personal resistance to God's call to bear His Word and live His Kingdom's priorities?

3. We can do the right thing with the wrong spirit and miss the very joy we proclaim to others.

Jonah 3:2-4; 4:1-9

Are my values, preferences, and attitudes surrendered in confident yieldedness to the Spirit of God?

4. God is trying to move us to the point where we can serve the world freely and expectantly.

Jonah 4:10-11

How ready am I to "go" with God's Word and God's grace to people and places as God guides me?

What does it mean for me--for us--to serve the world today?

GUIDED JOURNALING / DISCUSSION
Explore in personal devotions or group discussion

1. Read Jonah 1. Discuss or journal your responses to these questions: Why do you think Jonah ran away from the Lord? Who all was affected by Jonah's resistance to God's directive? Figuratively, where did Jonah's resistance land him?

2. Read Jonah 2. Journal or discuss your responses to these questions: Why do you think Jonah prays to God at this point in his life? How does Jonah confess his sin? What does Jonah promise God?

3. Read Jonah 3. Journal or discuss your responses to these questions: What are the particular actions of the city and its kings in response to Jonah's message? What do they hope their actions will bring about? What does God do in response to their actions?

4. Read Jonah 4. Journal or discuss your responses to these questions: Why do you think Jonah is so upset at God? What does God's word to Jonah reveal about his misplaced priorities and values? Do you care more about "stuff" and passing things than about people living in despair?

SOUNDINGS & WAYPOINTS
Other Christians share insights from their journeys

BETTER THAN SERMONS "One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

ACID INDIGESTION "Within a few minutes of swallowing the prophet Jonah, the whale suffered a severe attack of acid indigestion, and it's not hard to see why. Jonah had a disposition that was enough to curdle milk. Jonah's relief at being delivered from the whale can hardly have been any greater than the whale's at being delivered from Jonah." - Frederick Buechner

JONAH'S ANGER "Jonah's physical suffering as a result of the disappearance of the plant with its shade is not the principle reason in his request for death. A deeper source of discontent is God's apparent unfairness. God had lavished his mercy on the hateful Ninevites yet cannot allow more than a few moments' shade for Jonah. God's question [Have you any right to be angry?] backs Jonah into a corner. If Jonah answers No, he admits he is wrong to question God's sovereignty as Creator and God's freedom to deal with Ninevah as he chooses. If Jonah answers Yes (as he in fact does), he admits the validity of pity as a motive for sparing a creature from destruction." - J. Owens

THE WORLD "The world is my parish." - John Wesley

RESPONSES & OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE
Want to explore The Compass with others? Have questions?

If you'd like to connect with others who are working weekly with The Compass, e-mail me or call the church office (317.632.8311)

If you have questions about Scriptures or some of the questions, or just want to share what your are discovering through The Compass, you are welcome to e-mail me.

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