Sermon Recap 🎬
Pastor begins a new series on Jonah, emphasizing the desire to hear from God while acknowledging that His calls can be uncomfortable. He recounts Jonah's attempt to flee from God's command to preach to Nineveh, illustrating how often we rationalize our disobedience when faced with difficult calls. The sermon points out that running from God can lead to negative consequences not just for ourselves but for those around us, as exemplified by the sailors suffering due to Jonah's disobedience. Ultimately, Pastor challenges the congregation to reflect on their own lives, encouraging them to stop running from God and to embrace their calling to bring others to Him.
Ice Breaker 🧊
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, but it had to be green, what would it be?
Discussion Questions 💬
What are some ways we might run away from God's call in our lives, similar to how Jonah ran to Tarshish instead of going to Nineveh?
Pastor discussed how Jonah ran in the opposite direction when called by God, emphasizing that sometimes we also choose paths that lead us away from God's plans.
Can you think of a time when you felt called to do something difficult or uncomfortable? How did you respond?
The sermon mentions that Jonah's life went 'down, down, down' after he disobeyed God. What does this suggest about the consequences of our actions?
Pastor explained how Jonah's disobedience led to a downward spiral in his life, illustrating that running from God has real consequences.
Have you ever experienced a situation where ignoring a responsibility led to more problems? How did it make you feel?
In what ways do we rationalize our sins, similar to how Jonah might have rationalized his decision to run away from Nineveh?
Pastor talked about rationalizing sin as making excuses for actions we know are wrong, comparing it to Jonah's reluctance to forgive the people of Nineveh.
Reflect on a time when you made an excuse for something you knew was wrong. How can acknowledging that help you move forward?
How does the idea that God speaks to us relate to our daily decisions and actions, as mentioned in the sermon?
Pastor highlighted that God speaks and calls us, just like He did with Jonah, indicating that we should pay attention to His guidance in our lives.
What steps can you take to better listen for God's voice or guidance in your life?
What does it mean to be spiritually complacent, and how can we avoid this in our faith journey?
Pastor pointed out that many people can become spiritually complacent, which leads to a stagnation in their relationship with God.
Can you identify areas in your life where you might have become spiritually complacent? What actions can you take to revive your faith?
Prayer 🙏
• Ask for God's guidance in hearing His call and acting on it this week.
• Pray for the courage to step out in faith, even when it's uncomfortable.
• Seek God's forgiveness for areas where we might be running away from His direction.
• Lift up any personal prayer requests from the group.