We began a new series this weekend called When Pigs Fly. This first week we are looking at the story of Jonah. The story of Jonah. What would you do if God gave you a hard command? Would you run? Would you obey? Would you try to hide? This is the situation Jonah found himself in throughout the book of Jonah. Let's dive into his story. As we read his story, we will see a God who loves people and goes to incredible lengths to get our attention and rescue us.
BREAK THE ICE
What is the wildest “when pigs fly” moment you have seen in real life?
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Bible Study
1. Read Jonah 1:1-3. Jonah went to great lengths to run from the Lord. Where is the furthest you have traveled?
Jonah 1:1-3
"The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are." 3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish."
"The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are."
3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish."
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Read Jonah 1:4-12, 17. What stands out to you about Jonah’s response to God’s command? What was the result of his disobedience?
Jonah 1:4-12, 17
"But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. 5 Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold. 6 So the captain went down after him. "How can you sleep at a time like this?" he shouted. "Get up and pray to your god! Maybe he will pay attention to us and spare our lives." 7 Then the crew cast lots to see which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit. 8 "Why has this awful storm come down on us?" they demanded. "Who are you? What is your line of work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?" 9 Jonah answered, "I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land." 10 The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the Lord. "Oh, why did you do it?" they groaned. 11 And since the storm was getting worse all the time, they asked him, "What should we do to you to stop this storm?" 12 "Throw me into the sea," Jonah said, "and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault." "17 Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights."
"But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. 5 Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship.
But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold. 6 So the captain went down after him. "How can you sleep at a time like this?" he shouted. "Get up and pray to your god! Maybe he will pay attention to us and spare our lives."
7 Then the crew cast lots to see which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit. 8 "Why has this awful storm come down on us?" they demanded. "Who are you? What is your line of work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?"
9 Jonah answered, "I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land."
10 The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the Lord. "Oh, why did you do it?" they groaned. 11 And since the storm was getting worse all the time, they asked him, "What should we do to you to stop this storm?"
12 "Throw me into the sea," Jonah said, "and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault."
"17 Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights."
3. Read Jonah 3:1-5, 10. Summarize the Ninevites’ response to Jonah’s message.
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
"Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you." 3 This time Jonah obeyed the Lord's command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. 4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: "Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!" 5 The people of Nineveh believed God's message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow." "10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened."
"Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you."
3 This time Jonah obeyed the Lord's command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. 4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: "Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!" 5 The people of Nineveh believed God's message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow."
"10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened."
4. Read Jonah 4:1-2, 6-11. What message was God teaching Jonah in this passage of Scripture?
Jonah 4:1-2, 6-11
"This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people." "And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah's head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. 7 But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. "Death is certainly better than living like this!" he exclaimed. 9 Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?" "Yes," Jonah retorted, "even angry enough to die!" 10 Then the Lord said, "You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?"
"This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: "Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people."
"And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah's head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.
7 But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. "Death is certainly better than living like this!" he exclaimed.
9 Then God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?"
"Yes," Jonah retorted, "even angry enough to die!"
10 Then the Lord said, "You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?"
Application
1. Have you ever felt like running from something God has called you to do? What happened?
2. Summarize what we learn about God from studying the book of Jonah.
3. When it comes to reaching out to those in need of the hope of Christ, how is it going? What is going well? What is one way you can grow in this area?
MOVING FORWARD
The book of Jonah shows us God’s desire to see people turn away from sin and turn to Him. One of the tools available to help you share your faith in Him with others is the Bridge Diagram, which you can find here. This diagram is located in video 4 at the attached link. Watch the video of the Bridge Diagram with your group. Over this next week, commit to watching this diagram multiple times and committing it to memory if you have not already. By learning this diagram, you will be prepared when someone asks why you have hope in Jesus.
GOING DEEPER
Jesus states in Matthew 12:41, “Someone greater than Jonah is here.” He is speaking of Himself in this verse. We know that Jesus is better than Jonah; after all, He is God! By looking at several verses in the New Testament and seeing how Jesus triumphs in areas where Jonah fails, we can gain a deeper love and reverence for Jesus. Let’s look at several passages of Scripture and discover these moments where Jesus proved He is greater than Jonah.
Jonah's Journey to Nineveh Versus Jesus' Mission on Earth:One of the reasons why Jesus was greater than Jonah was His purpose on earth. They both had a purpose to lead people away from sin (Jesus’ purpose was far greater) and to look toward God, but they responded very differently.
1. What was Jonah's calling, and how did he respond?
2. Read Mark 10:45. What was Jesus’ purpose? How was His response to His purpose greater than Jonah’s?
Mark 10:45
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."
3. Jonah was only able to tell people to stop sinning. How is Jesus’ power greater than Jonah’s?
Jesus in the Storm Versus Jonah in the Storm:Just like Jonah faces a storm in Jonah 1, Jesus faced a storm. While they had one similar response during the storm, they also responded very differently. Take a look at the storm that Jesus faced and see how Jesus proved to be greater than Jonah.
1. Read Mark 4:35-41.
Mark 4:35-41
"As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake." 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to drown?" 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey him!"
"As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake." 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to drown?"
39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey him!"
2. Compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the storms in Jonah 1:4-17 and Mark 4:35-41.
Jonah 1:4-17
"But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. 5 Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold. 6 So the captain went down after him. "How can you sleep at a time like this?" he shouted. "Get up and pray to your god! Maybe he will pay attention to us and spare our lives." 7 Then the crew cast lots to see which of them had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit. 8 "Why has this awful storm come down on us?" they demanded. "Who are you? What is your line of work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?" 9 Jonah answered, "I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land." 10 The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the Lord. "Oh, why did you do it?" they groaned. 11 And since the storm was getting worse all the time, they asked him, "What should we do to you to stop this storm?" 12 "Throw me into the sea," Jonah said, "and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault." 13 Instead, the sailors rowed even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too violent for them, and they couldn't make it. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, Jonah's God. "O Lord," they pleaded, "don't make us die for this man's sin. And don't hold us responsible for his death. O Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons." 15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! 16 The sailors were awestruck by the Lord's great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him. 17 Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights."
13 Instead, the sailors rowed even harder to get the ship to the land. But the stormy sea was too violent for them, and they couldn't make it. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, Jonah's God. "O Lord," they pleaded, "don't make us die for this man's sin. And don't hold us responsible for his death. O Lord, you have sent this storm upon him for your own good reasons."
15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! 16 The sailors were awestruck by the Lord's great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.
17 Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights."
3.How did Jesus prove Himself to be better than Jonah in Mark 4:35-41?
Jesus’ Three Days in the Tomb Versus Jonah’s Three Days Inside of the Fish:While teaching a crowd one day, Jesus explained that He was greater than the prophet Jonah whom they had learned about in Scripture. While Jonah faced three days inside a fish, Jesus' body was inside a tomb for three days. Take a look at how Jesus proved to be greater than Jonah in Matthew 12:39-41.
1. Read Matthew 12:39-41.
Matthew 12:39-41
"39 But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. 41 "The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here-but you refuse to repent."
"39 But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
41 "The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here-but you refuse to repent."
2. Contrast the circumstances surrounding Jonah's three days in the fish and the circumstances surrounding Jesus' three days in the tomb and His resurrection.
3. How did Jesus prove Himself to be better than Jonah based on the Scripture you read in Matthew 12:39-41?
Reflect: 1. What stands out to you about Jesus’ greatness and power over Jonah? 2. How does Jonah’s story give you perspective and gratitude for Jesus and what He did for humanity? 3. How can we follow Jesus’ example of willingness to reach those who are lost?
The only response to seeing Jesus' power over nature, sin, and death and remembering His willingness to pay the price is to tell others how good He is. Who can you reach out to? Share with your group who you will share your faith with this week. End your time praying together. Pray that God will continue to make Himself known to those in your lives who need the hope He offers.
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying." John 11:25
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