We're on God's Side ... Right?
Jonah Chapter 2
There is so much in Jonah's story that sounds familiar. He is stubborn and opinionated and sure that God is on his side. I want to say that he sounds a lot like us (or at least me), but I don't want to admit that I can be all those things. Yet, Jonah invites me (and maybe you, too) to come sit in the belly of the whale with him and consider the life we live from the vantage point of God's goodness. And his promise, if we'll join him, is that on the other side of it that we will emerge with "shouts of joyful praise!" That sounds like a fair trade, so I'll see you this Sunday and let's get after it!
Topics: God's People, God's View, God's Will
Jonah Chapter 1
This Sunday, we also begin a study of Jonah. In a world that prefers black-and-white thinking, with clear lines between the "good guys" and the "bad guys," the Book of Jonah challenges us to consider what it means to be God’s people in a polarized cutlure. Do I struggle to hear the call to love people I don’t like? Do I think I know what is best for others while failing to experience God’s heart for them? Do I allow the spirit of offense toward the enemies of God to make me an enemy of God, too? These are the kinds of questions Jonah both raises and this is a great time to be asking them ... as we live into our call to love like Jesus in this world as it is.
Jonah Chapter 4
You know, it's one thing to cancel or ghost the people in your life. But its another thing altogether to cancel God. Can you even imagine having the nerve to tell God you think he got it wrong? Well ... of course, you can! We all do it, in big and subtle ways, when we either ignore God's call to action or fuss at him for not doing as we've asked. And we disagree with God all the time when it comes to people we don't much like or agree with. Sometimes God's mercy doesn't line up with our preferences. This is the big lesson of Jonah, and this week we wrap up the story with a conversation about how choosing God's mercy is very much a choice for life over death. I'm excited to be in the room with you and the great "whale tail" one more time!
Jonah Chapter 3
Oh my, what Jonah is teaching us this month! We are learning from his mistakes how to pray more deeply, live more compassionately, serve the world with more grace. Jonah challenges us not to write off anyone God has not yet written off (spoiler alert: God doesn't write off anybody). What if the people you think are the most lost are actually much closer than you think to spiritual awakening? If that's true, then how would that change the way you pray for them? Let's keep after all that Jonah's story teaches us about God, the world, and ourselves.
