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JONAH - WEEK 1
Chris Perstrope
THE OVERTIME
Want more from this Sunday's message? Here is additional content that didn't make the cut for the Sunday morning message!
GROUP CHAT
Want to go deeper in the message? We have just the study for you! Each week, we offer a video, along with discussion questions! You can do this study by yourself, with a friend, or even your family! You'll find those questions below!
BIG IDEA
The only thing harder than following God's Will is wishing that you had.
SCRIPTURE
Jonah 1:1-3, 1:17
ICE BREAKER
Share about a time when you knew you should do something but avoided it. What made you finally take action?
OVERVIEW
This message explores Jonah's reluctance to follow God's calling to Nineveh and how his story mirrors our own resistance to God's direction. God speaks to us through His Word, His Spirit, godly people, and circumstances. Like Jonah, we often try to run from God's calling, but God lovingly pursues us—even through storms—to bring us back to His purpose.
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Theme: Jonah is about God's relentless pursuit of lost people through a reluctant missionary.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Understanding God's Voice
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Pastor Chris mentioned four ways God speaks to us (His Word, His Spirit, godly people, and circumstances). Which of these ways do you most easily recognize? Which is hardest for you to discern?
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Have you ever felt like God was asking you to do something specific? How did you respond? What made it easy or difficult to obey?
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Why do you think we sometimes practice "selective hearing" with God? What are the common distractions that drown out God's voice in your life?
Examining Reluctance
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Jonah ran in the opposite direction from God's calling. In what areas of your life might you be running from God rather than toward Him?
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Pastor Chris shared his own reluctance to become a preacher. Can you relate to resisting something God was calling you to do? What was holding you back?
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Read Jonah 1:3. Jonah "went down" multiple times (down to Joppa, down into the ship, down to sleep). How does this downward progression illustrate what happens when we run from God?
God's Loving Discipline
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God sent a storm to wake Jonah up. How have you seen God use difficult circumstances or "storms" in your life to redirect you or get your attention?
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Pastor Chris mentioned, "Sometimes the storms in your life aren't to wake you up, but to get the attention of others that need to see the Good News in action." Has God ever used your brokenness or failure to impact someone else's faith journey?
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Discuss this quote: "Sometimes God uses people to accomplish tasks, but often God uses tasks to accomplish people." What does this mean to you?
Application to Our Lives
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This week’s message emphasized that we are ALL called to: Invite and Include, Bring Church to People, and Share Your Story. Which of these three comes most naturally to you? Which is most challenging?
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What "Nineveh" might God be calling you to? (This could be a person, a place, a ministry, a career change, a conversation, etc.)
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How does knowing that "the fish was more obedient than the prophet" challenge or convict you?
Key Takeaways
✓ God speaks to all His children through His Word (which trumps everything else), His Spirit, godly people, and circumstances.
✓ Running from God's calling leads to going "down"—away from His presence, purpose, and peace.
✓ God's discipline is an expression of His love—He sends storms not to destroy us but to wake us up and redirect us.
✓ God can use our failures and brokenness to reach others and accomplish His purposes.
✓ We are all called to be missionaries—using our talents, abilities, and stories to point people to Jesus.
✓ Obedience is always better than regret—the only thing harder than following God's will is wishing you had.
Personal Reflection Questions
(take 3-5 minutes of silence):
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What is God saying to me through this message?
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Where have I been running from God?
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What is my next step of obedience?
Prayer Focus
Close your time by praying for:
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Courage to obey God even when it's uncomfortable or scary
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Sensitivity to hear God's voice clearly
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Willingness to be used by God to reach lost people
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Specific "Ninevehs" that group members shared
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Protection from the distractions and lies that keep us from following God