2 Peter 1:1-11

Jonah 1:16 – 2:9

I. “But God…”

A) Jonah was hurled into the sea, but God…
B) We are great sinners, deserving death, but God (Rom 5:7-8)
C) But God, has a very different plan for Jonah’s life, and ours

II. Is the story of Jonah true, did it actually happen?

A) Jesus indicated it did (Matt 12:39-41)

III. “From inside the Fish, Jonah Prayed…” Jonah 2:1

A) A place beyond desperate description
B) Desperate believers cry out to God, David, Hannah, Jeremiah, Jesus
C) “Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray.” James 5:13
D) Jonah prays the Psalms, in his own psalm

IV. “From the depths of the grave, the belly of Sheol, I called for help, and You listened to my cry.” Jonah 2:2

A) “You (God) hurled me into the deep.” Jonah 2:3
B) “You (God) brought my life up from the pit.” Jonah 2:6b

V. “Salvation comes from the Lord.” Jonah 2:9b

A) God the Father has Authored our Salvation
B) God the Son has Accomplished our Salvation
C) God the Spirit has Applied our Salvation

VI. Communion

A) God’s plan for you. B) God’s Sacrifice for you C) God’s love for you

Jonah 1:5-16

I. Which person frustrates you most”

A) _____ the unbeliever that acts like an unbeliever?
B) _____ the believer who acts like an unbeliever?

a) God loves them both

II, A Sleeping Prophet

A) “The heart is deceitful above all things…” Jer 17:9
B) Others pay the price for our slumber, and poor decisions

III. Religious Sailors

A) Any god in a storm!
B) “you can be like god, you can make your own rules!” (father of lies) Gen 3
C) “Freedom comes when we start trusting God’s abilities and wisdom instead of own. Real life begins when we transfer our trust from our own efforts to the efforts of Christ.” Tullian

IV. God’s Interventions feel a lot like Storms

A) Interventions not punishments (for His children)

a) get our undivided attention
b) change our course
c) teach us about obedience, faith, trust

V. “Spare tire Savior”, “Sugar Daddy God”

A) I’ll do this, so He will do that…
B) “If you’re avoiding sin and living morally so that God will have to bless you and save you, then you may be looking to Jesus as your teacher, moral example, and helper, but ironically you’re avoiding Him as your Savior.” Tim Keller

Jonah 1:1-5

Ref: “Surprised by Grace: God’s Relentless Pursuit of Rebels” Tchividjan

I. Background

A. The Prophet Jonah: 2Kgs 14 750 BC

B. Northern Kingdom: Israel-Ephraim Capital – Samaria

C. Southern Kingdom: Judah Capital – Jerusalem

D. World Power to the North: Assyria Capital – Nineveh

E. Assyria overthrew Samaria (God’s punishment) and took over the city

II. Jonah was sent “to preach against (the sin of) Nineveh

A. Jonah and all Jews hated the pagan Assyrians

B. Bug God apparently “loved them” enough to send “His Son”

C. Jesus, like Jonah, was sent by God to seek & to save sinners

III. Jonah ran from God’s call: Psalm 139:1-12

A. Hopped on a boat for the other side of the world, the Rock of Gibralar

B. “When you run away from the Lord, you never get where you are going, and you always pay your own fare. But when you go the Lord’s Way, you always get where you are going, and He pays the fare.” Barnhouse

IV. God sent a hurricane (Jesus) to turn him around

A. Punishment? Or Blessing?

B. God’s relentless pursuit of rebels (prophets & pagans)

C. We can do this one of two ways…… our choice!

V. God, by His grace, sends His children storms to:

A. Change our course

B. Get our undivided attention

C. Discipline us

D. Consider His path, His plan for our lives, instead of our town

Consider: What has God called me to do that is difficult & costly? Am I on the run?

Supper Club is a great way to enjoy a dinner party and prepare only one dish; not to mention have a fun evening with a small group of friends!  Supper Club will meet once a month during September thru November with each host having a different group of friends gather for dinner each month.  The host will call the friends and arrange for each one to bring a side dish or dessert to compliment the main dish (which is provided by the host)!  It will be a surprise to see who attends your Supper Club each month!  Contact Dail Hovey at 904-223-3106 or sign up at church if you would like to join in the fun!  We need more hosts and friends!

Romans: The Grip of  Grace, 15:1-13

I. Romans “A”: Theology Chapters 1-11

A. Who is God?

i. God is Sovereign: Author & Authority over all creation

B. Who is Man?

i. Hut Builders – worshiped created things rather than their creator

ii. Finger Pointers – you who pass judgement on others (speck/plank)

iii. Rock Stackers – work, work, work, no faith needed thank you

iv. Child of God – a sinner, justified freely by God’s grace through Christ

C. What’s the Problem?

i. All men have sinned and fallen short

ii. The cost of our sin is death

D. What’s the Solution?

i. A Redeemer, an innocent sacrifice to pay the price for our sin

ii. While we were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for us

iii. Man is therefore justified by faith, not works

iv. If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart you will be saved from the wrath of God

II. Romans “B”: Application of Theology to our lives chapters 12-16

A. Living Sacrifices for the glory of God

i. Don’t conform but be transformed by renewing you mind (chapter 12)

B. Respect the authorities God has placed over you (chapter 13)

C. Don’t sweat the little stuff (chapter 14)

D. To glorify God and ENJOY Him Forever! (chapter 15)

i. The “endurance of the saints” & “encouragement of God’s Word” that we may be encouraged to have a hope beyond ourselves

ii. May God give us a unity – that we may together, glorify Him

iii. “So that” we may glorify Him (six times)

III. May the God of our hopes fill us, as we trust in Him, with peace and joy!

• Wide & college ruled notebook paper / Copy Paper
• Pencils / Pens / Markers / Crayons / Highlighters
• Composition Books / Folders / Dividers / 2” Binders
• Glue Sticks / Tape / Kleenex / Hand Sanitizer /Soap
• Back Packs / Lunch Bags / Index cards / Calculators

Will you donate supplies to help students get a great start?
Please bring supplies during the month of August! Thanks!

Romans: The Grip of  Grace, 12:9-13

I. “Your love must be sincere.”

A. “Agape” love is the love of God for us
B. “I love you even though” love
C. it is the love married folks must have for each other
D. it is the love a parent must have for their child(ren)
E. “sine” (w/o) “cera” ( wax) this love cannot be faked
F. this should be our love for God as well

II. “Hate what is evil, cling to what is good.”

A. 1Cor 13:4-7 (substitute your name for the word “love”How well does this passage describe you?
B. “love” does not delight in evil (do we?)
C. “love” rejoices in the truth

III. “Be devoted to each other in brotherly (phileo) love.

A. The Church is family, not just for this life, but for eternity

IV. “Never be lacking in zeal for the things of God.”

A. How could anyone NOT be excited about being adopted by The King?
B. How can anyone who has seen the work of the Destroyer, not long for the Life Giver, and Author of Truth?
C. How could anyone who knows the cure for “spiritual cancer”, keep it to themselves??????

V. How do we keep our spiritual fervor?

A. By serving God.

VI. How do we lose our spiritual fervor?

A. By serving ourselves.

VII. Joyful in Hope. (our “hope” lies beyond the horizon!)

VIII. Patient in Affliction. (it makes us long even more for heaven)

IX. Faithful in Prayer. (He would be a fool to pray to a god he didn’t believe in.)
(He would be a bigger fool not to pray to the God he does believe in.)