Running

Running from God – Week 4

Pastor Josh discussed how Jonah felt angry and upset that God showed mercy to the people he wanted to see punished, demonstrating a disconnect between Jonah’s heart and God’s heart. Have there been times in your life when you’ve felt anger toward someone because you believed they deserved a negative outcome? How did that affect your feelings towards that person?

What do you think it means to have a ‘self-centered lens’ when viewing life and situations around you?

In Jonah 4:2, Jonah states that God is ‘gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.’ How does this scripture shape our understanding of God’s character?

Pastor Josh listed several ‘indicator lights’ such as whining and complaining, living with a self-centered mindset, and losing sight of your life’s purpose. Reflect on your own life. Are there specific areas where you notice these ‘indicator lights’ coming on? How can you address them?

Pastor Josh described how living in proximity with others who follow Jesus helps us see when we are believing lies or going in the wrong direction. What steps can you take to engage more with your community or small group to ensure you are growing and being challenged in your faith?

Running from God – Week 3

Jonah 3

The sermon discusses how many people, like the speaker, sometimes feel the urge to run from what God is asking them to do due to fear or uncertainty. Can you think of a time when you felt scared to follow a direction you believed was God’s call? How did that affect your actions?

How can we remind ourselves that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, especially during tough times?

In the sermon, it is mentioned that community support is essential during life’s challenges, providing both celebration and comfort. Reflect on a time when your community helped you during a hard situation. What did that support look like?

In Jeremiah 29:13, it says, ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’ How does this verse relate to running from God’s call?

Pastor shares how reaching out to others can provide strength and encouragement during tough times, highlighting the message that we were not made to be isolated. Think of someone you can reach out to this week for support or encouragement. How do you think this will impact both of you?

Running from God – Week 2

Why do you think it often takes reaching a really low point, like Jonah in the belly of the fish, before people are willing to turn back to God and seek help?

Pastor mentioned how people often rationalize their sin, similar to how Jonah initially fled from God’s command. In what ways do you find yourself rationalizing your actions, even if they may not align with what God wants for you.

Pastor discusses how Jonah’s disobedience led him to a ‘come to Jesus moment’ and how many people find themselves running from repentance until they hit rock bottom. Can you think of a time in your life when you ignored a problem until it became too big to handle? How did that experience affect your faith or relationship with God?

What do you think Pastor meant by the term ‘come to Jesus moments,’ and how can we recognize these moments in our own lives?

In what ways do you find yourself rationalizing your actions, even if they may not align with what God wants for you?

Running From God – Week One

Pastor mentioned that Jonah’s disobedience affected the sailors on the ship, illustrating how our actions can have consequences beyond ourselves. Can you think of a time when your choices affected someone else? How can we make better choices that consider those around us?

Jonah ran from God’s call to preach to the wicked city of Nineveh, heading instead to Tarshish, which was far away. Have you ever avoided a task or responsibility because you were afraid or didn’t want to do it? How did that situation turn out for you?

How does the story of Jonah show us that God still pursues us, even when we run away from Him?

Reflecting on Jonah 1:3, Jonah’s attempt to flee from the Lord and his responsibilities prompts us to consider our own actions. What are some specific areas in your life where you might feel called to take action but have hesitated? What steps can you take to move forward?

Pastor encouraged the church to focus on running toward God and fulfilling the assignments He has for them. How can we support each other in our personal journeys to follow God’s calls and assignments?