Sermon Discussion Questions
Warm Up: The story of Jonah’s journey in the belly of the whale is the biggest ‘great fish’ story of them all. Did it really happen or is it just a myth or a symbol of something? Consider Matthew 12:40 [ESV] together. Jesus says there: “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” What event is Jesus saying that Jonah “in the belly of the huge fish” is as historically reliable as?
READ Jonah 2 ESV
- (v. 1) It might seem like an obvious question [but when you think about it, it isn’t that obvious]: why does Jonah pray to “the LORD his God” from “the belly of the fish?” The sailors have interrogated the runaway prophet, Jonah, and discovered whom he worships. What distinguishes a faith that says “I believe in God” and a faith that turns to Him for help when the crisis comes?
- (vv. 2-6) Collect from these verses answers to these questions: a. where does Jonah think he is? b. Who does he think put him there? c. Who alone can rescue him from this terrible situation and does Jonah think that person will yet rescue him?
- The Bible tells us that we are in far worse shape apart from God than we think we are. We are: “dead in our trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1). How would you use the testimony of Jonah to show someone who fears that God will not forgive them, that God can raise even those who are spiritually dead and have no reason to expect that God will save them?
- (v. 7-8) Even “when my life was fainting away…” Jonah says, “I remembered you, Lord.” Why is a real and personal Lord who can and will rescue Jonah, more useful (more loving!, Jonah says) than a vain idol (a useless man-made representation of God) or, in our context, something we have been counting on other than God to save us?
- (vv. 9-10) Jonah (presumably writing all this later) says that he is filled with gratitude to God for his rescue? His gratitude is focused on two real things – one that has happened and one that must happen _ in these verses. What are they?
- (v. 9c) What could possibly change the mind and heart of a man who appears (at the end of chapter 1) to have been more ready to die than to repent? How does God’s grace change you and cause you to want to live in a new way towards Him?
- Spend time thanking God together for your own big fish story! “Salvation belongs to the LORD!” You can say it honestly too and with no less reason than Jonah.