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Sermon Notes, February 2, 2014

Pastor Jan Sinozich

Pastor Jan’s sermon was about Jonah, one of God’s prophets.  What is a prophet?  Someone who is an advocate from God to the people.  His job is to hear God, receive His message, and do it (obey).  Jonah 1:1-3 starts the story. 

The message was received.  But it raised a question.  Nineveh was a huge, pagan, sinful city, not even part of Jonah’s country, but a feared enemy.  What would happen to him if he went?  He could be killed, or enslaved. So instead of going to Nineveh as instructed, Jonah buys a ticket to Tarshish, as far from Nineveh as he could get.

The message was rejected.  It caused a problem.  Nahum 3:1-4 describes Nineveh’s wickedness.  What if they DID repent?  Those people were so wicked, they deserved to be destroyed! Then Jonah’s credibility would be challenged.

The messenger retreated.  It identified a need.  Somehow, his experience in a storm and in the belly of the fish for three days changed Jonah’s attitude.  Maybe God did care about the people of Nineveh.  As we look at the world around us, we also need to see that God still cares about His children.  Romans 5:8 says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The messenger goes.  It opens a vital issue.   Just as Jonah finally obeyed God’s call to tell the people of Nineveh about Him and call them to repentance, so Jesus calls us to tell people of our day about Him.  Matthew 28:19-20 tells us to go and make disciples, teaching them everything we’ve learned from Him. 

Will you answer the call?  It’s from God, and still applies to us today.  (Romans 11:29)