The book of Jonah is not a story of a successful missionary or prophet…it’s the opposite: Jonah is a story about how God uses this guy in spite of himself! It’s a story of Jonah’s resistance, running away, bitterness, childish anger, selfishness, reluctance, and spite…but it’s also a story of God’s compassion, mercy, relentlessness, love, and forgiveness…for the city of Nineveh and for Jonah himself!
The book of Jonah is a comedy that juxtaposes this prophet (representative of the dominant attitudes of Israel...and perhaps of us today?) with the people of Nineveh and a bunch of pagan sailors to ask important questions: What does it mean to be God's chosen people? What are we chosen for? How far does/can God's love reach? Is God's grace too good?
May we not be reluctant messengers, but willing reach out even to those we believe to be "too far" from God.
Sermon by Pastor Luke Oliver
Bible Text: Jonah 1
The book of Jonah is a comedy that juxtaposes this prophet (representative of the dominant attitudes of Israel...and perhaps of us today?) with the people of Nineveh and a bunch of pagan sailors to ask important questions: What does it mean to be God's chosen people? What are we chosen for? How far does/can God's love reach? Is God's grace too good?
May we not be reluctant messengers, but willing reach out even to those we believe to be "too far" from God.
Sermon by Pastor Luke Oliver
Bible Text: Jonah 1
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