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FamilyWorshipGuide–Week26 READ

o Beginbysummarizingtheeventsofchapterone.TheLORDcalledJonahtodosomethinghedidnotwanttodo.ServingasamissionaryinthecityofNinevehwastheleastdesirablecallinghecouldhavereceived.Ninevehwasagreatandwickedcity(v.2),andJonahdidnotcareaboutthecity’sinhabitants.Infact,hedespisedthem.Welearnattheendofthebookthatheknewifthepeoplerepented,GodwouldbegraciousandrestrainHisjudgment(4:1‐2).JonahpreferredNineveh’sdestructiontoitsdeliverance.Heboardedaboatheadingintheoppositedirectiontoescapehiscalling,butGodintervenedbysendingastorm.TheboatwasindangerofbeingdestroyedwhenJonahvolunteeredtobethrownoverboardinanattempttoappeaseGodandstopthestorm(1:12,15).Insodoing,JonahrevealshewouldratherdiethangotoNineveh.ButGoddidnotletthathappen,soHeappointedagreatfishtoswallowJonah(1:17).

o ReadJonah2o Often,wereadthestoryofJonahandconsiderthefishtobeaninstrumentofjudgment.Wethink,“IfJonahhadnot

disobeyed,thenhewouldnothavewoundupinsuchaprecariousposition.”However,hadGodnotprovidedthefish,Jonahwouldcertainlyhavedied(v.5).BecauseGodputhiminthebellyofafish,hedidnot.Thefish,then,isaninstrumentofsalvationnotjudgment.Justbeforedying,JonahcriedouttoGodinrepentance(v.7).Inresponse,GodprovidedthefishtorescueJonahfromtheconsequencesofhisprejudiced,disobedientheart.Jonahrealizesthisandpraysthisprayer,thethemeofwhichiscapturedinthelastphrase:“SalvationbelongstotheLORD!”Afterbeingfreedfromthewhale,JonahwenttoNinevehandfulfilledhiscommission.Asaresult,agenerationofNinevitesrepentedandwasrescuedfromdivinejudgment.

o InMatthew12:40‐41,JesusassociatesHisdeathwithJonah’stimespentinthebellyofthegreatfish.PeoplelikethePhariseesviewedthecrossasaninstrumentofdivinejudgment.Cursedpeoplediedoncrosses(See,Galatians3:13).However,GodsentJesustodieonthecrossnotbecauseitwasaninstrumentofjudgmentbutofsalvation.Asaresult,allnationsneedtoknowthat“salvationbelongstotheLORD.”Christiansarecommissionedtocarrythemessageofthecrosstoallnationssothataremnantfromallnationscanberescuedfromdivinejudgment.BottomLine:GodrescuessinnersfromdivinejudgmentthroughthecrossofJesusChristandreleasesthemtocarrythemessageofthecrosstoallnations.Questions:HaveyoutendedtoviewJonah’sfishasaninstrumentofjudgmentorsalvation?WhataboutJesus’cross?DidGodsaveJonahforhissakeorforthesakeofNineveh?DoesGodsavesinnersfortheirsakeorforthesakeofthenations?Whatprejudicesmightpreventyouandyourfamilyfrombeinginvolvedinglobalmissions?Whatdoesitmeantosay“salvationbelongstotheLORD”?WhenwasthelasttimeyoupraisedGodforprovidingsalvationthroughthecrossofChrist?

PRAYo ReadWindowontheWorld,pg.88‐89Iraqo UsePrayerCard

SINGo Uselyricsheetandmp3downloadof“SovereignGod”o ThebookofJonahgivesusapictureofbothGod’ssovereigncontroloverallcreationandHiscompassionforthe

heartsofmen.WeseethatHeispowerfulenoughtosaveJonahandtheNinevites,butHeisalsowillingandgraciousenoughtosavethemdespitetheirwickedness.Inlightofthesetruths,wechoseSovereignGodforthisweek.ItisasongthatgivesusanopportunitytoreflectuponourstrongandlovingGod.BysavingusinChristHedemonstratesHissovereigntyandcompassiondespiteourwickedness.WerespondtothetruthinthissongmuchlikeIsaiahinIsaiah6.HumbledbeforeHim,weacceptHisloveandmercy,andsaywithconfidence,“HereamI,everythingforYou.”

MEMORIZEo Jonah2:7Whenmylifewasfaintingaway,IrememberedtheLord,andmyprayercametoyou,intoyourholy

temple.

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SUGGESTIONSThese suggestionswere created by the age‐groupministry leaders as away to help parents better communicate thebiblical truths discussed in the Family Worship Guide. These activities and questions can replace or serve as asupplementtothequestionsunderthe“Read”sectiononPage1.RememberthatthesesuggestionsareintendedtohelpparentsfacilitateGod‐centereddiscussionswiththeirchildren.Parentsshouldprayerfullyusethesesuggestions,andanyothermeansnecessary,tohelptheirchildrendiscoverthetruthsofGod’swordandworshipHimtogether.

Preschool(Birth‐Kindergarten)o Beforeyoubegin:YouwillneedyourBibleandsomepicturesofpeopleindifferentareasaroundtheworld.

(Examples:achildinAfrica,aladyinIndia,amaninEgypt,etc.)o ShowyourpreschoolertheBible.Explaintoyourchildhowveryfortunateyourfamilyistobeabletohaveacopyof

theBible,God’sWord.TellthemwecanreadtheBiblebecauseitiswritteninourlanguage.ExplaintoyourchildthattheBibletellsusaboutGod’sloveforHispeople.HelovedussomuchthatHesentHisonlyson,Jesus,tosave/rescueusfromoursins.GodwantseveryoneallovertheworldtoknowHimbecauseGodlovesus,evenwhenwemakebadchoicesanddeservetobepunished.

o Showyourpreschooleroneofthepicturesyouhavelocatedofdifferentpeoplegroupsfromaroundtheworld,Ask,“DoyouthinkGodwantsthislittlechildinAfricatoknowaboutJesusandHisloveforthem?WhataboutthisladyinIndia?DoesGodwanthertohaveaBibleinherlanguagesoshecanunderstandGod’sloveandshareaboutitwithherfamily?Yes,GodwantsallpeopletohearaboutJesusandhowmuchHelovesthemtoo.”

o TellyourpreschoolerthatnoteveryonehasaBibleintheirhomethattheycanreadbecausemanyplacesinthisworlddonothaveBibleswrittenintheirlanguages.Ask,“HowwillthismaninEgypthearaboutJesus?Whoshouldtellhim?”ExplaintoyourchildthatGodwantsallofuswhoknowJesusandhowHewassenttosaveus,totellotherswholiveallovertheworld!GodwantsallnationstohearaboutHislovetoo!WhenwetellothersaboutJesuswearedoingwhatGodwantsustodo!

Children(Grades1‐5)

o Saytoyourchildren:Haveweeverpunishedyouforsomethingyoudidwrong?Whatkindofpunishmentdidwegiveyou?Didyouhavetogototimeout?Didyouhavetospendtimealoneinyourroom?Didyougetgroundedfromplayingplaystationorwatchingtv?

o Whenwedosomethingwrongthereisaconsequenceorapunishment.Youdeservetobepunishedandtosuffertheconsequencesofyourwrongchoices.We,asparents,disciplineyoutoshowyouhowmuchweloveyou!Whenwedisciplineyouandpunishyou,weareteachingyouhowtomaketherightchoices.Whenyoumakebadchoicesitaffectsnotonlyyoubutotherstoo.Whenyoumakegoodchoicesitalsoaffectsothers.

o Haveweevershownyoumercywhenyoumadeawrongchoicebynotpunishingyouthewayyoudeserved?o InthestoryofJonahtheconsequenceofhissinofdisobedience,andhissinofnotlovingthepeopleofNineveh,was

thatGodsentagreatstormandthesailorsonJonah’sshiphadtothrowhimoverboardtostopthestorm.JonahwouldhavediedbutGodsavedJonahbysendingabigfish.JonahdidnotdeservetolivebecauseofhishatredoftheNinevitesandhisdisobediencetoGodtogotoNinevehasamissionary.WhenGodsentthegreatfish,GodshowedmercytoJonah,andHislovenotonlyforJonah(byrescuinghim)butGodshowedHisloveforthewickedNinevites.GodlovedthesepeopleHehadcreatedeventhoughtheywereevilanddidnotdeserveHislove.HelovedthemsomuchthatHesentJonahtotellthemaboutHisgreatloveforthemandtogivethemanopportunitytorepentandturnfromtheirwickedways.

o NoneofusaredeservingofGod’slove.TherightpunishmentforoursinisdeathbutGodsentJesustodieonthecrosstotakethepunishmentforoursinsowewouldnothavetosufferanddieandbeseparatedfromHimforever.Godshowedusgreatmercy!

o CanyouthinkofsomeoneelseintheOldTestamentthatGodprovidedawaytoescapejudgment?WhataboutNoah?(RemindchildrenhowGodprovidedthearkasawayforNoahtoescapetherightjudgmentofdeath,justasHeprovidedthegreatfishtosaveJonahfromtherightjudgmentofdeath.)

o WhatdoyouthinkwouldhappenifweasyourparentsfailedtoteachyouaboutJesus?WhatdoyouthinkwouldhappenifalloftheparentswhoareBelieversandFollowersofChristdidnotteachtheirchildrenaboutJesus?TherewouldbenomoreChristians;peoplewoulddieassinnersandbeseparatedfromGodforever.

o WhydidGodsaveJonah?WhenGodsavedJonah,itwasforthepurposeofsavingNineveh!GodcallsusuntoHimtobecomeBelieversandFollowersofChristsothewholeworldwillhearaboutHisgreatloveandHisnamewillbeglorified.GodwantsyoutobeaDisciple‐Maker.DiscipleMakersareBelieversandFollowersofChristwholovetheworldthesamewayGoddoes.GodwantsyoutobelievethatHecreatedandloveseveryone.Godwantsyoutosee

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thateveryoneontheearthisinneedofthesalvationJesusprovidesjustlikeyouare.GodwantsyoutodesireforallpeopletoheartheGoodNews.

o DiscusswithyourchildrenhowtheycanattheiragerightnowbeDiscipleMakers.o (Learningaboutotherpeoplesoftheworld,learningwherethecountriesoftheworldarelocated,findingoutwhat

theneedsareofthepeople,prayingforthepeoplesoftheworld,givemoneytohelppeopleinothercountries,plantosharetheGoodNewsrighthereinBirmingham,readyourBibleandpraysoyouwilllearnmoreandbereadytogotoothercountriestotellotherchildrenaboutJesus,savemoneyandfindwaystoraisemoneytogoonamissionjourneywithyourfamily,etc.)

Students(Grades6‐12)

o Sharewitheachotheraboutatimewhenyouwereinasituationwhereyouneededsomeonetorescueyou.Whatwereyourescuedfrom?Whatwasyourresponsewhenhelparrived?

o Hasthereeverbeenatimewhenyouwereinvolvedinrescuingsomeoneelse?Ifso,whydidyouhelpthem?o WhenwesaythatGodhas“rescuedsinners,”whatdoesthatmean?Fromwhathasherescuedus?o WhenwerealizehowgreatourneedforrescueandsalvationareandwerealizeGodhasindeedrescuedus,this

shouldleadustoaresponse.Allaroundus,weseeotherpeoplewhoarealsoinneedofaRescuer.WhileglobalmissionsarealargecomponentoftheGreatCommission,wemustnotwaituntilweareinanothercountrytoshareaboutourRescuer.Whodoyouknownearyourightnowthatneedstoberescued?HowcanyousharethemessageofGod’ssalvationwiththem?Prayforthepeopleyouhavenamedasafamily.

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