Big Fish, part 5 — Unexpected Lessons
Welcome to the final part of our series Big Fish, where we have learned to expect the unexpected. This week, we camp out in Jonah 4.
1. At the beginning of our series on Jonah, Pete told us to expect the unexpected. Talk about some of the “unexpected” things you learned, or realizations you had, during our series Big Fish.
2. Read Jonah 3:10-4:5. What do you think is going on here inside of Jonah? Do you recognize anything similar inside yourself?
3. In his sermon, Pete noted that God’s actions toward Nineveh were “merciful, but not just.” What can this passage teach us about the distinction between justice and mercy?
4. Pete also talked about the tension of justice, saying that “God desperately seeks an excuse to be merciful while Jonah frantically seeks justice and condemnation.” Why do you think we often desire justice when it comes to the actions of others, but mercy when it comes to ourselves?
5. In Jonah 4:4, God asks Jonah, “Is it right (good/pleasing) for you to be angry?” It doesn’t take much time on social media or watching the news to see that our culture is flooded by anger.
In your group, spend some time discussing this, using any (or all) of the following prompts:
How in touch are you with your anger? Does anger bring about feelings of shame for you? If so, why?
How can we release our anger to God in healthy ways? In other words, how can we “in our anger, not sin”? (Ephesians 4:25-26)
Do you trust God enough to let Him have your anger?
How can we, as followers of Christ, allow God to transform our anger into action fueled by love?
6. Read the conclusion of Jonah (Jonah 4:6-11). What are your initial thoughts about this rather unusual ending?
7. Why does Jonah believe he deserves mercy (the shade from the plant) while the people (and animals) of Nineveh do not?
8. What does the book of Jonah say to you about the mercy of God? Use the following prompts to guide your closing disucssion:
Does God’s mercy have any limits?
Why do we, like Jonah, sometimes prefer that there be limits to God’s mercy?
How can reflecting on our own experiences of God’s mercy help us to more willingly embrace this same mercy when it’s extended to others?
Recommended Resources on Jonah for further study:
(*Video available after Sunday services)
