Series: Philippians: The Joy of Life in Christ
Text: Philippians 1:1-2
Theme: God is at work for our joy.

Series: Jonah: God's Sovereign Mercy
Text: Jonah 3

One: Sovereignty but responsibility

• God is sovereign; Salvation belongs to the Lord!
• Man is responsible…
  • To believe the gospel
  • To share the gospel

Two: Not overthrown but overthrown

• When we are in sin. we face being overthrown in God's judgment.
• When we are in Christ. we are being overthrown in God's sanctification.

Conclusions:

• As you read Jonah, think of Jesus.
• Salvation belongs to the Lord; trust him for it.
• Urge others to repent and believe.
• Keep growing. Be overthrown for good.

Salvation belongs to the Lord! ~ Joah 2:9

Series: Jonah: God's Sovereign Mercy
Text: Jonah 4
Theme: The Merciless Prophet

One: Successful but angry.

• What do you want?
• We must embrace God's will.

Two: Loved but hateful.

• We must not celebrate God's love while neglecting to share God's love.
• We must remember our rescue.

Three: Confronted but responsive?

• God patiently confronts our pride.
• We must allow God's Word to change us.

Text: Mark 2:13-3:6

Text: 1 Peter 1

Series: Jonah: God's Sovereign Mercy
Text: Jonah 3
Theme: The Mercy of Repentance

One: Wicked…

• A description of their actions
• The condition of their hearts

…but receptive

• Faith = a turning to God
• Repentance = a turning from sin
• Marks of true repentance:
  • A sorrow over sin
  • An appeal for mercy
  • A rejection of sin

Two: Undeserving but forgiven

• Sinners deserve judgment.
• Christ suffered God's judgment so sinners can be forgiven.

Salvation belongs to the Lord! ~ Jonah 2:9

Series: Jonah: God's Sovereign Mercy
Text: Jonah 1:17-2:10
Theme: Jonah's progression from rebellion, to repentance, to restoration.

One: Historic but prophetic

• Jonah and Jesus were buried for 3 days
• Jonah and Jesus were raised the third days
• Jonah and Jesus proclaimed repentance
• [Remember, Jonah but Jesus]

Two: Punished but penitent

• God keeps us from the ruin of sin by a severe mercy
• In repentance, we desire God's presence

Three: Disobedient but delivered

• Sinners run from God, but he seeks and saves.
• God appoints the means and accomplishes the end of our salvation.

Salvation belongs to the Lord! ~ Jonah 2:9

Series: Jonah: God's Sovereign Mercy
Text: Jonah 1
Theme: Obeying God's Command

One: Commissioned but AWOL

• "Arise, go" vs. "rose to flee"
• What do I think of God's commands?

Two: Great but godless

• The gospel is better than any human standard of greatness.
• God is merciful to arrogant sinners.

Three: Hiding but seen

• We foolishly think we can hide from God.
• God sees and knows everything.

Salvation belongs to the Lord! ~ Jonah 2:9

Series: Jonah
Text: Jonah
Theme: A familiar story of mercy and salvation

Historical Context

• 2 Kings 14:25 - Jeroboam II; Northern tribes of Israel.
• c.750 BC; Israel falls to Assyria in 722 BC.

A Theme of Sovereign Mercy

Jonah, but Jesus

• The Old Testament begins a story that is completed in Christ.
• Jonah – buried for 3 days in the belly of the fish and brought up alive – is a vivid illustration of the death and resurrection of the Messiah.

A Prophecy in Story

• Of the universal scope of God's redeeming love
• Of the Jewish aversion to Gentile inclusion

Salvation belongs to the Lord! ~ Jonah 2:9

Series: Acts: The Advance of the Kingdom
Text: Acts 1:8; Acts 8:4
Theme: Tensions that shape our outreach strategies

Tension #6: Extended, ongoing relationships vs. brief, one-time encounters.

Tension #7: Scholarly defense of the gospel vs. simple statements of the gospel.

Tension #8: Sovereignty and the power of God's Word, vs. persuasion and the power of my words.

Tension #9: Testimony of words vs testimony of works.

Tension #10: Faith for risk vs wisdom for safety.