Theme : God’s Obedience and Mercy: Lessons from the Book of Jonah
Biblical Text : Jonah 1:1-3
Outline Purpose : Explore the lessons of obedience and mercy found in the book of Jonah and apply them to our lives.
Introduction :
- Presentation of the book of Jonah as a familiar story.
- Highlight is Jonah’s reluctance to obey God.
- Importance of learning from Jonah’s story for our own obedience and understanding of divine mercy.
Central Theme : Obedience to God and His mercy, as exemplified in the story of Jonah.
I. Jonah’s Call to Obedience :
- God’s command to Jonah.
- Jonas’s hesitation.
- The consequences of disobedience.
- Verses: Jonah 1:4-17
II. Jonah’s Reluctant Obedience :
- Jonah’s journey to Tarshish.
- The storm at sea.
- Jonah’s acknowledgment of guilt.
- Verses: Jonah 1:11-16
III. God’s Mercy Revealed :
- Divine intervention in the storm.
- The big fish and Jonah’s repentance.
- God gives Jonah a second chance.
- Verses: Jonah 2:1-10
IV. Jonah’s Second Call and His Obedience to Him:
- Jonah is vomited out by the big fish.
- God’s second call to Jonah.
- Jonah’s preaching in Nineveh.
- Verses: Jonah 3:1-4
V. God’s Mercy Is Manifested in Nineveh :
- The repentance of the Ninevites.
- God’s compassion for the repentant.
- Jonah is displeased with divine mercy.
- Verses: Jonah 3:5-10
SAW. Jonah’s Lesson on Mercy :
- God teaches Jonah about His compassion.
- The plant that grows over Jonah.
- The final lesson: God is merciful.
- Verses: Jonah 4:1-11
Conclusion :
- Summary of key lessons: obedience to God, His abundant mercy, and the need to understand and practice compassion.
- I call for personal reflection and applying the lessons learned from Jonah’s story to our own lives.
Ideal Time to Use This Outline : This preaching outline on Jonah is appropriate for use in Bible teaching services, spiritual retreats, Bible study meetings, and even regular church sermons. It is especially valuable for those who want to explore the topic of obedience to God and His unconditional mercy.
