Pastor Ryan concludes our journey through the book of Jonah with a call to Reflection. Both a call to reflect on our lives and the state of our hearts, but also a call to reflect God's Heart of Mercy to the world around us. The truth is, we've all been Jonah. We've all wished someone would get what they deserved instead of mercy. And yet, God still has mercy on US as well. And in turn we learn to love as He first loved us. We learn to shine with His light and reflect His goodness and compassion to a lost and dying world.
Part 3: Repentance
October 27, 2024 • Ryan Oddo • Jonah 3:1—4:2
The book of Jonah continues with Jonah's repentance and obedience to God's instruction. But what exactly does it mean to repent? Repentance requires three parts: humble contrition, desperate dependence, and a change of course. True repentance requires us to not only acknowledge our faults, but also to turn away from them. True repentance is our part to play in salvation. God does the rest. So how long has it been since you truly repented; truly cried out before God and turned away from your sins? He's right there waiting for you, and His love for you never changes.
Part 2: Rescued
October 20, 2024 • Ryan Oddo • Jonah 1:17—2:10
Have you ever felt lost in a mess of your own creation, unworthy of rescue? We all mess things up time and again, and it can be easy to feel like we deserve what we're getting. We recite platitudes like "I made this bed and now I must lie in it." But when we look at the second movement of Jonah, we get a different picture. Jonah had landed himself in the belly of a great fish. While the pagan sailors were praying to their gods in the storm, Jonah didn't even pray once. And yet, when he does finally turn to the Lord, reflecting on His Heart of Mercy, we see the Lord deliver Jonah even though he didn't deserve it. The fish spits Jonah onto dry land and he is Rescued.
Part 1: Running
October 13, 2024 • Ryan Oddo • Jonah 1:1–16
The book of Jonah opens on a prophet of God being called to preach to a people that he hates. And Jonah, knowing that God has a Heart of Mercy, runs the other way! How often have you looked down on those less holy than you? How often have you thought yourself better than another? How often have you settled for a heart of wrath, unaligned with the heart of God? The call of God is to stop running, and instead settle in and pray for a lost and hurting world.
