Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Jonah 3), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• It’s hard to believe that someone as self-righteous and angry at God as Jonah could still be used by God. It’s hard to believe that people as violently bad as the Ninevites would actually repent and seek God’s mercy. Why is it hard to believe things like this? Have you ever felt you were “too bad” to be forgiven or used by God? Is there someone else you have given up on, or written off as beyond the hope of God’s mercy? Someone you are convinced could never change? If people like Jonah or the Ninevites could find God’s mercy, is there really anyone beyond hope of salvation and redemption?

• The Gospel of Jonah is this: the proclamation of judgment leads to mercy. Jonah’s message was really all about judgment, yet it was well-received by the Ninevites, they believed, repented, sought God’s mercy in fasting, and were spared from God’s judgment. In the same way, yet even more clearly, we proclaim God’s judgment in the Gospel of Jesus Christ: God’s judgment has fallen upon his Son, so that we might receive his mercy. God has overthrown his own Son in judgment so that he might overthrow our lives in his grace. When you hear about God’s judgment, is it good news or bad news? Are you confident that God’s judgment against your sin has fallen upon Jesus in your place? What is the good of knowing your sins have been forgiven at the Cross? What significance does that have for you? What difference does that make in your life?

• Jonah went deep into the heart of enemy territory. Jesus did too, when he came into this world. And he has sent you out in the same way with the message of his grace to a world that has been hostile to God and his people. How do you feel about taking the Gospel to enemies? Are there places you are reluctant to go and talk about Jesus? Do you believe that God can actually forgive and change enemies? If he has been merciful enough to forgive you, and gracious enough to bring you to participate in what he is doing in the world, can you find hope in Christ for your enemies? Have you ever seen and celebrated when an “enemy” converts and becomes a brother or sister in the Lord?