Pursued By Whales?
Preaching
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
And 149 Other Sermon Ideas
Purpose Statement: Does God have tasks for us that we are running away from?
Using the story of Jonah we can examine some important possibilities concerning our responsibilities as Christians. Being a Christian means living a certain moral lifestyle of caring service. However, there may be, in addition, specific jobs we might feel God is calling us to.
a. How do we recognize God's calls? Do they always come in dramatic fashion like burning bushes or whales? Can God be calling us through quiet prayer, meditation, and evaluation of our talents, opportunities, and other means?
b. Are we trying to avoid those calls? Whether what we understand to be calls from God are actually that or not, many of us feel guilty that we may not be doing all that God expects of us as Christians because it will require doing something we won't like or making sacrifices we aren't ready to make.
c. Are we forced or pressured into responding? Jonah seems to have been unduly pressured to follow God's plan. Is it possible that not accepting a call from God will cause us to suffer some punishment? No, the author of Jonah is probably using exaggeration for dramatic effect. Our loving God would never threaten our freedom or force us into certain responses.
d. Will we be happy or unhappy if we accept? Yes and yes. Doing God's will can give us deep satisfaction and fulfillment. Doing God's will can also mean persecution and death (check out Bible and church history). Such hardship (except in very rare instances) is hardly likely, but we may not like our task or may be called to make uncomfortable sacrifices. However, the joy and spiritual growth, even in unpleasant circumstances, can be rewarding beyond measure.
Using the story of Jonah we can examine some important possibilities concerning our responsibilities as Christians. Being a Christian means living a certain moral lifestyle of caring service. However, there may be, in addition, specific jobs we might feel God is calling us to.
a. How do we recognize God's calls? Do they always come in dramatic fashion like burning bushes or whales? Can God be calling us through quiet prayer, meditation, and evaluation of our talents, opportunities, and other means?
b. Are we trying to avoid those calls? Whether what we understand to be calls from God are actually that or not, many of us feel guilty that we may not be doing all that God expects of us as Christians because it will require doing something we won't like or making sacrifices we aren't ready to make.
c. Are we forced or pressured into responding? Jonah seems to have been unduly pressured to follow God's plan. Is it possible that not accepting a call from God will cause us to suffer some punishment? No, the author of Jonah is probably using exaggeration for dramatic effect. Our loving God would never threaten our freedom or force us into certain responses.
d. Will we be happy or unhappy if we accept? Yes and yes. Doing God's will can give us deep satisfaction and fulfillment. Doing God's will can also mean persecution and death (check out Bible and church history). Such hardship (except in very rare instances) is hardly likely, but we may not like our task or may be called to make uncomfortable sacrifices. However, the joy and spiritual growth, even in unpleasant circumstances, can be rewarding beyond measure.
