LIFE GROUP GUIDE Title: The Discipline of God Text: 2 Topic: Jonah

Jonah decided that obeying the Lord in going to was out of the question, so he took his chances by trying to flee from God. He knew that it was God causing the storm because of his disobedience. He also knew that God is the creator of the “sea and dry land” as he told the sailors. Rather than repenting for his rebellion he tells the sailors to “throw me into the sea.” It seems that Jonah was prepared to die rather than obey God. However, God in his sovereignty saved Jonah by sending a “great fish” to swallow Jonah. Jonah’s prayer from inside the fish is a desperate recognition of his need for help from the Lord in the face of death brings about his deliverance, which leads him to the humble reality that salvation belongs to the Lord.

MAIN POINT

God’s discipline is done in love, for our good, and for his glory.

DELIVER – Use this space to take notes during the sermon. Additional commentary is also available to rightly understand and teach God’s Word.

Sermon Notes:

1. God’s discipline is done in love. (1:17; 2:1–3)

2. God’s discipline teaches us to depend on Him. (4–6)

3. God’s discipline points us to Jesus. (7–10)

DISCIPLE – Use these questions to engage people in discussion on a personal level. Ask everyone to open their sermon notes and .

➢ Review last week’s time together. o What did we discuss last week? What was your main takeaway? o How were you reminded of these truths throughout the week? o Did you do any of the things you wanted to apply from last week? o Did you have any opportunities to share what God is teaching you?

➢ Read (or have a volunteer read) :17; 2:1-3. ​ ​ ➢ Review the sermon point: “God’s discipline is done in love.” ​ ​ Share from your notes and ask group members for insights. ​

1. How does Jonah describe his situation at sea? What does Jonah mean when he says, “from deep inside Sheol, you heard my voice?” 2. What is at the heart of Jonah’s cry for help? (more than facing death) 3. Sometimes it is hard for us to visualize our loving, good, and merciful, Lord as one with wrath and discipline. We see that this rebellious servant experiences the loving discipline of a Father who does not want his child to stray. How has Jonah’s story so far shaped your view of how God views our obedience? Share a time when you have looked at a difficulty in life as a sovereign act of loving, fatherly discipline.

The Lord pursues Jonah with His wrath. The prophet is in distress and in the belly of Sheol because God put him there. These are the creator’s waves that are passing over Jonah. God placed His wrath on Jonah and made is situation desperate because of Jonah’s sinful rebellion. God placed this storm on Jonah so that he could show mercy to the disobedient servant and express the mercy God wanted Jonah to share with Nineveh.

➢ Read (or have a volunteer read) :4-6. ​ ​ ➢ Review the sermon point: “God’s discipline teaches us to depend on Him.” ​ ​ Share from your notes and ask group members for insights.

4. What are some ways we fool ourselves about our own ability to handle life apart from God’s help? What are some ways the Lord awakens people to the truth about the desperation of their situation and their need for Him? (Share personal or scriptural examples)

Jonah’s discipline for insisting on his own way was to experience despair from being out of God’s sight (v.4) which in Jonah’s case means out of his favor. But in God’s sovereignty He was using this storm to break Jonah’s pride and bring him to a place of repentance and show Jonah His mercy.

➢ Read (or have a volunteer read) Jonah 2:7-10 ​ ​ ​ ➢ Review the sermon point: “God’s discipline points us to Jesus.” Share from your ​ ​ ​ ​ notes and ask group members for insights.

5. Why is it so important for Jonah (and us) to understand both our need for repentance and the grandeur of God’s love? How can we help others understand these truths better? 6. How does Jonah chapter 2 represent the realization of a person’s need for a savior? What is the reaction of the “drowning” person after he/she is saved?

“The second chance God offers is not just to Jonah. God seeks to save more people than one drowning man to whom He sent a fish. God seeks to save people drowning in sin by sending His son, Jesus. Anyone who trusts in Jesus will receive mercy like Jonah.” - Eric Redmond

DEPLOY – Use this final section to help people respond to your time together.

● How has your own thanksgiving for your salvation led to greater proclamation of the gospel to those who are far from God? What might your obedience to The Great Commission say about the value you place on being rescued from sin? How can Jonah chapter 2 help you understand your situation prior to salvation?

● Do you think there might be something radical and costly that God might be asking of us as we take part in God’s mission in Chattanooga? Is He calling you somewhere overseas where the group of people are similar to the ones of Nineveh? How can growing in knowledge of God’s grace create a passion for the lost inside of us?

NEXT WEEK - Use this information to prayerfully prepare, brainstorm, and study. Text: Jonah 3 Topic: Jonah