Jonah, Prophet to Nineveh

Session 11 Session 11: Jonah, Prophet to Nineveh

FOR THE Jonah, Prophet to Nineveh LEADER Jonah 1–4 The Book of Jonah is unique among the prophetic books. This prophetic book is not a book that shares the message that Jonah preached, other than part of one verse in Jonah 3:4. These seven short words, “In forty days Nineveh will be demolished!” are all the people of Nineveh needed to hear to repent and turn from their sin. The message of this book is a story focused on the person of Jonah and his response to God, and it shares the truth that God offers forgiveness to everyone. Though readers of the book see Jonah as an isolated character, he was actually a professional prophet of God to the kings of Israel. If you recall from our previous two studies, Jeroboam II was king of Israel. Jeroboam even expanded Israel’s borders to those of King Solomon. This expansion and prosperity had been prophesied by Jonah (2 Kings 14:25). Jonah was already a prophet of God, but this new calling on Jonah’s life did not sit well with him, and he decided to go his own way instead of following God. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria. During Jonah’s lifetime, Assyria had ceased to become a major force, which was one reason Jeroboam II was able to expand his territory as he did. Jonah and those in Israel probably hoped Assyria would cease to exist, so it came as quite a shock to Jonah when God told him to go preach to Nineveh. Jonah ran the other way to Tarshish, the location of which is unknown. Its name is similar to a village on the southwest coast of Spain about 2,000 miles from where Jonah boarded the ship. This would have likely been the farthest point from where God wanted Jonah that Jonah could think of. Jonah wanted nothing to do with Nineveh. God got Jonah’s attention. Then, Jonah preached to Nineveh. God relented of His wrath against the people and Jonah became even more angry with God’s compassion. Jonah’s story highlights for us the wonderful truth that God offers forgiveness to everyone, even though no one deserves His forgiveness because of their sin.

SESSION FOCUS BIBLE PASSAGE: Jonah 1-4 MEMORY VERSE: Jonah 2:9b TEXT TRUTH: No one deserves God’s forgiveness, but He offers it to all people. CHRIST IN CONTEXT: The Book of Jonah encourages believers that God is full of compassion and grace. He showed His mercy for Nineveh when He relented from punishing the people’s sin. God ultimately demonstrated His love in sending His one and only Son, Jesus. Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for our sin. Through Jesus, believers can receive God’s great compassion, grace, and faithful love.

GET STARTED TOOLS BIBLE STUDY TOOLS SMALL GROUP TOOLS (10 MINUTES) (35 MINUTES) (30 MINUTES) ¨¨Bible Skills: “Bible Book ¨¨Jump In: “Text Truth ¨Ëxplorer Guides: Bibles, Cards” (enhanced CD), Strips” (Poster Pack), Explorer Guides, pens “Bible Books” (Books of “Jonah” (Books of the ¨¨Move: slips of paper the Bible Posters) Bible Posters), scissors with words to Jonah 2:9b ¨Ëxamine the Text: (one set per team), sticks, “Joppa Fish Sculpture” string, weight, tape (DVD-ROM), “Jonah ¨¨Make: seashells, fine Script” (enhanced CD), point markers, “Text Bibles, “Christ in Context: Truth Strips” (Poster Jonah” and “Text Truth Pack) Strips” (Poster Pack), ¨Ëxplore: “Jonah Map” Bibles (Poster Pack), index cards, ¨¨Video: Explore the Bible markers on Location video ¨¨Memory Verse: “Jonah 2:9b” (Poster Pack), paper, pencils ¨¨Prayer: Family Cards

NOTE: Downloadable versions of DVD items are available in the Digital Video Bundle. Downloadable versions of enhanced CD items are available in the Music and Print Extras Bundle. For free online training on how to lead a group, visit ministrygrid.com/web/explorethebible.

JONAH, PROPHET TO NINEVEH TEXT CONNECTION Jonah 1–4 • Jonah was a prophet to Israel. Jonah had actually God told Jonah, “Go to Nineveh and preach to the people. They are sinful and prophesied the success of wicked.” Jeroboam II in leading Israel Instead of going, Jonah decided to run away from God’s presence. He went to the to become self-sufficient. city of Joppa and bought passage on a boat to Tarshish. God had other plans for Jonah, however, and Jonah God sent a violent storm. did not like God’s plans. The sailors decided to cast lots to see who was responsible for the storm. The answer was Jonah. Jonah told the men, “I am a Hebrew. I worship God.” He • Jonah was called to go also told them he was running away from God’s presence. Jonah told the men to to Nineveh and preach a throw him into the sea. The men prayed to God then they threw Jonah into the message of repentance. sea. The storm stopped. And God sent a huge fish to swallow Jonah. Jonah did not want to go Inside the fish Jonah prayed to God: to Nineveh and ran in the opposite direction as far as “I called to the Lord in my trouble and He answered me. He heard my voice. I he could think to go. have been punished for my sin, but I know that one day I will worship You again while looking at the temple. • God pursued Jonah, The waters had surrounded me and I was sinking, but God saved me. As my life and eventually Jonah was fading away, I remembered the Lord. Those who worship false idols turn went to Nineveh as God away from God’s faithful love, but I will praise the one true God. Salvation is commanded. While there, from the Lord.” Nineveh repented and Jonah was inside the huge fish for three days and three nights. He prayed to God. God graciously forgave Then God commanded the fish to vomit Jonah onto dry land. the Ninevites. But Jonah God told Jonah again to go to Nineveh and preach. This time, Jonah obeyed and became even more upset. traveled to Nineveh. Jonah walked around the city and announced, “In 40 days the city of Nineveh will be destroyed.” • Even though Jonah did what God called him to do, The people of Nineveh heard Jonah’s message and they repented. God saw the he did not do it with the people turn from their sin, so God did not send disaster to Nineveh. This made Jonah angry, so angry he was furious. Jonah prayed to God, “I knew you would right attitude. Genesis 39 do this. You are a merciful and compassionate God, rich in faithful love. You are shares a story of Joseph, One who relents from sending disaster. God, I want to die now.” who in all of his dealings with those to whom he was Jonah was upset. He thought that the people of Nineveh were bad (and they were). But God wants all people to repent of their sin. sold, was faithful to God. God is honored when we God sent a plant to grow and provide shade from the hot, hot sun for Jonah. Then are faithful to Him and God sent a worm to eat the plant. Jonah was angry again! follow His standards. God is God told Jonah, “You care about the plant. Shouldn’t I care about the city of faithful, even to those who Nineveh which has more than 120,000 people who need to hear the truth about don’t love him the way they God?” should. God is a compassionate, forgiving God. He wants people to repent of their sin. EXPLORE THE KEY POINTS BIBLE AT HOME • God is gracious. He is slow to anger and wants people to repent of their See the enhanced CD for sin. additional family resources. • God is full of a deep, faithful love for His people.

GET STARTED (10 MINUTES) TOOLS: BIBLE SKILLS • Bible Skills: “Bible Book • Ask the group to recall what the final twelve books of the Old Testament Cards” (enhanced CD), are called (the Minor Prophets) and what books they have studied over the “Bible Books” (Books of the past two weeks (Amos and Hosea). Bible Posters) • Remind them that the Minor Prophets are not called “minor” because of their lack of importance, but because they are shorter than the Major PREPARATION: Prophets. • Keep the twelve Minor • Ask if anyone can name all twelve of the Minor Prophets. As correct Prophet “Bible Book Cards” answers are provided, place the corresponding card onto the table. Allow in your hand as you begin this activity. other volunteers to attempt to fill any gaps in the list from the first person. TIPS: • If necessary, display the “Bible Books” poster and ask the kids to place the • Remember as you assist in twelve cards in order. Read the names of the books aloud. this activity that the purpose • Explain that memorizing the names of these twelve books equals is not to create a brilliant knowing nearly one-third of the Old Testament books, but agree that memory technique, but to memorizing them all in the correct order can be difficult. encourage the kids to spend • Create teams of three or four. Challenge each of the teams to try to time learning the order devise some sort of memory aid to assist someone in remembering the themselves. order of the Minor Prophet books. Suggest that they could group the books into groups of two, three, or four, or that they create a sentence with the first letters of the books. • Explain that again this week the Bible study will come from one of these Minor Prophets: Jonah. • Dismiss to Bible Study.

BIBLE SKILLS SPOTLIGHT • Names all the books of the Old Testament and all the books of the New Testament. • Knows and recites all the books of the Bible in order in a limited time frame. • Names the 10 divisions of the Old and New Testaments in a limited time frame and identifies examples of books in each division.

BIBLE STUDY (35 MINUTES) JUMP IN TOOLS: • Share your excitement to continue the study of God’s Word with a look • Jump In: “Text Truth Strips” at another of the Minor Prophets, the final twelve books in the Old (Poster Pack), “Jonah” Testament. (Books of the Bible Posters), • Ask the kids to think of a food they particularly enjoy eating. After scissors hearing a few examples, suggest this scenario: “You have a certain • Examine the Text: “Joppa amount of the food that you especially love. Ask yourself, who would you Fish Sculpture” (DVD-ROM), “Jonah Script” (enhanced be willing to share that food with? Who would not deserve to have any of CD), Bibles, “Christ in your treat?” Context: Jonah” and “Text • Allow a few boys and girls to tell what their favorite food would be and Truth Strips” (Poster Pack), whether they would share some of it with you. Bibles • Explain that you really have not done anything to deserve them sharing • Video: Explore the Bible on anything with you, which makes you think of today’s Bible Study. Location video • Display the “Text Truth Strip” and ask the kids to read it with you: “No • Memory Verse: “Jonah 2:9b” one deserves God’s forgiveness, but He offers it to all people.” (Poster Pack), paper, pencils • Point out that this message is important to the Book of Jonah. Display • Prayer: Family Cards the “Jonah” poster, introducing the book using the poster’s contents. PREPARATION: EXAMINE THE TEXT • Examine the Text: Cut apart • Show today’s object, the “Joppa Fish Structure.” Ask the kids what that and distribute the “Jonah fish might have to do with Jonah. Agree that when most people think Script” to confident readers of Jonah, they think of the fish that swallowed him. Challenge them to ahead of Bible study. Consider giving Script VI listen carefully and discover if there is more to the story. to someone who would be • Challenge the kids to locate the Book of Jonah in their Bibles as quickly challenged by one of the as they can. Ask them to discover how many chapters it has. Ask the longer, more complicated boys to discover what book comes just before and the girls what book paragraphs. comes just after it. • Distribute the seven “Jonah Script” segments. Explain that these OPTION: readings provide a summary of the entire Book of Jonah. Ask the reader • Display the Bible Timeline with the first script to share its contents. for Kids and help kids note • Ask the entire group to name any person or group from this part of the the Bible Book studied last Bible story who needed but did not deserve God’s forgiveness. Each time week (Hosea) and today’s a person or group is named, show the “Text Truth Strip” once more and Bible Book (Jonah). To read it aloud: “No one deserves God’s forgiveness, but He offers it to order a set of the Bible all people.” Timeline for Kids (Item No. 005811866) contact • Continue through the remaining six scripts, asking each time about any LifeWay’s Customer Service people who needed but did not deserve God’s forgiveness. at 1.800.458.2772 or • Guide kids to open their Bibles and read Jonah’s prayer to God in online at www.lifeway.com. Jonah 4:2 and God’s response in Jonah 4:10-11. • In the end, ask if Jonah really deserves our admiration. Agree that he needed forgiveness and received it, despite being undeserving. • Agree that Jonah’s story is about a great deal more than just a big fish. • Present and read the “Christ in Context: Jonah” poster.

PLAY THE VIDEO • Play the Session 11 video. • Ask: “Who did Joel meet? What did Joel learn about fishing? Who deserves God’s forgiveness? Why does God offer us forgiveness?”

MEMORY VERSE • Distribute writing materials to everyone. Point out that when Jonah spoke these words in his prayer, he was underwater inside the fish. • Enlist a volunteer to silently read today’s Memory Verse. Show the “Jonah 2:9b” poster to the volunteer (concealing it from everyone else). Direct the volunteer to read the verse aloud as if underwater. As the “underwater” verse is read, challenge the others to write down what they heard. • Allow one or two of the listeners to share what they believe they heard. • Repeat the process with another underwater volunteer. • Share the actual verse clearly. Note that Jonah spoke these words when he realized how much he had disobeyed God.

PRAYER • Distribute the Family Cards. Ask the kids to share what they think of when they look at the fish in light of what they have learned today. • Challenge the group to think of the most deserving person they know. Emphasize that not a single person who has ever lived, other than Jesus, has been deserving of God’s forgiveness. Add that Jesus did not need any forgiveness. • Share with the boys and girls the miracle in your own life: “Even though I did not deserve to be forgiven, God offered forgiveness to me, and He offers it to each of you as well.” • Close the session in prayer. Thank God for offering forgiveness to undeserving people like the inhabitants of Nineveh and each person in this group. • Dismiss to Small Group.

TOOLS: SMALL GROUP (30 MINUTES) • Explorer Guides: Bibles, EXPLORER GUIDES Explorer Guides, pens • Distribute Explorer Guides and help boys and girls locate today’s pages, “Jonah, Prophet to Nineveh.” • Review today’s object, the “Joppa Fish Sculpture.” • Invite kids to complete the “Bible Review Word Search.” • Ask kids to take turns reading the infographic, “The World’s Largest Fish.” • Select a volunteer to read “How Can I Obey God?” • Challenge kids to apply today’s Bible truths by completing the “To Forgive or Not to Forgive” activity.

TECH CONNECT (OPTIONAL) • Prior to Small Group, download the Explore the Bible: Kids Family App. • Use the activity labeled “Explorer Plus” on the app.

ACTIVITIES • Select one or more of the activities to complete as time allows.

MOVE

GONE FISHING Tools: slips of paper with words to Jonah 2:9b (one set per team), sticks, string, weight, tape ¨¨ Create “fishing poles” with a length of string tied to a stick on one end and a weight with an inside-out circle of tape attached.

• Form teams of four or five. • Invite the teams to “fish” for the words of the Memory Verse and to assemble it after “catching” them. Explain that if they catch the wrong word they must “throw it back.” • Review the Memory Verse a few times. Challenge kids to take turns trying to say the. verse from memory. • Remind kids that no one deserves God’s forgiveness, but He offers it to all people

MAK E EXP LO R

E SHELL GAME BACK TO THE MAP Tools: seashells, fine-point markers, “Text Tools: “Jonah Map” (Poster Pack), index cards, Truth Strips” (Poster Pack) markers ¨¨ Spread the shells and markers around the ¨¨ Prepare index cards by writing Nineveh and “Text Truth Strip.” Tarshish on separate cards.

• Ask the kids to read and explain the Text • Display the map. Point out where God sent Truth. Jonah. Give someone the “Nineveh” card and • Invite them to write a single word on one of send them a few steps away. the shells. Insist that this word should help • Ask the group where Jonah tried to go. Give them to remember the truth about God’s someone the other card and position them forgiveness that Jonah did not understand. across the room. • Ask each of them to share the word on their • Say: “Jonah tried to go as far away from where shell. Discuss the meaning behind that word God called him as he could.” for the story. • Invite the group to consider places God might • Conclude by reinforcing the Text Truth: no one call someone today. Create cards for those deserves God’s forgiveness, but He offers it places. to all people. • Ask: “Are you ever tempted to do the opposite • Ask: “Where can you put your shell this week of what God tells you to do? One of the to help you remember our Text Truth?” commands Jesus gave His followers was to tell others about Him. How can a kid your age share about God’s forgiveness in or to these Option: You can purchase shells that have places?” (Possible answers: offerings, child or small holes in the jewelry making section of a missionary sponsorship programs, supporting store. Allow kids to make a shell necklace by missionaries, telling others about Jesus at sliding the shell onto a piece of jewelry string. the park, going with your family on a mission trip, and so on.) • Conclude the activity by reviewing the Text Truth: no one deserves God’s forgiveness, but He offers it to all people.