Hitting the Bottom and a Humbled Heart

Message Title: Hitting bottom and a Humbled Heart

Series: Heart Issues (a study in the book of Jonah)

Verses used: Mt 12:39-40, Jonah 1:17, Jonah 2, Lk 15:17, Prov 3:11-12, Ezekiel 11:19

Key verse:

Jonah 2:2New International Version (NIV)

2 He said:

“In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.

Sermon Notes:

When Jonah hit the bottom he prayed and in his prayer we learn five things about God’s heart and what He feels about runners.

1. God listens to the prayer/cry of the runner. (1-2)

2. God is often behind the circumstances that stop the runner. (3)

3. God’s discipline is thorough. (4-7

4. To run from God is to run from His provision, protection, and purpose. (8-9)

5. God is a God of second chances. (10)

Small Group Questions

Week 2 Jonah

Icebreaker: Has there ever been a time that you turned around because you were caught red-handed?
Or, what kind of discipline actually worked with you/your children to change thinking/behavior?

1. We are to the place in the story of Jonah where he finds himself in the depths and completely helpless (swallowed by a fish) because of his disobedience to God.

2. Read his prayer in Jonah 2:1-9. What part of this prayer most resonates with your experience with God when you were in the depths? What level of issue/problem does it take for you to truly pray the way Jonah prayed?

3. Read Jonah 2:1-2 again. What did Jonah learn about God when he called out to God in his self-induced distress? Read Psalm 40:1-3. What ability does God have in any circumstance?

4. Read Jonah 2:3-7. What should be our response to God when we realize we have walked away? Read James 4:5-10. What attitude catches God’s attention when we are in trouble? Why is this so difficult for us?

5. Read Hebrews 12:5-11 and Romans 8:28-9. How should we view God’s use of difficulty? Why is it so important for us to associate rebellion with pain? Why do you think god’s discipline in Jonah’s life was so severe?

6. Read Jonah 2:8. Why do we cling to worthless things? What impact did that have on your life? What are some worthless things that you clung to that have cost you? Contrast that with the promise of Ps 84:11.

7. Read Jonah 2:9. As a sign of true repentance and understanding, what actions does Jonah take? What realization does he make? Why does it take us so long sometimes to realize that “Salvation comes from the Lord”?

8. Read Jonah 2:10. What do you think Jonah thought when he was given a second chance?
How does that make you feel knowing that God is a God of second chances?

9. Read Col 2:6, 7 and Romans 5:1, 2. What does it mean to walk in the grace of God?
How do you do that after messing up so terribly?

Something to think about this week . . .

Are you running from God? Are you tired of running? Are you ready to stop and come home before it gets any worse?