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Jonah: Week 4 Caleb Schafer, the Lead Pastor of Redeemer's Church, closes our series on the book of Jonah with a message summarizing lessons we can learn from Jonah's life. Sunday, July 27th, 2025 | 7.27.25 Category: Grace, Mercy, Compassion, Judgment
Jonah 1 Austin Damron // Student Pastor
Title: Wrestling With GraceText: Jonah 4:1–11Big Idea: It's possible to obey God outwardly but still resist Him inwardly. The real fight is often between our heart and His grace.I. Jonah's Outrage at MercyAfter Nineveh repents and God spares them, Jonah is furious.“Isn't this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home?” (v. 2)Jonah obeyed God—but resented Him for being too gracious.He quotes Exodus 34:6 back to God: “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger…” but says it like it's a bad thing.Key tension: Jonah didn't mind grace when it saved him—he hated it when it saved them.II. The Jonah Inside All of UsThis chapter exposes something in all of us:We want justice for others but mercy for ourselves.We're often more concerned with being right than being righteous.God's question in verse 4 hits home:“Is it right for you to be angry?”Jonah never answers. He sits down and watches the city—hoping for judgment.III. The Object Lesson with the PlantGod causes a plant to grow up and shade Jonah (v. 6)Then God appoints a worm to destroy the plant, and Jonah is angry again (v. 7–9)God uses the plant to reveal Jonah's self-centeredness:He's more upset about a plant than about people.More concerned with comfort than with compassion.IV. The Final ConfrontationGod's last question is the heart of the book:“Should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh…?” (v. 11)The book ends without closure—because the real story is your response.The uncomfortable truth: God's grace often offends our sense of fairness.Final Challenge:Where in your life do you want grace for yourself, but judgment for others?Are you angry about God's compassion toward people you don't like?If the book of Jonah is a mirror—what is it reflecting in you?
Ever feel like you don't know enough to effectively share your faith? Jonah delivered a terrible sermon to Nineveh, leaving out critical information (apparently), but somehow God used a reluctant prophet to reach a whole city!**For the best uninterrupted livestream experience, participate in this week's sermon at nblc.net/sermons
Jonah: Week 3 Pastor Caleb Schafer, the Lead Pastor of Redeemer's Church, continues our Jonah series by speaking on the importance of being able to move on from your past mistakes for the sake of carrying out God's will for your life. Sunday, July 20th, 2025 | 7.20.25 Category: Future Focus, Forgiving Yourself, Second Chances
Title: God's Not DoneText: Jonah 3:1–10Big Idea: You can't out-sin the mercy of God—and you're never too far gone for a second chance.I. A God of Second ChancesAfter rebellion, a storm, and three days in the belly of a fish, Jonah gets another shot:“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time.” (Jonah 3:1)Jonah's rescue wasn't random—it was redemption.God didn't discard Jonah—He restored him.Titus 3:5 – God saves not because of our goodness, but because of His mercy.Examples of God's Second Chances:Adam & Eve, Moses, David, Rahab, Zacchaeus, Peter, Thomas.Each one messed up—but God still had a purpose for them.If He did it for them, He'll do it for you.II. Jonah's Second Chance“Get up and go…” (Jonah 3:2) – yalak qum (ל ְֵ֥ך ק֛ ּום) = Go now. Immediately. Today.This is not just instruction—it's urgency.God's mercy doesn't just forgive—it re-commissions.Jonah 3:3-4Jonah obeys. He enters Nineveh, declares God's message.He doesn't sugarcoat the warning—“40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown!”III. The Power of RepentanceShockingly, the people listen. “The Ninevites believed God.” (Jonah 3:5)From the greatest to the least—even the king—there's deep, public repentance.Sackcloth and dust were cultural signs of humility and brokenness.To repent is to change your mind so deeply, it changes your life.IV. God's Compassion Responds to Repentance“When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented…” (Jonah 3:10)This wasn't about performance—it was about surrender.Isaiah 30:18 – “The Lord longs to be gracious to you…”God didn't have to forgive Nineveh—but that's who He is.
God's grace comes to us in many forms. For Jonah, grace had scales. As God's prophet looked forward to death rather than to heed God's call, God's grace devoured him in the depths of his rebellion.
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Jonah: Week 2 Pastor Caleb Schafer, the Lead Pastor of Redeemer's Church, continues our Jonah series with a message about how we should respond to the "whale-sized" problems that overwhelm us. Sunday, July 13th, 2025 | 7.13.25 Category: Looking Inward, Repentance, Prayer
Title: Waiting on GodText: Jonah 1:17 – 2:10Big Idea: While you're waiting, God is working—especially on your heart.I. Jonah's Descent & DesperationJonah ends up in the belly of a great fish—not by accident, but by divine appointment.He's completely out of control, trapped in a place of darkness and regret.“Sometimes what we call punishment, God calls provision.”God's mercy shows up in unlikely packages—like a fish that saves Jonah from drowning.II. God's Provision vs. Our PreferenceBig Idea 1: God gives us what we need, not what we want.The fish wasn't punishment—it was provision to preserve Jonah for his purpose.Psalm 115:3 reminds us: “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases.”Sometimes, what pleases Him is to give us a second chance.III. Prayer in DistressBig Idea 2: Prayer is our response to distress.Jonah doesn't pray until he's desperate. But when he does, God hears him.James 5:13 – “Is anyone in trouble? Let them pray.”When we feel trapped, powerless, or broken, prayer is not our last resort—it's our lifeline.IV. Praying God's WordBig Idea 3: When you don't know what to pray, pray His Word.Jonah's prayer in chapter 2 is full of direct parallels to the Psalms.He was trained in God's Word—and in his darkest moment, that's what surfaced.The Holy Spirit cannot remind us of what we haven't hidden in our hearts (Psalm 119:11).Jesus modeled this in His wilderness temptation (Luke 4).V. From Distress to BreakthroughJonah's circumstances didn't change immediately—but his heart did.He moves from despair to gratitude and praise, even before being delivered.Jonah 2:10 – “And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.”VI. While You're Waiting, God is WorkingBig Idea 4: Waiting is not passive—it's active.God often uses seasons of delay to refine our hearts.You may not have the character yet for what you're asking for.The waiting is not wasted—God is shaping you for what's next.
Isn't it ironic that unbelievers believe better than believers? Jonah, a member of God's chosen people and a prophet, no less, was going off-grid to avoid obedience to God's call. But pagans did exactly what God told them to do.
Jonah: Week 1 Pastor Caleb Schafer, the Lead Pastor of Redeemer's Church, opens our new series on the book of Jonah. Sunday, July 6th, 2025 | 7.6.25 Category: Rationalizing Disobedience, God's Will
God's Plans Are Wrecking MineText: Jonah 1:1–17Big Idea: When you run from God, you don't just delay your purpose—you invite a storm. But even then, His grace finds you.I. The Setup: A Clear Command, a Defiant RunGod calls Jonah to go to Nineveh, but Jonah heads to Tarshish—the opposite direction.This is not confusion. It's defiance.“If you want to run from God, the devil will always offer you a ride.”Jonah rationalizes sin, something we all do: our minds make excuses for what our spirits know is wrong.II. Downward Spiral of DisobedienceJonah's journey is literally and spiritually descending:He goes down to Joppa (1:3)Down into the ship (1:5)Down into the sea (2:3)Sin always takes us downward.Delayed obedience is still disobedience. True maturity shortens the gap between hearing God's Word and obeying it.III. Storms Have a PurposeGod sends a storm—not to destroy Jonah, but to redirect him.While the sailors panic, Jonah sleeps—numbed by rebellion.Jonah confesses who he is (1:9), but he still refuses to repent.Eventually, he tells the crew to throw him overboard. Only then does the sea grow calm.IV. The Wake-Up Call: Sin Affects OthersJonah's disobedience nearly kills an entire boat of people.Our rebellion never just affects us—it impacts everyone around us.But even in this moment, God is working. The sailors end up worshiping the true God.V. God's Mercy in a Fish-Shaped PackageJonah doesn't drown. God provides a fish.This wasn't punishment—it was preservation.Sometimes, what feels like rock bottom is actually the start of mercy.
Title: You Can't Outrun GodText: Jonah 1:1–3Big Idea: Jonah's story isn't just about a fish—it's about a faithful God chasing a rebellious heart.I. The Book No One Expected — A Prophet Who Refuses to ProphesyJonah is the only prophetic book centered on the prophet's disobedience, not his message.He receives a clear word from God… and immediately runs in the opposite direction.Jonah is raw, emotional, and deeply human. He's not the hero—we're not meant to “be like Jonah.”Tension: What do you do when God's Word leads you somewhere you don't want to go?II. Jonah Isn't Just a Story — It's a MirrorJonah's actions reflect our own struggles with obedience, resentment, and control.He obeys—eventually—but his heart is not aligned with God's.Even after a city-wide revival, Jonah is angry. He doesn't want them to be forgiven.This book confronts the reader with key questions:What if God's grace makes you uncomfortable?What if His calling disrupts your comfort?Is it possible to do the will of God without the heart of God?III. Themes That Will Challenge Us (Series-Wide)God's mercy is scandalous – He loves people we'd rather avoid.Obedience isn't about convenience – Delayed obedience is still disobedience.God relentlessly pursues us – Not with wrath, but with grace.Emotional health matters – You can't separate spiritual maturity from emotional honesty.The journey of Jonah challenges the inner life, not just outer behavior.Final Takeaway:You may run—but God pursues.Not with punishment, but with mercy.Not to crush you, but to restore you.The question isn't “Will God speak?”It's: Will you run, or will you respond?
Join us as Pastor Austinn concludes our series called Life Lessons from Jonah. We will be specifically focusing on how to handle situations when we create a storm.
Join us as Pastor Scott concludes our series called Life Lessons from Jonah. We will be specifically focusing on how to handle situations when we create a storm.
Join us as Pastor Scott concludes our series called Life Lessons from Jonah. We will be specifically focusing on how to handle situations when we create a storm.
Join us as Pastor Austinn concludes our series called Life Lessons from Jonah. We will be specifically focusing on how to handle situations when we create a storm.
Join us as Pastor Dave continues our series called Life Lessons from Jonah. We will be specifically focusing on how to handle situations when we create a storm.
Join us as Pastor Scott continues our series called Life Lessons from Jonah. We will be specifically focusing on how to handle situations when we create a storm.
Join us as Pastor Dave continues our series called Life Lessons from Jonah. We will be specifically focusing on how to handle situations when we create a storm.
Ever wanted a do-over? We all want second chances but sometimes struggle to offer them. What if that reluctance is hindering our own fresh start? Discover how one man found his second chance in the most unexpected way in our series, Jonah.
Thank you for joining us, we are so glad to worship with you all! To find out more about Heartland Church, visit www.weareheartland.usGIVE: https://www.weareheartland.us/giveFOLLOW HEARTLAND: Instagram: @weare_heartlandFacebook: heartlandsunprairieMusicbed SyncID:MB01JCBEARQ0OTU #weareheartland #madisonchurch #sunprairie
Ever wanted a do-over? We all want second chances but sometimes struggle to offer them. What if that reluctance is hindering our own fresh start? Discover how one man found his second chance in the most unexpected way in our series, Jonah.
Thank you for joining us, we are so glad to worship with you all! To find out more about Heartland Church, visit www.weareheartland.usGIVE: https://www.weareheartland.us/giveFOLLOW HEARTLAND: Instagram: @weare_heartlandFacebook: heartlandsunprairieMusicbed SyncID:MB01JCBEARQ0OTU #weareheartland #madisonchurch #sunprairie
Ever wanted a do-over? We all want second chances but sometimes struggle to offer them. What if that reluctance is hindering our own fresh start? Discover how one man found his second chance in the most unexpected way in our series, Jonah.
Thank you for joining us, we are so glad to worship with you all! To find out more about Heartland Church, visit www.weareheartland.usGIVE: https://www.weareheartland.us/giveFOLLOW HEARTLAND: Instagram: @weare_heartlandFacebook: heartlandsunprairieMusicbed SyncID:MB01JCBEARQ0OTU #weareheartland #madisonchurch #sunprairie
Ever wanted a do-over? We all want second chances but sometimes struggle to offer them. What if that reluctance is hindering our own fresh start?Discover how one man found his second chance in the most unexpected way in our series, Jonah.