Lessons from The Sign of Jonah

# Small Group Guide: The Sign of Jonah

## Opening Prayer
Begin with prayer, asking God to open hearts and minds to His Word and to help the group apply these truths to their daily lives.

## Icebreaker Question
Share about a time when you were reluctant to obey God but later saw His wisdom in the situation.

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## Key Takeaways from the Sermon

### 1. **Living with Gratitude**
- Gratitude is a mindset, not just an action
- A heart of gratitude helps us keep what we have and appreciate it more
- Our tithes (10%) help us become better stewards of the remaining 90%

### 2. **The Word of God is Alive**
- Scripture is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12)
- The Word discerns the thoughts and intentions of our hearts
- Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:1)

### 3. **Prophetic Foreshadowing**
- Jonah's three days in the whale foreshadowed Christ's three days in the tomb
- Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies—a mathematical impossibility by chance
- God orchestrates events across time to reveal His plan

### 4. **The Power of Obedience in Witnessing**
- Jonah's reluctant obedience still resulted in an entire city's repentance
- God prepares hearts before we arrive
- Simple obedience in sharing faith can produce miraculous results

### 5. **It's How You Finish, Not How You Start**
- Nineveh repented but later forgot God and was destroyed
- Hezekiah turned to God in crisis and was spared
- Finishing strong is what matters most

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## Discussion Questions

### Section 1: Gratitude and Stewardship
1. How does the story of "Baby Girl" the goat relate to our own attitudes toward what God has given us?
2. In what areas of your life do you struggle with gratitude? How can you cultivate a more grateful heart?
3. What does it mean to be a "good steward" of the 90% that remains after tithing? How does this apply beyond finances?

### Section 2: The Living Word
4. What does it mean that "the Word of God is living and active"? How have you experienced Scripture speaking directly to your situation?
5. Pastor Charlie mentioned that God judges "the intentions of the heart." How does this challenge or comfort you?
6. How can we approach Bible reading differently knowing that Jesus (the Word) speaks to us through it?

### Section 3: Jonah's Message and God's Preparation
7. Jonah's message was only one sentence: "Yet 40 days, and Nineveh will be overthrown." Why was it so effective?
8. God had been preparing the Assyrians' hearts through plagues, eclipses, and earthquakes before Jonah arrived. How does knowing God prepares hearts change your perspective on evangelism?
9. Share a time when you obeyed God's prompting to share your faith. What happened?

### Section 4: Responding to God's Call
10. Jonah ran from God's call because he hated the Assyrians. What people or situations do you avoid when God calls you to minister?
11. The sermon emphasized acting on the Holy Spirit's prompting immediately: "Do it now." What holds you back from immediate obedience?
12. How can we develop sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's leading in everyday encounters?

### Section 5: Finishing Strong
13. Nineveh repented powerfully but forgot God within 100 years. What safeguards can we put in place to avoid spiritual drift?
14. Hezekiah "turned his face to the wall and prayed." What does desperate, immediate prayer look like in your life?
15. Pastor Charlie said, "It doesn't matter how you start, it's how you finish." How does this encourage you regarding your past? How does it challenge you about your future?

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## Practical Applications

### This Week's Challenge
Choose one of the following to practice this week:

1. **Gratitude Journal**: Each day, write down three specific things you're grateful for that you might normally overlook.

2. **Immediate Obedience**: When you sense the Holy Spirit prompting you to speak to someone, pray for someone, or take an action—do it immediately without overthinking.

3. **Word Study**: Read the book of Jonah (only 4 chapters) and journal about what God reveals to you about obedience, mercy, and His heart for the lost.

4. **Heart Check**: Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal the true intentions of your heart in a specific area of struggle. Be honest with Him.

5. **Finish Strong Evaluation**: Identify one area where you started well but have drifted. Create a specific plan to re-engage and finish strong.

### Accountability Partner
Pair up with someone in the group to check in mid-week about your chosen application.

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## Memory Verse
**Hebrews 4:12** - "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

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## Closing Reflection
- What is one thing God spoke to you through this sermon and discussion?
- How will you live differently this week because of what you've learned?

## Closing Prayer
Pray for:
- Hearts of gratitude
- Boldness to obey immediately when God prompts
- Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit's leading
- Strength to finish strong in faith
- Specific needs shared by group members

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## Leader Notes
- The sermon touches on some complex theological concepts (Jesus descending to the lower regions, spirits in prison). Be prepared for questions but don't let the group get stuck on these details at the expense of the practical applications.
- The "do it now" emphasis on evangelism may make some uncomfortable. Create a safe space for people to share fears and hesitations.
- The contrast between Nineveh and Hezekiah is powerful—help the group see both the warning and the hope in these stories.
- Emphasize grace: we all have areas where we've started strong and drifted. God's mercy is available for fresh starts.