Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV)

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ

From Background Notes [BN] for Sept 3rd & 4th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

What is "ministry"? The word diakonia essentially means "servant", and has strong connections with "serving the table", that is feeding the household.

 

Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

From Background Notes [BN] for Sept 3rd & 4th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Our mission is not to change the world, but it is God's mission to do so.

Jonah 4:10-11

But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

From Background Notes [BN] for Aug 27th & 28th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In Jonah’s case, control limited his view of the world seen through the eyes of God whom he claimed to serve.

Jonah 4:9

But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

From Background Notes [BN] for Aug 27th & 28th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

With abrupt language, God utters the words “But Nineveh…” He is saying, “Jonah, this isn’t about you or your creature comforts or your supposed protection from the hardships of wilderness life.

 

Jonah 4:2

He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.

From Background Notes [BN] for Aug 27th & 28th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Last week’s study told the story of a nation in mourning, fasting, and shared repentance, from the least to the greatest of the Ninevites.

 

Acts 14:15-17

“Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”

Matthew 12:39-40

He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

From Background Notes [BN] for Aug 20th & 21st written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Is it any wonder that Jesus drew the parallel between Jonah and himself?

Jonah 3:3

Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it.

From Background Notes [BN] for Aug 20th & 21st written by Pastor Bob Brown:

So Jonah gets his second chance at being a prophet to Nineveh. He becomes a walking object lesson, a "sign" to Nineveh, as Jesus described him (Luke 11:30).

Jonah 2:8-9

“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”

From Background Notes [BN] for Aug 13th & 14th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

But will the lesson of grace be learned? Jonah experienced it.

Jonah 3:3-4

Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

From Background Notes [BN] for Aug 6th & 7th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

To follow Jesus is our Jonah-call. How will we respond?

Jonah 1:3

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

From Background Notes [BN] for Aug 6th & 7th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

And so, when Yahweh calls Jonah, he is, in effect, calling for Israel to assume her rightful role in the world.

Jonah 1:1-2

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

From Background Notes [BN] for Aug 6th & 7th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Among the Jewish people, the book of Jonah is read in the synagogue every year on the Day of Atonement.