Eight soldiers head deep into France to find a single private, and not one of them believes the mission makes sense. That scene opens a reflection on the book of Jonah (Jonah 1-4): a prophet who ran from God not out of fear, but because he did not want mercy shown to his enemies. The sermon asks what to do when God sends us to people we find hard to love, and reminds us that people always matter most to God, even the most lost ones. Listen, and ask yourself who your Nineveh is today.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- Jonah finally goes to Nineveh and preaches only judgment, yet the people and their king fast and cry out for mercy. What do this response and God's reaction in Jonah 3 tell us about who God is?
- In Jonah 4 the prophet admits he ran away because he knew God is gracious and compassionate. Why do you think this very truth made him so angry?
- God asks Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry?" and points to the leafy plant. What does this lesson teach about what matters most to God, and how does that question speak into your own life?
- The story of the Naked General from Liberia shows that even a very cruel person can be transformed. Who do you see as someone who "doesn't deserve" rescue, and what helps you see them differently?
- The preacher says the first step toward looking at others with grace is looking honestly at ourselves and at the cross. How does knowing your own need for grace change the way you treat difficult people?
- Who is your "Nineveh", someone you find hard to love? What small step, like congratulating them, shopping at their store, or offering a kind word, can you take toward them this week?
