Maddening Mercy (Jonah 3:10-4:5)

Community Group Discussion Questions

Making disciples through the mutual ministry of

redemptive relationships 

Text: Jonah 3:10-4:5

Sermon Title: Maddening Mercy

Date: September 15, 2019

1. Read Genesis 4:3-7. Why was Cain angry and who was he angry at?
2. Read 1 Peter 2:21-25 and Romans 12:19-21. How did Jesus respond to wrong done to Him? What specific example does He call us to follow here?
3. When and/or where do you find anger or rage growing in your heart? (e.g. In traffic? Watching the news? At work? With your kids or spouse? Extended family? Neighbors? Roommates? etc.).*
4. What does your anger typically look like? (e.g. Explosiveness, sulking, despair, grudge holding, lack of compassion, resentment, coldness toward others, bible misuses, self- focus)?In other words, how do you typically express anger and how do you seek to resolve it? *
5. When your angry with the above, what are you thinking about God, about yourself, and about the world? What do you find yourself saying, even silently to yourself? *
6. Based on the above, why are you angry? In other words, for what reasons do you get angry? What is going on in your heart? What do you want? *
7. Explain how this anger is linked with anger toward God.
8. Do you do well to be angry?
9. How will a deep confidence in the good news of the cross help you in in your anger? 

*Adapted from questions in Ian Duguid's study guide "Jonah: Grace for Sinners and Saints" (New Growth Press, 2019).

Overwhelmed by Mercy (Jonah 2)

Community Group Discussion Questions

Making disciples through the mutual ministry of

redemptive relationships

Text: Jonah 2

Sermon Title: Overwhelmed by Mercy

Date: September 1, 2019

1. Tell us a bit about your testimony. What did God do to break your own “buoyant self-sufficiently” and thus cause you to cry out and rest in His mercy alone?                             A). If you have not yet come to this hope of His mercy (through the door of hopelessness), what will it take to get you to the end of yourself?                                       B).If you've tasted Gods mercy before but you are drifting away from Him, what do you think it will take to reawaken you to the mercy of God?                             C). What do you think your answer reveals about your heart and what it loves most?

2. In what ways do you imagine you have messed up your life, perhaps through sinful choices? What do you think the Lord might be saying to you here through the Book of Jonah?*
3. Read Acts 4:1-12. How does this text parallel and/or fulfill Jonah 2?
4. How do you imagine God interacts with your spiritual growth? Do you imagine him beaming with pride because of your progress? Actively involved? Sitting back and wondering if you will ever improve? *
5. How does a regular faith filled gazing at Jesus’ finished work on the cross for you intended to help you at the “bottom of life” and/ or keep you from ever getting to the “bottom”?

*Adapted from questions inIan Duguid's study guide "Jonah: Grace for Sinners and Saints" (New Growth Press, 2019).