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#741. PROCLAIM (1/2/23)

Writer's picture: Matt BeaneyMatt Beaney

‘Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”’ (Jonah 3:1-2)

Summary: The message does not change but the manner and methods are flexible.


You can watch this devotional at:

What is the manner that each of us is to share the gospel? Are we all, like Jonah, to go out and preach in the streets? The Bible, and the experience of many who come to faith, is that the gospel comes to us in many ways. Here are a few examples of how we can share the gospel:


i. SHARE LIKE JESUS AT THE WELL

“When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Will you give me a drink?’” (John 4:7)

Jesus demonstrates love and kindness by crossing cultural barriers and by receiving help from a Samaritan woman. The encounter shows how being served and receiving help can open the door for trust and lead to the sharing of the gospel. Through their conversation, Jesus reveals truth about himself and uses a ‘word of knowledge’ to lead her and her village to accept him as their saviour.

ii. SHARE LIKE PETER TO THE CROWDS

‘Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.’ (Acts 2:14)

Like Jonah, Peter stood up and addressed the crowds. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and felt compelled to proclaim the gospel in this way. Some of us will have the gifts for this but most of us don’t. It’s worth noting that Peter addressed Jews. The language he uses would have been understood by them. We may not all be called to preach to crowds, but we must must all be careful to speak in a manner which is understood by the people we are speaking to.


iii. SHARE LIKE PHILIP BY THE ROAD

‘Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road – the desert road – that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.’ (Acts 8:26-30)

In this account, both an angel and the Holy Spirit guide Philip in his evangelism. God has prepared this Ethiopian eunuch for this moment, highlighting the importance of being open to God's direction in speaking to specific people in specific places.


RESPONSE - SHARE THE GOSPEL IN DIFFERENT WAYS

Maybe, like Jesus at the well, we can ask for help, answer questions with truth and be open to words of knowledge in our conversations.

Maybe, like Peter and Jonah, you are called to stand up in the streets and speak to the crowds.

Maybe, like Philip, God will speak to you to go to specific people whom he has prepared for salvation.

The message does not change, but let's remain flexible to God as he leads in how he wants us to share the good news.

 

COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY


1. NOTICES

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

  • Please try to use the COME TO JESUS DAILY DEVOTIONALS (blog). This will help us to get deep into this book together. There is also a video option if that helps (Ensure that everyone knows how to access this)

  • Please get signed up for Funky Monkeys and invite your friends: https://www.communitychurchputney.com/funkymonkeys


2. ICEBREAKER

What have been your 'highs' and 'lows' from the past few weeks?

3. RECAP OF SUNDAY’S MESSAGE - PLEASE SHARE IN YOUR GROUP


JONAH OBEYED AND WENT


Please read Jonah 2:1-3


MAIN IDEA: WE ALWAYS HAVE A FRESH OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK TO GOD AND TO SERVE HIM.


1. THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME A SECOND TIME

God speaks to Jonah again and recommissions him to go to preach to Nineveh.


2. GO TO THE CITY

God repeats his commission to Jonah. The Holy Spirit, if we give Him space, want to continually remind us of the Great Commission that is spoken over us (See Matthew 28:18-20).


3. GIVE THE MESSAGE THAT GOD GIVES

God sends Jonah to proclaim His message. Likewise, the gospel - Jesus’ death and resurrection for our sin and salvation - is the message that God has given and that we are to give.


4. RESPONSE: JONAH OBEYED AND WENT. WHAT WILL OUR RESPONSE BE?

Jonah, this time, responds by going on God’s mission to Nineveh. As with Jonah, we always have a fresh opportunity to come back to God and to serve Him in His mission.


DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  • How would you counsel someone who said that they felt that God had given up on them and that they could never be forgiven and restored?

  • Jonah obeyed God's call to preach in Nineveh. This shows us the importance of obedience to God's mission in our lives. What does it mean for you to follow God's mission in your life?

  • How have you Served, Invested and Invited in your communities this week? (Let’s share about this again next week)

  • How have you got on with making a list and praying for your non-believing friends each day? (Let’s share about this again next week)

  • Let’s now pray for specific people that God has put on your heart and in your life.

  • Let’s pray for each other that the Spirit would fill us with His resurrection power so as to be compassionate and courageous this week.


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