THE BOOK OF JONAH NEVER USES THE WORD SIN
BUT IT’S ALL OVER THE BOOK:
A BETTER PICTURE FOR MODERN MAN
A PENETRATING DEFINITION FOR YOU AND ME
INSTEAD OF SEEING SIN AS “BREAKING THE RULES”
IT IS A “SELF-SALVATION STRATEGY”
IT IS FINDING YOUR IDENTITY
YOUR MEANING
IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN GOD
Many of you are not viewers of American Idol, and you are certainly free in Christ not to watch. :>) (If anyone should feel the need to explain herself — it’s me! The talent God gives the young amazes me — and I feel free in Christ to tape it and watch the parts I like and discuss the talent and drama with my daughter Sally! After all, it may be my fault she too watches.) Lately I have watched how God seemingly dealt with Colton Dixon, sending a storm (at least Colton was convinced God sent the storm) and at Colton’s humble response. Colton was rising high, expected to make it to the top, when his mentor suggested he sing a Lady Gaga song and he did. The next night he was voted off. (I realize being voted off American Idol isn’t a big deal, but I’m sure it felt like that to Colton.) Colton sensed it coming. He anticipated the storm… Though no one else expected him to be voted off, he nodded — I could almost hear his thoughts: It is because of me that this tempest has come. Immediately he took the mike and said, “I need to apologize. Last night was not who I really am.”
They asked him to sing a final song before leaving American Idol and he fell to his knees and sang Everything by Lifehouse — a prayer to his God in the midst of his storm, a Jonah-like prayer of repentance from the belly of the fish.
Find me here, and speak to me
I want to feel you, I need to hear you
You are the light that’s leading me to the place
Where I find peace again…
I am certainly not saying that every storm is sent by God to discipline us — though I do know we can learn from every storm. But sometimes, as in the case of Jonah — and it seems Colton felt sure too — we do know the storm is from God because we were running from Him. Colton himself said, of singing this song after he got the news he’d been voted off: “I wasn’t singing for the judges at that point, or for the crowd — I needed to hear from God, and I did.” He felt it was God who had the people vote him off — a mercy, indeed. And now that he has repented, his life is back — when asked how he is doing after being voted off, his smile is genuine, and he says enthusiastically, “I’m good!” He found his peace, his identity, his salvation in the belly of the fish. “Salvation,” he knows, “belongs to the Lord.” He says he is going to sing Christian rock — because that is who he is. Back to his calling. Back to God’s identity for him.
I suspected Colton Dixon was a genuine Christian from fruit that I saw. He wasn’t obvious about it — no pointing to God to garner the evangelical vote. He wasn’t even planning to audition, but came as a support to his younger sister, and the judges asked her to go get him from backstage. (He had auditioned the year before.) The love between these teenage siblings was evident — love that is rare, except when Christ is present. And then, when Colton was voted off — he told everybody why. He used a definition of sin that penetrates the modern man and our own hearts. He said, “That was not who I am.” He was sorry — and quite willing to be thrown into the sea.
Watch this interview, and hear Colton’s repentance when she asks him what he learned from his American Idol journey.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsCpkmFyY8E&feature=related
In the Keller sermon you will hear this week, Keller uses Bridget Jones as an illustration of Soren Kierkegaard’s definition of sin — which is “trying to build an identity apart from God.” Bridget tries to build an identity from a word from herself — but ends up very confused!
We have to get our identity from Christ. When we try to get it anywhere else, we are in trouble. I wrestle with this all the time. When I speak or write or interact with people, I have to tell myself, “This is about bringing glory to God, Dee — not about bringing glory to yourself.” It is so tempting to forget my identity, my purpose, and veer… but then, I can almost count on a storm. The perfect storm — designed just for me! These messages I long for you to order will help you (and me) to stay on course, to stay on the narrow path, to build on the rock, to bear fruit — so that God won’t have to send that storm.
I’ve listened to the first one at least five times, and the penny is still dropping. Believe me, this is a good investment.
(MY BIG NEWS WHICH I GOT ONE HOUR AGO IS THAT SALLY HAS HAD HER BABY THREE WEEKS EARLY. HER NAME IS CLAIRE AND SHE’S FINE AND I’M SO THANKFUL. I’VE JUST ARRIVE IN WISCONSIN, NOT EVEN UNPACKED, BUT AM HEADED TO WASHINGTON D.C. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MAY CLAIRE (MEANS LIGHT) BE A LIGHT IN THIS DARK AND HURTING WORLD!)
ORDERING YOUR SERMONS:
We’re going to be in Jonah for May and most of June. Some of you might like to purchase the sermons all at once, and Redeemer does have a deal that makes it worth it to buy the package instead of individually.These are the sermons we are going to be needing for May and June.
This is the package — Keller’s most recent trip through Jonah — and I’d like everybody to get this: Link
This is an individual sermon on Jonah that is amazing — and I’d like you to get this too: Love Beneath the Waves
Finally, many of you already have this, but if you don’t, when we get to talking about election, you will find this helpful: Love Before the World 1
I will also post them individually each week — but it is cheaper if you get the package at once. This week we’ll be listening to the first in the package: Running from God. If you prefer to order it on an individual basis, here is that link.
Sunday/Monday: Icebreaker
1. What stood out to you from the above and why?
2. What “perfect” storm have you experienced recently that you think may have been sent as a mercy from God?
A perfect storm are when the conditions are just right to create a monster. But I’m using the word theologically — when God designs a perfect storm for the child he loves, to bring him to his senses, to bring him back to his real identity and purpose.
Tuesday-Wednesday: Bible Study
Optional: This is an interpretative dance for Lifehouse’s Song “Everything” Watch it if you like and comment.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA
Comments?
We don’t know a lot about Jonah, but what we do know is very important. If your daddy was an important man, it is so easy to find your identity in him, instead of in God. If your nation is a successful nation, it is so easy to find your identity in national pride instead of in God. These are self-salvation strategies. God had defined Jonah, had given him a “word,” had called him to be a prophet — but he was running… Let’s look at what we do know about Jonah.
3. Read 2 Kings 14:25
He [Amaziah, the king at the time of Jonah] was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Dead Sea, in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.
A. Israel was recovering from its enemies. King Amaziah, the king during Jonah’s time, had restored a huge area. Look on your Bible map and find Lebo Hamath and the Dead Sea. How big an area had been recovered?
B. When your country is victorious, it is easy to begin to find your identity in your country. Patriotism is not bad, but it can become sin. Give an illustration.
C. What did Jonah’s father do? What kind of prestige went with this?
D. Being proud of your parents is not bad, but it can lead you into sin. (Remember our new working definition of sin.) Give an illustration of this.
In “Man Overboard” Sinclair Ferguson culls a great deal out of this single verse. He explains that it shows what a great calling God had on Jonah’s life — for Jonah is described as a servant and a prophet. “A servant” Ferguson explains, has a rich meaning — it means God had set him apart for a unique purpose. Jonah, as a prophet, had a destiny — to speak the very words of God to whomever God sent him. That was his identity, his purpose, his meaning. A “word from the Lord” had defined him — but he veered from it — he had a “self-salvation strategy” — so God had to send a perfect storm.
4. Read Jonah 1:1-3
A. What purpose did God have for Jonah as described in verses 1-2?
B. What calling has God given to your life? (It may be specific, but it is also found in 1 Peter 2:9-10)
C. How did Jonah respond? How is this an illustration of sin?
5. Keller says that Jonah could not flee geographically from God, for God is everywhere. (See Psalm 139) But he was trying to flee relationally from God — from intimacy, for His face. What lie did Jonah have to believe in order to do this?
6. Think about the last time you fled God’s calling for you. Ask Him! Describe it.
7. Read Jonah 1:4 and describe how God responded. Why, do you think?
Thursday-Friday (or sooner) Listen to Keller’s sermon: Running from God
8. What do you learn from:
A. How does Earnest Becker define sin?
B. How does Soren Kierkegaard define sin? (Important!)
C. What point was Keller making with Bridget Jones?
9. Jonah had an “identity implosion,” Keller says, for he no longer knew who he really was. Look at his answers to the sailors’ questions in Jonah 1:8-9 and find the one question he does not answer. What was it — and why didn’t he, do you think?
10. When we find our identity apart from God it is as though we are under an anesthetic! A sleep unto death! Have you experienced this? Explain.
11. What else stood out to you from this sermon and why?
Saturday
12. What is your take-a-way and why?
307 comments
C. How did Jonah respond? How is this an illustration of sin?
Oh MY..I read this with different eyes since our study last week! I used to think he ran because he was scared of the people-of witnessing to them, but NO!…Well, he explains to God why he ran at the end! He ran because he knew God was gracious, full of mercy and kind-he knew God would save them-He didn’t want them to be saved because of how wicked they were.
This is an illustration of sin because he chose to hide himself in his idol rather than in God. He chose to hate rather than love and it was based on self-serving, selfish reasons. His ultimate was not God even though he was a prophet, his ultimate was the rules, and if one’s ultimate is the rules then he will be legalistic and hateful toward those who break the rules-there will be no Grace or mercy toward others.
5. Keller says that Jonah could not flee geographically from God, for God is everywhere. (See Psalm 139) But he was trying to flee relationally from God — from intimacy, for His face. What lie did Jonah have to believe in order to do this?
The lie is that Jonah doesn’t believe God is everywhere-He believes God is ‘distant’ and therefore he can hide from Him.
6. Think about the last time you fled God’s calling for you. Ask Him! Describe it.
Hmmmmm…Great question. I am going to come back to this, but for now what comes to mind is singing. I really have been struggling with this. I am not sure I am fleeing or just obeying. I have a desire to sing but in a different way, mainly just in the studio, or to help others out-more in the background, or in a small gathering just worshiping Him, but no opportunities have arisen to do studio work so that most likely isn’t God’s plan for me as a platform He wants to use me in. I don’t have a desire to ‘hunt’ for songs to sing anymore, rather my desire is for Him to show me, so if a song pops up and I sense his calling to sing it, then I will set up a time to do it-so far nothing has popped up so I am wondering if he is pulling me back from this ministry. This lack of desire has been ongoing for several years now. Not sure of his direction in this now, but I am not fretting, just going where he says go and I am content with that-I don’t have to have this ministry platform to be significant-He is my identity. I didn’t used to be content until God dealt with my approval idol and even though it resurfaces, thankfully I am not ‘drowning’ in it like I was. It doesn’t have the hold it had on me and I have let go of singing as my identity.
7. Read Jonah 1:4 and describe how God responded. Why, do you think?
I might be way off, but I think God responded that strongly to get Jonah to wake up-to get his attention-I think it was his jealous love knowing Jonah was in the arms of his idol-it reminds me of how he felt in Hosea 2.
I really liked the way you put this in C. “His ultimate was not God even though he was a prophet, his ultimate was the rules, and if one’s ultimate is the rules then he will be legalistic and hateful toward those who break the rules-there will be no Grace or mercy toward others.” Sad, but true. It is just running my life MY way instead of GOD’S way. I see how I can tend to be this way and I also see how so many in the church are this way. We think we are right and hold ourselves back from those who are not like us. I am beginning to see how deeply skewed and dangerously sinful this line of thinking is. It seems right, yet pushes people away from Jesus’ message of grace. It is so self-righteous, so subtle that we feel right doing it. So sad.
A. Being proud of your parents is not bad, but it can lead you into sin. (Remember our new working definition of sin.) Give an illustration of this.
Susan’s example helped me with this question. I thought about my sister and how much she longed for my father’s approval, something he seemed unable to give to any of us. Her self-image is just awful to this day, she just had her 53rd birthday. I had always sort of blamed this on our father, but it is interesting to look at this from the angle of her still not seeking an identity in Christ, she chooses to remain in the mire of feeling like she doesn’t measure up, and yet she can be really cynical and superior in her attitudes toward others. Hmmmmm!
My other thought was loyalty to family that overrides concerns for others like a husband who can’t disappoint his mother and is still living for her approval. I have a friend who doesn’t go to church because her family gets together on Sundays and she has to cook and prepare for that, the approval or disapproval of her mom drives her life.
Chris,
This is interesting point about your sister, that “she chooses to remain in the mire of feeling like she doesn’t measure up, and yet she can be really cynical and superior in her attitudes toward others. Hmmmmm!”
I remember in a past Bible study I was in we talked about “low self-image or low self-esteem” and our teacher said that often low self-image goes hand-in-hand with pride – strange “sisters”, you would think, but true.
Susan, I would like dig deeper into this, low self image & pride connection.
Made me think of Jeremiah 17:9;
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”
A. What purpose did God have for Jonah as described in verses 1-2?
God had a word for him, to arise & call out against the people of Nineveh.
B. What calling has God given to your life? (It may be specific, but it is also found in 1 Peter 2:9-10)
I haven’t felt a particular calling per se, but the difficult things I have walked and am walking through give me a credible voice of sorts to others. I wonder sometimes about becoming a Christian counselor of some kind, though I think this springs more from trying to figure out what I should do when I grow up (at the age of 47!) than receiving it as a word from God.
I am seeking to be aware of my bent towards comfort, and not choosing to indulge it over chances to be useful for kingdom things. I gave the Keller book Prodigal God to a co-worker, she is feeling convicted & uneasy. We have a date to walk and talk about it this evening. Another friend lost her mom this week, I made a meal for them and will take it over there today and maybe cry with her. For today that is my calling.
What a beautiful calling you have! To take life day by day and to minister to those in your path.
I agree Chris, you know how to minister to those in need, by going through your own hardships and pain. You are a blessing to them.
I like you answers to your calling too, Chris. I think so many times I listen to radio programs and come away feeling like I have to have some sort of “ministry” that is “out there somewhere” – and forget that ministry can be changing the sheets on our bed to make it clean and fresh, or like you are doing, walking and talking with your friend to discuss Keller’s book and visiting friends who are grieving.
I got this notice today that Keller’s sermons are going to be made available at Logos, and wanted to make sure you saw it, Dee and Rebecca. May be helpful.
http://kellerquotes.com/timothy-keller-sermon-archive/
WOW! I am not sure if it is the transcripts or actual mp-3’s. Can you tell? Wow!
I think it is the audio versions – not sure.
WOW–looks like the transcripts! It says this “In this massive archive, the transcriptions of his audio sermons preached at Redeemer Presbyterian Church—which work through numerous books of the Bible and cover scores of topical issues—will be made available for reading, searching, and study.” It’s a bit pricey for me–but WOW, incredible resource!
Oh my this is tempting. I have so often wished I could have the written transcript as I listen to the audio version as I learn best by reading. John Pipers sight allows you to read and/or listen to most sermons. I wish it charged you for the sermons in segments as they release them instead of paying the whole $200 upfront.
Diane, I looked at it yesterday for a while-it looks awesome! I saw the sermons were up, but thought maybe perhaps they will group them later when they are made available to purchase? What a great idea!
They are transcripts which I think is great because they can be a great addition to Bible Study-like a commentary at your fingertips. You can even search a verse or topic and see what Keller says about it. From what I understand you need to buy the whole thing which is $200.00, then as soon as each increment is issued they will send them to you, and they are downloadable. I would love to have this but yes the $200 is pricey.
C. How did Jonah respond?
He refused to obey and sought to get away.
How is this an illustration of sin?
Jonah was not content to draw his meaning and purpose in what God had clearly spoken to him. He had another idea of what was best, he was placing himself above God.
5. Keller says that Jonah could not flee geographically from God, for God is everywhere. (See Psalm 139) But he was trying to flee relationally from God — from intimacy, for His face. What lie did Jonah have to believe in order to do this?
That Gods purposes were not what was REALLY best. That God was mistaken.
At bottom he was not trusting God to be God.
I thought more about this, if Jonah was placing his identity in nationalistic pride, having God destroy his countries enemies seemed a better idea than the possiblity of their repentance and God relenting in His judgement of them.
He was using God to advance his identity.
“He was using God to advance his identity.”
So well put.
Chris, Love, Love this- “For today that is my calling.” -I think we so often look at ‘ministries’ as our ‘calling’, and while they are a calling, He has callings within callings in our life-every day, every minute..I heard Rich Mullins talking about this-what it looks like, taking food to a shut in, mowing your neighbors lawn, comforting a grieving soul. There is a sweet freedom in just trusting Him and going-walking in His calling for that day.
Thank you Rebecca, this seemed to small to me, but after I read your comment I thought of this Mother Teresa quote:
“We cannot do great things on this Earth, only small things with great love.”
Love it!
Amen to the Mother Teresa quote. I also love your thoughts, Chris,“For today that is my calling” and the discussion here. Today, my calling is to be at my daughter’s helping to look after sick children. One step at a time. Lord, help me to trust and do the small things with great love.
You are a wonderful mother and grandmother, Diane. Hope you have time to have some talks with your daughter and hope the kids get better 🙂
3. Read 2 Kings 14:25
A. Israel was recovering from its enemies. King Amaziah, the king during Jonah’s time, had restored a huge area. Look on your Bible map and find Lebo Hamath and the Dead Sea. How big an area had been recovered?
I couldn’t find Lebo Hamath in my Bible’s maps.
B. When your country is victorious, it is easy to begin to find your identity in your country. Patriotism is not bad, but it can become sin. Give an illustration.
I’ll come back to this, can’t think of anything right now.
C. What did Jonah’s father do? What kind of prestige went with this?
He was a prophet. He was considered very holy; a man who heard from God. He was respected.
D. Being proud of your parents is not bad, but it can lead you into sin. (Remember our new working definition of sin.) Give an illustration of this.
I remember in grade school my best friend was the principal’s daughter, and I was the pastor’s daughter. We thought we were pretty cool and very special because of it. We definitely had cliques and led them, deciding who should be our friends and who should not. All around pretty awful behavior!
Very vulnerable answer to D. 🙂
4. Read Jonah 1:1-3
A. What purpose did God have for Jonah as described in verses 1-2?
To go to Ninevah and cry out against it, to proclaim their wickedness.
B. What calling has God given to your life? (It may be specific, but it is also found in 1 Peter 2:9-10)
I am set apart for Him, He sees me as holy. I believe one of the callings God has given me is to intercede for others. Another is to write stories that glorify Him. I also believe my main calling is to be a wife to Steve and a mother to Syd and Ben.
C. How did Jonah respond? How is this an illustration of sin?
He fled to Tarshish. He was disobedient. He heard directly from God and chose to not obey.
5. Keller says that Jonah could not flee geographically from God, for God is everywhere. (See Psalm 139) But he was trying to flee relationally from God — from intimacy, for His face. What lie did Jonah have to believe in order to do this? That God is not everywhere!
6. Think about the last time you fled God’s calling for you. Ask Him! Describe it.
This is a hard question. I think as I suffered from major depression, I definitely walked away from everything He had given me to do in ministry. I just could not handle it anymore. I don’t know how much was fleeing and how much was survival. But since then, the joy I do have comes from the ministry to my family first of all, and the few people I intercede for. But there is a fear that if I try to pick it all back up, there will be failure, that I won’t be able to handle it. And some things are not for me to pick back up at all. They were for a season.
7. Read Jonah 1:4 and describe how God responded. Why, do you think?
He responded by sending a mighty wind that caused a storm, that would lead to danger of the ship breaking apart. I think He did it to stop Jonah from running, as a reply to Jonah’s disobedience. I think it was his way of letting Jonah have a second chance, of allowing him to despair and to realize that God is in control of everything.
I was surprised how much the dance ministered to me. It was beautiful and moved me to tears of joy for how He loves me.
3. Read 2 Kings 14:25
B. When your country is victorious, it is easy to begin to find your identity in your country. Patriotism is not bad, but it can become sin. Give an illustration.
It becomes a sin when it is worshiped, when we put our faith and trust in it to take care of us, keep us safe and meet our needs. Reminds me of the verse that says we dare not trust in chariots but only in the name of the Lord. Makes me think of the people who believe Social Security will be a financial answer for them. People who don’t bother to work b/c the government will give them a check. Our government was not meant to meet all of our needs.
C. What did Jonah’s father do? What kind of prestige went with this? Restored the coast. He was an important man.
D. Being proud of your parents is not bad, but it can lead you into sin. (Remember our new working definition of sin.) Give an illustration of this. I looked up to my dad as a child and it would have become sin if I had allowed myself to think better of myself than others. My parents drilled it deep in my heart to care and give to those who have less and I am grateful. I probably did think more of myself than I should have.
4. Read Jonah 1:1-3
A. What purpose did God have for Jonah as described in verses 1-2? Go and preach.
B. What calling has God given to your life? (It may be specific, but it is also found in 1 Peter 2:9-10)I love this verse that we are a royal priesthood. I am called first to my husband and children but I am also called to serve God, being a witness and work where He has designed me to work in women’s ministry. I love mentoring women.
C. How did Jonah respond? How is this an illustration of sin? He ran from God. This reminds me of King Nebuchadnezzar who God gave so much to, made him so great and yet a sin deep in his heart had to be rooted out by become an animal and losing his mind. Love the way he came back and thanked God for what he had suffered and recognized it was the only way to get rid of the sin of spiritual pride.
I think my perfect storm which I shared earlier this week, was a good reminder to keep me grounded and keep my eyes on Him. I wasn’t in the Word as much and abiding in the vine which we learned is so key. Just hope I get a better grade on the next test.
Jesus took the test for you Kim, you get 100%!
Thank you, Chris. Very sweet.
3.
A. Israel was recovering from its enemies. King Amaziah, the king during Jonah’s time, had restored a huge area. Look on your Bible map and find Lebo Hamath and the Dead Sea. How big an area had been recovered?
On my map, it looks like Hamath is 320 miles from the Dead Sea—and at least 100 miles wide—looks like a pretty big area!
B. When your country is victorious, it is easy to begin to find your identity in your country. Patriotism is not bad, but it can become sin. Give an illustration.
Where we live, patriotism seems like its own religion, an identity, an idol. I often wonder what things would be like if our country were as devoted to Christ as we seem to be to the USA.
C. What did Jonah’s father do? What kind of prestige went with this?
He was a prophet; my Bible encyclopedia says “Prophets were the immediate organs of God for the communication of his mind and will to men”
D. Being proud of your parents is not bad, but it can lead you into sin. (Remember our new working definition of sin.) Give an illustration of this.
I recently heard a sweet young girl’s testimony and when it was over, I thought—I didn’t learn a thing about her, but her parents sure were amazing! She was very proud of her parents, and they were both active in Christian ministry, but it seemed to be her whole identity. She had just moved out and was newly married and I wondered what that would bring about. I imagine there will be times of deep emptiness but trust God is ultimately her identity and she will sense the love beneath the storms as they come.
4. Read Jonah 1:1-3
A. What purpose did God have for Jonah as described in verses 1-2?
Go to Ninevah and preach to them God’s truth against their sin.
B. What calling has God given to your life? (It may be specific, but it is also found in 1 Peter 2:9-10)
My paraphrase of this verse–I was not chosen for something measly, but a high calling. I am not to blend in with the culture, but be holy—set-apart. I am not to be quiet about Him, but to tell everyone what He has done for me.
C. How did Jonah respond? How is this an illustration of sin?
He ran as far away as he could—thinking he could somehow flee God.
5. Keller says that Jonah could not flee geographically from God, for God is everywhere. (See Psalm 139) But he was trying to flee relationally from God — from intimacy, from His face. What lie did Jonah have to believe in order to do this?
That it was possible to escape God—to have any power over God.
6. Think about the last time you fled God’s calling for you. Ask Him! Describe it.
I was going to pass this for now, but for some reason this came to mind. Recently, my husband and I shared our “life story (so far!)” at church. It has been a tough road—both a lot of pain in our past, a lot of severe struggles in our marriage, then infertility, adoption—we cover a lot of ground!…but we have been amazed at how many people were ministered to by what we shared about all God has done. I look back at the early years when I did everything in my power to hide the truth of what we were dealing with—wanting so badly to appear like a perfect Christian couple…even in somewhat recent years, still afraid to share. But I see how I was not being obedient to 1Peter 2:9b “that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”. Sharing our stories is how we show what He has done. I know I am always so encouraged by you all, hearing what He has done in your lives—it strengthens my faith, renews my hope.
7. Read Jonah 1:4 and describe how God responded. Why, do you think?
God sent a fierce and windy storm—I think to both physically, and spiritually, “wake Jonah up”. Stormy weather dramatically shows God’s power—and our weakness in comparison, igniting total dependency.
I’m sure you ministered mightily, Elizabeth — and am so very glad you did.
It struck me as I read this how reluctant we all are to appear weak, to admit that we struggle or that we are discouraged, and how much we are encourage on another when someone is honest about weakness and testifies that they are relying on the strength of Christ.
How healing it is to bring our flaws into the light. When we try to hide them and appear perfect, we create insecurities in one another and Satan smiles I think.
Elizabeth, I read this yesterday and SO wished you had a video of it..Do you know if your church does?? We would love to see it! I am so glad you shared!
4. Read Jonah 1:1-3
A. What purpose did God have for Jonah as described in verses 1-2?
His purpose was to preach the word of the Lord in Ninevah. He was to call out against it because of its evil.
B. What calling has God given to your life? (It may be specific, but it is also found in 1 Peter 2:9-10)
I am called to be a chosen child of the King, His disciple (a learner of as much of God and His ways, and Word as I can), a priest (which means ministering to others the love and grace of God) and to proclaim God’s love to others. Specifically for me, I am called to be a wife, mother, grandmother, friend, pastor’s wife, teacher of women. But I try to not see any of these as a role but as a way to minister God’s love to individuals – each moment an offering to God.
C. How did Jonah respond? How is this an illustration of sin?
Jonah ran from God. Literally he ran “from the presence of the Lord.” The fact that this is repeated twice in verse 3 is for emphasis, to make sure we get the point. He wanted to try to get as far from God as possible.
5. Keller says that Jonah could not flee geographically from God, for God is everywhere. (See Psalm 139) But he was trying to flee relationally from God — from intimacy, for His face. What lie did Jonah have to believe in order to do this?
He had to believe the lie that God did not want what was best for him or for his people.
6. Think about the last time you fled God’s calling for you. Ask Him! Describe it.
I am going to have to skip this for now. I am too absorbed with how my daughter seems to be fleeing from God’s calling for her.
7. Read Jonah 1:4 and describe how God responded. Why, do you think?
Jonah 1:4 (ESV) But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.
I loved how the English Standard Version describes God “hurled a great wind” at Jonah. He wanted to get his attention, to make him stop thinking about himself and start focussing on how powerful God was. I think Jonah must have been mad. I picture Jonah raging against God and here God is raging back.
I was online looking for some music to help me focus on God, and found this song. It has been shared on here before I think but it fits with Jonah’s running and our need to turn back to God.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx3ias0H1os&feature=youtu.be
I would appreciate your prayers. Things are stressful here at my daughter’s at the moment. I need wisdom.
Jesus, we lift Diane up to you and ask you to send help. Give Diane wisdom from on high. Thank you for your loving care. Be near and make clear the path to your perfect will. Amen.
Yes, Dear Jesus, I pray this for Diane and Krista (?) too and that you would give Diane wisdom as to how to help her daughter, spiritually, emotionally and in all ways. Let there be spirit filled love and peace within them in the morning and that they may feel your glorious presence, In Jesus name, Amen.
This beautiful song is for you, Diane
http://youtu.be/1y_R7DnMc2Il
Thanks so much for the song, Joyce. You are sweet. This song is one of my favorites – so beautiful! God is good. He hears and answers our honest cries for help.
Diane, Know I am praying for you. So sorry this is so hard!
Great song. Love the running bride.
Kim is writing about Diane’s song, not mine!
Praying for you Diane!
Praying, Diane.
Yes, praying too, Diane.
Thanks so much for posting the song; I forgot all about it (even though I bought it when it was posted before). Need the reminder in life’s craziness.
Thanks all for your prayers. I really appreciate them. I had a brief time to have a heart to heart with Krista this morning. Then we had a good morning and got lots accomplished in cleaning even with the boys pitching in. The worst symptoms of sickness are gone, but the middle one still is more tired than usual. I hope the youngest doesn’t get it. As for the tensions, they are between my daughter and husband, but I am caught in the middle a bit because I am here. I need wisdom to know what to say and do.
Praying for you Diane. You are such a faithful mom.
Thank you all for your love, sweet wishes — I’ll be eager to post some pictures on Sunday’s blog.
We are so grateful to God. We’re all tired — my hat is off to you young mothers. It is hard work — but lots of joy too. Sally is feeling all the emotions of euphoria one moment and despair at Sadie’s feelings of displacement. She doesn’t want Sally to nurse or hold Claire but says sternly, “My Mommy,” and cried for an hour going to sleep last night. And then my heart goes out to Sally.
Ah Motherhood! It is the best and hardest journey!
Oh yes, I have forgotten, but that whole dynamic between your first born and second born-can be SO HARD as a mom!
I feel for Sally, I remember being pregnant with my second and wondering how on earth I could love another baby as much as I loved the first one. Our hearts are sometimes so much bigger than we imagine them to be.
Father we ask for you to begin a bond between Sadie & her new little sister that will last a lifetime and bring great glory to you. Also we ask for wisdom, patience, understanding & rest for Sally as she mothers these daughters. Thank you so for bringing Claire safely into the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
Thank you, Chris!
Praying for Sally and Sadie and Claire. This is a hard part.
Please tell Sally it will get better! I speak from experience. They will be the best of friends. What joy to have a sibling to learn from.
A.go to ninevah call out against it.
B. I know at one point to speak and write for Him. Now I am not so sure. Of course being a mom and wife.
C. He ran from the call. Ran the furthest distance on the map from ninevah. This is sin, disobedience.
5. That maybe the distance from the temple would cause some separation from God.
6. Perhaps it Is losing joy in being just a wife and mother often when I know He gave me a call to minister by teaching and writing. Praying as well is another thing I should be doing more of. This is an open vulnerable place for me. Need to process this all. I am not a little kid kind of person yet I know he gave us little man. So unsure now, just want to do what He wants but do it with joy not out of duty alone.
7. Maybe that is why I am in a storm? Continual storm? To draw nearer to Him. Bring me back, restore the joy of my salvation…I probably have walls around my heart that He is jealously breaking down. At least I know He loves me so.
6. Think about the last time you fled God’s calling for you. Ask Him! Describe it.
I did try and prayed to see but I can’t think of a specific time recently when I felt Him call me to do something and I fled, but often times I don’t feel like going to the couples Bible study we do, or the life group we belong to, sometimes the urge to stay away is super strong. When I yield to it I am miserable, any rest I may have been hoping for doesn’t happen, and when I go it is always a blessing.
7. Read Jonah 1:4 and describe how God responded.
He sent a HUGE storm
Why, do you think?
To get Jonahs attention and so that there would be no mistake that it was from Him, He made it HUGE.
Like!: “so that there would be no mistake that it was from Him, He made it HUGE.” And to think He loves us enough to get our attention…
Chris S., I can really identify with this. “often times I don’t feel like going to the couples Bible study we do, or the life group we belong to, sometimes the urge to stay away is super strong. When I yield to it I am miserable, any rest I may have been hoping for doesn’t happen, and when I go it is always a blessing.” I thought I was the only one that sometimes really struggled with being around people, even at ‘safe’ events. Sometimes the urge is so strong to just stay home. I don’t know why I feel like that sometimes.
I know Diane, me too. I think satan wants to isolate us, he likes to keep me curled up on the couch with my comfort idol, telling me lies.
Missing you Anne!
In regards to the singing of the Lady Gaga song, Romans 14:22-23 come to mind.
22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
In his heart between him and God he knew it to be sin and to make a public confession knowing the controversy was very brave on his part.
That’s good, Dawn.
A. How does Earnest Becker define sin?
sin-problem modern people have feels like sinner but has no word for it.
1-feel like sinners-got concept for it like making sacrifices, etc
2-not feel like a sinner and have no need of concept to make up for it.
3-feeling of something wrong/shame guilt etc but no word for it//no concept to help
B. How does Soren Kierkegaard define sin? (Important!)
s-sickness unto death
sin-sin is the despair of getting one self before God or seeking to be oneself without God
C. What point was Keller making with Bridget Jones? She experienced the same thing regarding sin yet thought she could invent herself apart from God. Which is tragic.
9. Jonah had an “identity implosion,” Keller says, for he no longer knew who he really was. Look at his answers to the sailors’ questions in Jonah 1:8-9 and find the one question he does not answer. What was it — and why didn’t he, do you think? what kind of work do you do…Lost who he was because he did not understand it. Did not like it. Thought he knew better.
10. When we find our identity apart from God it is as though we are under an anesthetic! A sleep unto death! Have you experienced this? Explain. yes, actually I think I am experiencing it right now. So much heart and heart break came to me through the people at church. I ran a very successful and thriving women’s ministry…I was looked at and admired. I was a prayer warrior who people referenced for prayer because of my record of answers. It makes me sick…Then people got jealous and complained, etc. I did not have a tough enough skin because my identity was not in God. i felt hurt and unprotected by God. This has been a long while now but I think it still lingers. I have never been the same though greatly humbled. Still trying to find balance. Also I am now in a church with a pretty non existent women’s ministry and this hurts my heart so. I long for one like before. I feel now like I am rotting away. I need to find balance and trust and be a closet prayer warrior, etc. I need to get back to the first place but with humility. Oh so much to process. And if God has called us to a ministry to refresh others we must suffer to even know how to minister to them…
11. What else stood out to you from this sermon and why? so much. >Listened to the love beneath the waves too. So good. So convicted. need to figure out where I need to be with my callnig and identity. I dont want to be different but I am . I need to use my gifts fo rHis glory. I am quite emotional need prayer.
Great notes. Yes, Love Beneath the Waves is one of my favorites.
Praying, Angela. Be gentle with yourself. God is in control. He knows all about you and all about the needs. Relax. He is show you. One step at a time.
Praying for you Angela. “Church people hurts” often seem to hurt even more than “non-church people hurts.”
Angela, I’m praying for you. You have so much on your plate right now with your little guy and the girls, so don’t be so hard on yourself. We will pray for you and all will work out for the best and for his glory!
Hi all,
I realized that this is the time of year I started fizzling out last year … and then in summer didn’t have decent Internet access, so left altogether.
This is one of the busiest times of year for me… and I don’t want to drop out completely. Hope to catch up somewhat tonight or tomorrow night.
Dee, I appreciate this study so much (and all in it!) — SO GOOD to apply God’s word to my life.
I pray you can hang with us — we’ll give you grace for what you can do. You are a treasure.
Me too Renee, I hope you can continue.
Just listened to the sermon and loved it. About to leave to pick my boys up from school, but hopefully tomorrow I can share my notes. Blessings to you guys, love reading your comments.
Oh my…this is another great sermon that is a favorite of mine now.
8. What do you learn from:
A. How does Earnest Becker define sin?
“a modern person is someone who feels like a sinner but has no word for it.” Keller said, Where modern people are, is they have a feeling something is wrong, shame, guilt inadequacy but they have no word for it. Therefore they have no way of doing anything for it. That is why we need Jonah. It doesn’t use the word sin, but it goes deeper into the definition sin and deconstructs the danger contemporary people are afraid of. It shows you not only a concept of sin, but a concept of sin you can’t use to oppress people once you grasp it.
I loved how Keller explained why using the word ‘sin’ in our culture today usually can cause the listener to ignore anything you have to say after that. It is because of how over the centuries it has been used to oppress and dehumanize people.
You know, this reminds me..I watched the old version of Jane Eyre when I had to be in bed last weekend. It is the 1944 version of the movie with Elizabeth Taylor’s first movie appearance as a child-she played a small part but a powerful part in the orphanage. Oh was that a great movie!! This was so evident in the movie how sin is used to oppress people. The things Jane said about morality and God are telling in the beginning, and the people who were ‘religious’ the way they treated her in regard to sin and how they painted a picture of God was horrible.
I think the Bronte sisters were believers — anyone know? (Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights…)
Oh, yes, I’m sure they were. I studied them several years ago. Love their books.
I’m not even familiar with them. Did they write this book? If they are, wow..
You’ve missed out Rebecca. You should read Jane Eyre. Even though the old movie does it justice, there is just so much subtlety that cannot be captured on film. I’ve read it many times, I love it.
Wuthering Heights too, I couldnt put it down. I didn’t do any laundry until I had finished it!
It was a Midday Connection Book Club selection some time ago, you can still listen to the archived discussions.
Wuthering Heights… I ordered it when I was in about 6th grade (recommended by English teacher), but didn’t get through it. This seems funny now, but it’s always been in the back of my mind as one of those books that I wasn’t smart enough to get through! Even now, it seems to me that it might be more difficult for me than reading a book by Soren Kierkegaard 🙂
Not meaning to rabbit trail, but here is a you tube clip of a scene from that movie: http://youtu.be/AS6qyMNqa_w I do think while this example is extreme, there are a lot of us who in the midst of ‘religious activity’ find our identity or value in following rules, or other things other than in Christ. I think the world sees us like this cruel man who was in charge of the Orphans when we mention ‘sin’.
B. How does Soren Kierkegaard define sin? (Important!)
I am not sure I copied the wording down exact, but this is it: “Sin is to despair of getting its own identity before God and then the despair of seeking to be oneself without God.” “Anyone who tries to manufacture his identity without God, gets an identity like a King without a country or a country who has subjects where rebellion is legitimate every moment.”
C. What point was Keller making with Bridget Jones?
That she can’t build her identity on herself. She says if I do these three things then I am secure, valuable-I will create myself, my identity-then others will affirm me. If others affirm me, then I am valuable. She bought the post modern thing-you create yourself. No one can tell you who you are, what is right and wrong. She is saying with these resolutions, I know who I am, I am secure, I am valuable, but why does she need to put off an impression about herself to appear a certain way to people? If she really is secure and valuable then why does she need every day for people to tell her she is okay? Doesn’t that mean deep down inside she isn’t? Her identity is deeply unstable She needs a word from the outside-she can’t validate herself, she can’t just say she knows she is alright. If she doesn’t get affirmation from God she will be dependent on words from outside- she will need it from outside. IN reality she is not secure because others affirmation will never satisfy her-she will need more and more, until eventually she will self destruct. You can never keep it satisfied because you don’t know you are valuable. Anyone who tries to build an identity apart from God will experience a destruction, a loss.
That clip was so, so sad, Rebecca. Yes, if unbelievers see us as being this way, it is not much wonder they avoid us and the God we claim to represent. I need to watch the movie, if I can, and Bridget Jones as well to understand what Keller is talking about.
9. Jonah had an “identity implosion,” Keller says, for he no longer knew who he really was. Look at his answers to the sailors’ questions in Jonah 1:8-9 and find the one question he does not answer. What was it — and why didn’t he, do you think?
WOWOWOW, what a GREAT question…I didn’t pick up on this! He didn’t answer what work he did. He never told them he as a Prophet. I think he felt shame, guilt. Could he have realized at that point what he was doing-his identity was in his calling and not in God? Then he was willing to jump in-Keller said that was repentance.. I LOVED what Keller said about this.
I listened to the sermon while cooking, so no notes yet, but the part that keeps presenting itself to my mind is this,
The sin under the sin, under the sin, under the sin, under all the sin, is that I just don’t have the courage to accept how loved I am
Wow
For some reason I stopped getting email notifications, I thought no one posted anything here yesterday!
I have a different sort of responsibility at work today. I am preparing the main course for a progressive dinner, Chicken Breast in mushroom cream sauce, or Filet with Cabernet shallot reduction, long grain & wild rice mushroom pilaf and grilled asparagus.
I am a bit anxious and would truly appreciate your prayers!
wow–praying for you Chris–sounds like a huge but yummy responsibility 😉
maybe make sure you haven’t unchecked the subscribe box–if you’re posting, look beneath the comment box and it will either have the check box or a link that says “manage subscriptions”. Sometimes when i use a dif. computer I forget to re-check the subscribe box.
I am subscribed to more than 30 weeks of the study, not sure why they stopped, I di check to be sure they were not going into my junk email.
I made my herb butter for the rolls, it is a bit heavy on the garlic, but I think it is really good!
Now I’m hungry! May I come? 🙂
Chris, I have to check the box every week I want to subscribe (did you post on a different computer which maybe didn’t already have the box checked?). I tend to be VERY easily distracted (I could structure my life around email dings, so I’ve stopped requesting email notices of postings)
I will pray and also would love those recipes – you sound like you are a wonderful cook!
This sounds really delicious, Chris S. Hope everything turned out really well. What is your job that you might be cooking? I like to cook, but I always get intimidated when cooking for others outside my family. My poor family has to put up with my constantly trying new recipes.
Thanks Ladies, it went really well. I praised God that we had just enough asparagus to serve the last guests! I was so relieved when we had finished.
Susan, I would be happy to share my recipes, email me and I will send them, crsswan@windstream.net.
Diane I was very nervous! I think your family is blessed that you try new things instead of the same recipes over and over. To answer your question I work as a private event planner at a local winery. When someone calls to book a wedding, birthday party, shower etc, they put them in touch with me and I book and facilitate the event.
I love this job, though working most every weekend all summer long may get old eventually. I prayed for a job close to home that I would love and God provided!
Renee, I wish you could have come, maybe one day we can all meet and I will cook for all of you!
Chris, “Like” 🙂
8. What do you learn from:
A. How does Earnest Becker define sin? Our need for worth is so powerful that whatever we base our identity and value on, we essentially “deify.”
B. How does Soren Kierkegaard define sin? (Important!) “Sin is: in despair not wanting to be oneself before God.” seeking to become oneself, trying to get an identity, apart from Him.
C. What point was Keller making with Bridget Jones?
Those who feel like sinners without a word for it
9. Jonah had an “identity implosion,” Keller says, for he no longer knew who he really was. Look at his answers to the sailors’ questions in Jonah 1:8-9 and find the one question he does not answer. What was it — and why didn’t he, do you think?
He did not answer what his profession was—a prophet. I think Jonah was trying to run from his calling. He felt like a failure for the sin he felt but wasn’t owning. He was disowning who God had called him to be and trying to create a new identity for himself.
10. When we find our identity apart from God it is as though we are under an anesthetic! A sleep unto death! Have you experienced this? Explain.
I think sometimes as a mom—when I find myself frustrated my the billionth question or request, the cooking, cleaning, daily grind…and I just fall into a complaining, weak spirit—ultimately I have tried to find my identity apart from the calling (as a mom) I have received. My parental calling, at present, does not include long walks alone or time for reading as much as I’d like, or having family nearby to help with kids or a maid 😉 But when I lose sight of what my calling is, the importance of it—when I lose eternal perspective, I can operate as if in a self-absorbed anxiety-ridden trance. The anesthetic of discontent and comparison!
11. What else stood out to you from this sermon and why?
Sin is basing my identity on anything but God. If I build a Self not on God, there is a sickness unto death, despair, psychological breakdown. Interesting about the 2 parents response to a rebellious child.
The modern person feels like a sinner but doesn’t have a word for it.
My favorite part—the Love beneath the waves. I kept thinking that could have been the title. We cannot get a change of identity by saying “now I want to be better…” you must experience grace. And we are surprised, like Jonah, to find love beneath the waves. Then Jonah says “whatever you require God, I will do”.
How can we look at the storm and know love is beneath? Because the True Jonah sank for us. When we know that, our identity is transformed. We can know that we will not sink, we will not drown—because He did for us. The sin under the sin under the sin…is that we don’t have the courage to believe He loves us SO much. We have to have the guts to believe just how deeply we are loved.
I’ve thought of stealing the title Love Beneath The Waves for a book…
test
4. Read Jonah 1:1-3
A. What purpose did God have for Jonah as described in verses 1-2?
Jonah was a prophet, one who heard from the Lord and was to go and tell what he heard to others. God told Jonah to go to Ninevah and preach against their wickedness.
B. What calling has God given to your life? (It may be specific, but it is also found in 1 Peter 2:9-10).
According to this verse in 1 Peter, God, through His mercy, has made me a part of “a people belonging to God”, and I am to praise Him.
I think another calling is found in 2 Cor 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.” We have been studying this in my Sunday school class at church, how our identity is, we are God’s ambassadors (authorized to act on God’s behalf), and our message is for people to be reconciled to God.
I have also been called to be a wife and a mother and a homemaker.
C. How did Jonah respond? How is this an illustration of sin?
Jonah ran away from the Lord. God had spoken directly to him and told him what to do, and Jonah refused to obey God. Anytime we choose to disobey what God clearly calls or commands us to do, we sin, because we are, in effect, saying “I will be god over my own life.”
5. Keller says that Jonah could not flee geographically from God, for God is everywhere (see Psalm 139). But he was trying to flee relationally from God – from intimacy, for His face. What lie did Jonah have to believe in order to do this?
This made me think of one of our lessons where we talked about “exchanging the truth for a lie”. Jonah knew the truth, that God was Sovereign and Omnipresent, but he exchanged that truth for the lie that he could somehow run away and hide from God’s presence.
I think he also exchanged the truth of what he knew about God, that God brings consequences for disobedience (wasn’t that what God was going to do to Ninevah unless they repented), for the lie that he could get away with disobedience.
The other lie he believed was that he could ignore God’s calling and purpose for his life and be happy, and live his life independently of God.
6. Think about the last time you fled God’s calling for you. Ask Him! Describe it.
My thoughts are that it’s not about a specific incident (because there are too many – how can I choose just one?!), but that it is a daily, even hour by hour, moment by moment, choice. Jesus says I am to abide with Him. Yet I often “leave His side”, when I choose to disobey; or it can even be in my thought-life or attitudes.
If I fail to talk about the Lord with someone who doesn’t know Him, then I am fleeing God’s calling to be His ambassador. If I neglect my husband’s needs, to be his helper-completer, I am fleeing God’s calling for me to be a wife who is my husband’s helper. If I start down a brooding, mulling over past grievances in my mind, I am fleeing God’s calling me to forgive as He has forgiven me. If I turn to my idols for comfort, or approval, I flee from His calling to be faithful only to Him.
7. Read Jonah 1:4 and describe how God responded. Why, do you think?
The Lord sent a violent storm that threatened to sink the ship Jonah was hiding on.
Why did God do this? Well, if God had just ignored Jonah’s running away and done nothing, I suppose I could say that God did not really love Jonah. I would say that it was out of love for Jonah that God sent the storm to ultimately get Jonah back in right relationship with God. God loves His children enough to discipline them and turn them around.
Susan, I learn so much from your perspective. I am so convicted by your answer to 6. “it is a daily, even hour by hour, moment by moment, choice. Jesus says I am to abide with Him. Yet I often “leave His side”, when I choose to disobey; or it can even be in my thought-life or attitudes.” All of your examples are ones I can relate to.
Susan, your answer to no. 6 is very powerful and I never thought about it that way. “If I neglect my husband’s needs, to be his helper-completer, I am fleeing God’s calling for me to be a wife who is my husband’s helper. If I start down a brooding, mulling over past grievances in my mind, I am fleeing God’s calling me to forgive as He has forgiven me. If I turn to my idols for comfort, or approval, I flee from His calling to be faithful only to Him.”
Thanks, I needed that!
Susan I too liked your answer to 6, and the part about exchanging truth for lies.
Your question 6 reminds me a bit of Amy Carmichael’s poem “IF”
Yet I also see a condemning heart in you that I long to lift! (I know only God can)
Yes, daily we are called to do “the next right thing,” but daily also rest in His love. Somehow, together!
How do you feel about this?
I think I need to google that poem – I am not familiar with it. I think you are saying I am too hard on myself? I hear that a lot!
Yes, that is what I am saying. I thought Amy Carmichael was too hard on herself too — yet she certainly left a legacy.
Totally off topic: Whoever suggested using Nutiva Coconut oil. Thanks!!! I ordered it from Amazon, I absolutely love it!!
Joyce did! 🙂 I use it (a little), too. I agree — good!
Thanks Dawn, My sister-in-law died of Dementia and I was doing some research about it and Alzheimer’s and found this: (Wish I had known then)
http://www.naturalnews.com/032727_coconut_oil_Alzheimers.html
8. What do you learn from:
A. How does Earnest Becker define sin?
The plight of the modern person is this they feel like a sinner but don’t have a word for it. They know something is wrong with them but can’t put their finger on the problem. It’s one thing to believe in sin but another to understand it.
B. How does Soren Kierkegaard define sin? (Important!) “The sickness unto death” definition:
Sin is to despair, building an identity without God. Without God people must constantly find validation from something.
C. What point was Keller making with Bridget Jones? Bridget struggled like modern people, who are filled with angst b/c they must create themselves (identity, that they are okay, their self) but have no power to do this aside from God. They cannot validate themselves!!!
9. Jonah had an “identity implosion,” Keller says, for he no longer knew who he really was. Look at his answers to the sailors’ questions in Jonah 1:8-9 and find the one question he does not answer. What was it — and why didn’t he, do you think?
He did not answer them that he was a prophet. I believe it is b/c he is done with that. He is running from it as well as God. It, his vocation, did not give him what he needed most.
10. When we find our identity apart from God it is as though we are under an anesthetic! A sleep unto death! Have you experienced this? Explain.
Yes! Years ago I experienced despair when I made my husband my center, my savior. He gave me meaning. When he disappointed me it crushed me beyond belief.
And, last year when I came to this study I was asleep. I was depending on my good deeds to be okay. I was in a deep sleep, but now I am wide awake! I am no longer my own savior, I can do nothing to save myself. I have done like Jonah and thrown myself at the sea of His mercy and in doing so found Him to be a great and mighty Savior. I long for those I love to be awakened too.
11. What else stood out to you from this sermon and why?
You find the deepest secret to your identity at the feet of God. Jonah tried to forge his without God. Jonah turned towards God and experienced grace in the sea. He was willing to face the music and fall into the wrath of God/sea (does the right thing) and found love under the waves.
Jesus is my Jonah, He drowned for me so I wouldn’t have to! My eyes have seen the glory of the Lord and He is glorious!
Wonderful testimony in 10, Kim. I love this study on Jonah. I had no idea there was so much personal application in it.
Thought-provoking answers, Kim, especially #10.
Thank you sisters. I wish I knew then, what I now know and that is that God didn’t want me to make the beautiful thing he made, (my husband) an ultimate thing. He wanted me to make Him ultimate. It took me a long time to figure out only He would never disappoint me and He alone is worthy to be my all. He certainly is all He says He is.
I bet your marriage is vastly improved since you have removed your husband from Gods rightful place in your heart. Great testimony Kim!
Hmmmm you got me to thinking and it occurs to me that my husband is a much better, loving man now in his rightful place. It’s win win. I find God more and more fascinating as I go along this road. What we think He is taking from us He actually gives us back much improved. This is why we can fully trust Him.
Kim,
This is intriguing, “What we think He is taking from us He actually gives us back much improved.”
So glad to have you hear awake, waking all of us! 🙂
Thank you, Dee. I am so blessed to be here.
Keller’s sermon: Running from God
8. What do you learn from:
A. How does Earnest Becker define sin?
Modern society problem is it feels like a sinner but has no word for it. Three categories – feel like sinners and can deal with it – through sacrifices, atonement, etc.; one does not feel like a sinner (though he has never met a person who doesn’t feel like they are a sinner, though they may claim not to); the third feels like a sinner with no word for it. The word sin is outmoded and they have no way to deal with it.
B. How does Soren Kierkegaard define sin? (Important!)
“Sin is the despair of getting itself before God and then the despair of seeking to be oneself without God.” I must admit I don’t know if I got this correct, and I don’t really understand it. I sort of understand the idea that you can’t be yourself without God because God is who gives you meaning. Only in God can we be the true selves we are meant to be. The image of God in whom we are created is marred by sin, but if we walk consciously and humbly with God, we begin to be our truest selves. Otherwise, we live in despair.
I have many times wondered how people manage to live without despair without God, though superficially they do seem to.
C. What point was Keller making with Bridget Jones?
The point of the Bridget Jones example is that her life is meaningless. She only has meaning in relation to what other think of her. She is ungrounded and extremely unstable.
9. Jonah had an “identity implosion,” Keller says, for he no longer knew who he really was. Look at his answers to the sailors’ questions in Jonah 1:8-9 and find the one question he does not answer. What was it — and why didn’t he, do you think?
He didn’t answer what his occupation was. I think he didn’t want to be a prophet anymore. He had lost his sense of identity because he didn’t like what God was telling him to do. Keller says, Jonah is saying ‘I will run my life my way.” He is no longer going to live his life on the basis of the vocation of God.
10. When we find our identity apart from God it is as though we are under an anesthetic! A sleep unto death! Have you experienced this? Explain.
We go through the motions of life without any significant meaning or purpose. If I am walking through my day without awareness of God’s walking with me, I get easily frustrated and demanding, or passive and hopeless.
11. What else stood out to you from this sermon and why?
This is a great sermon. I listened to it twice and wish I had more time to listen again. Keller is so perspective to the current human angst and dilemma.
I like the definition of sin as seeking a self-identity without God. And I have seen for myself that that self-identity is very unstable. Whatever you get your identity from that becomes your center. Then that becomes your center and you are sold to it. E.g. Career, marriage, etc. You are sold to it, enslaved to it; you have got to have it. Your identity has to come from your center. God needs to be our center – our identity.
I find Keller’s point that many so-called Christians can “still forge an identity based on something else other than God, the highest love of your life.”
Keller’s question is very pointed: Do you know your own heart? Do you say “I live for Jesus?” “Oh, really.” There is a competitor in every one of your lives for the centrality of your heart. If you don’t see the death struggle between Jesus and the alternative identity(core center, that competitor as functional savior of your life), you don’t know your heart.
This really convicted me. I think my “alternative identity” competitor is the religious, legalistic version of the pastor’s wife. It is easy for me to be critical and feel superior. I see how deadly this is for the cause of Christ.
Keller gave a major point that, when God sends a storm to correct us, we have to repent and obey. Often obeying looks to us like suicide. However, in God’s plan, obeying during the storm, taking that risk is precisely what will save us. The only way we will die is if we refuse to obey. As Keller puts it, there is love beneath the waves.
You got B. quite well. I too have wondered how people get along without God.
Diane — I’m so very glad you are here. Your notes are wonderful.
Comments on sermon, Running from God.
OH MY! I “get it” like I’ve never gotten it before. At the beginning of the sermon, I was listening carefully but not taking notes. When Keller said, “You don’t have the power to make yourself a self,” I started taking notes but not in great detail.
I did take some notes on his major points, particularly in the middle of the sermon. It was as if Keller was describing my late adolescence and early adulthood in a way that I can now understand. What seemed especially “strange”(déjà vu) is that in discussing Kierkegaard, Keller used words very similar to what I was told by a psychiatrist (not a believer — then anyway) many years ago. I did experience “existential despair,” and it was attributed, in part, to legalism. That “psychological death” (hadn’t heard that phrase before, but it fits) lasted many years.
By the end of the sermon, I was sobbing. I’m (overly) careful not to allow other people to “make a self” for me, i.e., to determine or force an identity on me (Thus, I often feel like a misfit and am not a model of workplace success!). But I never fully grasped how that long and severe storm was evidence of God’s mercy and His grace. It took a lot to get me out of the grip of looking to others (including and especially church, religion, Christians) for my identity. In my notes, I bolded, “when your self-salvation strategy goes wrong, you experience identity implosion, existential despair.” I was one of those overachieving Christian youth leaders — I hadn’t make the connection that “church” was a self-salvation strategy. Whoa — I am seeing the power of the Gospel in my life.
In addition, I’ve never even considered that Jonah might be doing more than “disobeying” God — or that the fish “simply(!)” swallowed him and delivered him to where he was supposed to be. Jonah’s political/national identity was more than political opinion, even more than a political belief system or “simple” patriotism, much more than liking his job. His national and family identity was the core of his being, and going to the Ninevites negated his identity. And it took a really BIG storm to shake loose that identity. When Jonah threw himself upon God (told sailors to throw him into the ocean), he didn’t say “Ok, now GOd is going to rescue me so that I can be a prophet.” I don’t suspect Jonah had that big fish in his plans. The fish is evidence that the rescue was all God’s work (love beneath the waves), none of Jonah’s decision to change his own identity.
WOW… I was really struck by the statements at the end. “He did it for us; only when you know he did it for you, will you bring your heart out.” “The sin under the sin under the sin is when you don’t have courage to accept how loved you are.” and “It takes courage to accept him.” Sin is when you don’t have the guts to accept him.
This was so neat to read Renee!
Arent we grateful when God uses Dee & Keller to wake us up rather needing a dump into the stormy see and the belly of a fish!
May we all be convicted & have the courage to acccept how loved we are.
Well said, Renee. That was an extremely powerful sermon, wasn’t it. Glad it helped a few pennies drop for you. It did for me too.
Wow, Renee. This is so heart-warming. I do see all this in you and rejoice with God revealing it so clearly to you. Thanks for sharing so vulnerably.
Renee,
This is soooo wonderful a testimony that Keller’s sermon helped you put things from your own life together and you see how God worked in your life!
You said you are seeing the power of the gospel in your life, I am too, isn’t it beautiful? It helps me grasp His love and that is gospel transformation.
10. When we find our identity apart from God it is as though we are under an anesthetic! A sleep unto death! Have you experienced this? Explain.
When I was listening to Keller it felt like Jonah was me. It didn’t start out that way between God and I over 20 years ago.
When I came to know Him I embraced that HE was my identity and I just wanted Him-there was intimacy. I am not blaming anyone else, because it is my sin, but in looking back I think I went to sleep slowly as I saw how identity was formed in church-every church I went to it was there-finding identity within the church in singing, Bible Study, memorization, understanding scripture, etc..It fed the beast what was already in me. Think about it-church leaders and lay people unaware of their own idolatry can reinforce it in others unintentionally. I know I unknowingly fed the beast in the girls I mentored as a single.
As a new believer I used to think-is it just me or does anyone else really care about God more than clothes, shopping, jewelry, having all the right answers in Bible Study, and doing ministry. Yet underneath I didn’t know I had idols too-I didn’t know I had approval and comfort idol issues with roots so deep-i didn’t know what was ahead for me! As time went on I did the same thing with singing! I was literally walking in idolatry and had no clue, I mean, clothes and jewelry weren’t my ultimate, ministry was-I really do think most of my singing ministry over time became chaff.
Also, it wasn’t reiterated over and over that when I do mess up to remember His love for me-the Gospel-and because of His love how can I not repent and walk in faith? There is love underneath the waves.
I don’t know what happened, and exactly when I went to sleep, but it was a slow, deceptive process. I even found fleeting identity in my spiritual gifts by taking a gift test..Before that I just wanted to serve Him by serving others-I was single and I just wanted to help out and serve anyone when there was a need even if it wasn’t in my “gifting”. Then I got caught up in identity=spiritual disciplines, but I didn’t know it-I thought I was pleasing God. Then the storms hit after I got married and I slowly went downhill. My prayer life in the beginning of my walk was deep, but it waned over time-a huge red flag- and really it wasn’t until I came here and God restored intimacy that soon my prayer life changed-IN THE MIDST OF A HUGE STORM!! A storm that hasn’t ‘gone away’.
Honestly, I am so scared of that deception happening under my nose again-and I notice God is bringing to the surface some yuk lately so I am paying attention and speaking truth to my soul-turning and trusting, daily turning and trusting, but I need to be on guard-alert every day. I want to be around believers who will help me see that as well-pursuers of God. I am thankful my sister in law did Dee’s study because now when we talk on the phone we help each other more than ever before.
Didn’t have time to edit..:~/
Appreciate your honesty, Rebecca. Those of us in “ministry” need to be aware of the beasts within us. It is so easy to find our identity in good works and approval. Lord, have mercy!
11. What else stood out to you from this sermon and why?
How easy it is to be deceived by sin, yet how overwhelmingly beautiful and comforting it is to be His-love underneath the waves!
12. What is your take-a-way and why?
I am Jonah, I am Cain, I am David and all the other ‘misfits’ in the Bible. 🙂 Yet, because of Him-what He did for me- I am His and He loves me despite my jonah’ness and my cain-ness. He knows the beast is at my door and he pleads with me to master it before it ruins me and bars my intimacy with Him. He crafts storms in my life to save me from this beast that is attempting to devour me-what did I do to deserve this love? NOTHING. It is all Grace and I MUST remind myself of this daily because His love melts my heart and renders me helpless-makes me turn.
Yes, yes.
I’m not sure a men’s Bible study blog would include, along with in-depth answers, recommendations for body lotions and recipes. But maybe I’m wrong! 🙂 Great fun.
12. What is your take-a-way and why?
I read some of a Spurgeon sermon today on Jonah (not all of it—I love him, but boy he is wordy!) But thought this was so good:
“The odds were great against the lone man. Was that why Jonah ran away? I think not—but it has been the cause of the flight of many others. Is there a servant of God here who feels unequal to his work and therefore wishes he could escape from it? My dear Brother, you ARE unequal to your work, for you have no sufficiency of your own! I know, also, that I am, in and of myself, unequal to my own calling—shall we, therefore, run away?…. in your own personal weakness find a strong reason for getting to your work, for, ‘When I am weak, then am I strong’ and the strength of God is made perfect in our weakness! With more prayer we shall have more power.”
Earlier in that sermon he also says we should not want to leave our calling—even for Heaven. That struck me–I am convicted today of complaining about the current parenting struggles and “load” I carry…but it IS my calling, for TODAY, and for TODAY, He has strengthened me. Lately the Lord keeps bringing to mind the simple verse “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.”—He provides all I need. He always has, He always will.
I’m struck again by how easy it is to fall into the complaining spiral when I let my eyes wander from my calling. I become like a dried up sponge ready for any moisture to replenish me…and unfortunately comparison and criticism is far too abundant—promises that drop of water—but leaves my heart more dried up than before. If I soak in His Word, keep it so close to mind that it is always on hand—it will penetrate at the earliest sign of drought in my soul.
You are speaking the truth to your soul with eloquent word pictures that will linger and strengthen.
I was thinking about poor Jonah and his dad again when I was mowing the lawn and pulling weeds 🙂 Jonah probably had a “family” identity as well as an identity associated with nation and work/ministry. SO relevant for evangelical “culture” today. Pondering how to teach the good without usurping the best, an identity in Jesus Christ.
Good pondering while mowing. Explain what you mean about teaching the good without usurping the best. I think I know, but would love hear it from you.
Love this Devotion from Sarah Young’s, “Jesus Calling.”
“I have Promised to meet all your needs according to My Glorious Riches. Your deepest, most constant need is for My Peace. I have planted Peace in the garden of your heart, where I live; but there are weeds growing there too: Pride, Worry, Selfishness, Unbelief. I am the Gardener, and I am working to rid your heart of those weeds. I do My Work in various ways. When you sit quietly with Me, I shine the Light of My Presence directly into your heart. In this heavenly Light, Peace grows abundantly and weeds shrival up. I also send trials into your life. When you trust Me in the midst of trouble, Peace flourishes and weeds die away. Thank Me for troublesome situations; the peace they can produce far outweighs the trials your endure.”
Hi fellow “night owl”! But I’m going to bed now!
8. What do you learn from:
A. How does Earnest Becker define sin?
Becker asked the question, “What is the quintessential problem that modern people seem to have?” He said, “The plight of the modern person is this: a modern person is someone who feels like a sinner but has no word for it.” Even though many people insist that they don’t feel like a sinner at all and therefore, they don’t need a concept of sin, Becker said, “I’ve never met a person like that. Modern people have a feeling of something wrong, a feeling of something wrong with me, a feeling of shame or guilt or inadequacy, a feeling that they are a sinner but they have no word for it.”
What is interesting to me is that people, people that I know, will deny that they are a sinner; will insist on their goodness in regards to having good values or morality, but Becker’s statement is very revealing in that if one really believes this to be true, then how does one explain feelings of inadequacy, guilt, or shame? Where do those feelings come from if indeed you are not a sinner and are not answerable to God? It seems to me that “not having a word for it (sin)” leaves you in much worse condition than having a concept for sin.
B. How does Soren Kierkegaard define sin? (Important!)
He said in his book, The Sickness Unto Death, “I’m not going to try to describe or catalog all the individual sins, but I want to give a definition that will embrace all forms like a net. Sin is to despair of getting itself before God and then the despair of seeking to be oneself without God.” He continues, “Any person who tries to manufacture his or her own identity without God gets an identity which is like a king without a country or a country who has subjects for whom rebellion is legitimate every moment.”
What I learn from this is to look at my sin – any particular one – and see if indeed it does fall into the “net” of seeking to be myself, to have an identity, meaning, purpose, apart from God.
C. What point was Keller making with Bridget Jones?
Keller reveals how Jones proves what Jonah and Kierkegaard are saying through three of her New Year’s resolutions. One was to buy impressive literature and place is on her shelves so others would notice. Another was to develop a sense of self, complete without a boyfriend, since this very thing would attract a man. The third was to know that her sense of self comes not from other people but from herself.
Keller says, “My sense of self comes from myself? That can’t be right!”
Renee said she had kind of a deja vu in listening, and so did I, in that when I was a young college age woman, I believed just that sort of nonsense! Like if you look deep within yourself, you’re going to find something in there, some sort of self-empowerment, self-determination. (Like the philosopher Hume, who said, “I think, therefore I am!”) It’s like your own little self-contained world where you make yourself who you are and you rely on your own inner strength. Yet, Keller pointed out that if these premises are true, as in Bridget Jones, then why did she need someone to notice her books, why did she need the attention of men wanting to date her?
What Keller said is true, that we all need, every day, to have people show us or tell us one way or another that we are okay, that we need a word from the outside. We cannot validate ourselves.
9. Jonah had an “identity implosion”, Keller says, for he no longer knew who he really was. Look at his answers to the sailors’ questions in Jonah 1:8-9 and find the one question he does not answer. What was it – and why didn’t he, do you think?
He doesn’t answer the question “What do you do?” He was a prophet, his purpose was to communicate the will of God to the people, to preach repentance to Ninevah was his current assignment. Perhaps because he had tried to forge his own identity apart from God by running away relationally from God, he was out of touch with his true identity. He had been in that “deep sleep” and was just starting to wake up.
10. When we find our identity apart from God it is as though we are under an anesthetic! A sleep unto death! Have you experienced this? Explain.
Well, I feel as if I have been experiencing this. I have been awakened through this study to the fact that I have made idols out of my children, out of being a mother. I have, for years, I think, turned my calling of being a mother into making my identity, my validation, my meaning in life, being a mom. It’s confusing, I’m still trying to sort it out. It seems that callings in life, ministry, and identity can get all blurred and mixed up together. I am starting to feel the empty nest syndrome, with my two older boys, even though I still have my daughter at home; on one hand I think it’s normal to miss them – my oldest is already in college and the next will be leaving in about 3 months – they’ve been with me for 18 and 21 years, every day, and to think of especially my one son going out of state and being gone most of the year, it makes me sad, yet now this idolatry stuff makes me feel guilty for feeling this way because does it mean that I shouldn’t feel sad and it just shows my idolatry? Well, Keller did say sad is okay, just not wanting to go jump off a bridge, and I don’t want to do that!
But I feel rather “aimless” right now, like I don’t know, in another few years, after my daughter is raised, what will life be like for me? I guess this shows my lack of spiritual maturity b/c yes, I still need “words from outside” to make me feel okay, and needed. How long does it take to no longer need those words, and to only need the affirmation of God?
11. What else stood out to you from this sermon and why?
How if I don’t get my affirmation from God, I will desperately depend upon all kinds of other words from outside – this leads to idolatry – I will have to get other gods; something that will put its hands on me and say, “Well done”. I too found this to be a very convicting sermon. I truly can see how this is the very essence of all sin, as Augustine said, that the essence of sin is always disordered love; loving something too much in relation to God. That can even by myself, at times!
The warning that this kind of horrible sin can be underneath a life of going to church, serving, reading the Bible, obeying the rules.
God will often send a storm because He wants me. “Ths sin under the sin under the sin under the sin of all the sins, is that you just don’t have the courage to accept how loved you are, that Jesus would die for you.” (Kierkegaard)
When Keller read that quote, I thought of a different reason why it takes courage, before I heard him explain further. I think it takes courage to open my hands and let go of the idols, to hear words from the outside that are not affirming, or even disapproving, and not shrink away or put up a defensive wall but to be able, with God’s help, to continue to love, being assured of His love. I think it takes a kind of courage to believe God when so many around me do not believe.
To remember that there is love beneath the waves. I am so sinful that He had to die for me, but so valued that He wanted to.
12. What is your take-away and why?
Sin is finding my identity and meaning in anything other than God. This week’s sermon helped me get a better understanding of what his means, and to see it in my life, both before I was a Christian and how it still operates in me now.
Your mind is great in the wee small hours of the morning. And I see God moving in your heart, reaffirming His love and identity for you.
Susan, What are you doing up so late??!!
Susan, You will still get affirming love from your kids when they are older. My son is actually more loving then my daughter at times and they are 33 and 30. I remember wondering that also when they were young, but their love gets stronger as they get older! (they appreciate you more then)