I’m returning to the question format I used in the past with Paige as I can see the “loose” format wasn’t working as well, and many have dropped out. I will put the post up on Wednesday if you look here on the blog, but will not mail out the reminder until Thursday so I have time to tweak the later days.
Wednesday: God Hunt and The Text
1. How has the Lord manifested Himself to you this week?
2. Read Jonah 1:15-2:10
A. What strikes you in this text and why?
B. What questions do you have and what is your best guess at the answer?
C. Why do you think God might be showing you this today?
Thursday: Introduction
3. Listen up through when she reads through the text.
A. What strikes you and why?
B. Why doesn’t God tell us more about the fish?
C. Why isn’t it rational to say miracles are not possible?
4. Is Jonah swallowed for judgment? For salvation? For correction? Is God acting as an affronted sovereign or a loving parent? See Hebrews 12:4-7 and comment.
5. Look closely at John 1:8-9. Why doesn’t it say simply that He is faithful and gracious to forgive our sin? What part do we play in forgiveness? What does real repentance look like?
Friday: The Grammar
Listen to Paige on the grammar of grace. (This is the longest section.) Listen up to when she starts talking about the temple, or the presence of God.
6. What word pictures, stories, or quotes stand out to you and why?
7. She points out some coordinating conjunctions — what do you remember:
A. Find and comment on the down, down, downs of Jonah 1
B. “Then” of 2:1 (How long did it take him to cry out to the Lord?)
C. “For” of 2:3 (Who really cast Jonah into the sea?)
8. She points out contradictory conjunctions. Other religions use “therefore” following sin. Sin has consequences. Christianity uses therefore (or the concept) as well, but then uses “but” or “yet.”Find the “buts” or “yets” in the following and comment on the grammar of grace.
A. Romans 3:19/ Romans 3:21-22
B. Luke 15:21-2
C. Jonah 1:4
D. Share your testimony in a sentence using therefore and but. (I would say, “My life revolved around myself therefore I was miserable but God came to me through my sister sharing His good news and lifted me out of the depths.”)
Saturday: The Guarantee & The Ground of Grace
Listen up to the Grasp of Grace — she finishes this section with the story of her friend Carlyle and the boy Trey as an example of unfailing love, which is the ground of grace.
9. What word pictures, stories, or quotes stand out to you and why?
10. What has Jonah wanted to do according to Jonah 1:3? Now what does he want to do according to Jonah 1:4? What does the temple represent?
11. What are the two central components of the temple, that represent both law and mercy? (Bad news and good news) What do you learn about each?
12. Why must we look through the lens of holiness to really see our sin? (Not just drugs, sex, and rock and roll but apathy toward those who are lost, hungry… self-promotion…)
13. Was there a time when you reached the bottom and looked to God that you can remember? If so, share briefly. (You may have been a believer — Jonah was!)
14. She told about her 5-year old running out into the street so the president could see him. Do you have a desire to be seen by God? How is the only way we can be seen by God and not die?
15. Why is there no more temple?
16. How are the cries of Jonah in the depths overcome by Jesus’ cries from the cross?
17. How did John Stott define the essence of sin and the essence of salvation?
18. What was the point of the little boy standing on the shoulders of his brother in St. Louis?
19. How could she say grace is based on merit? Whose merit?
20. Do you tend to revert to works-righteousness, thinking your behavior will win His love and mercy? Paige asks, “What does the act stop in Jonah 2?)
21. The word translated steadfast love in 6 is “hesed.” This is the ground of grace. What does she say about it?
22. To be loved but not known is superficial. To be known and not loved is our worst nightmare. Only Jesus sees us to the bottom and loves us to the sky. (Keller) Do you believe this? (I have heard Keller compare this to lovemaking in a good marriage — being seen naked yet loved to the sky.)
Sunday: Church
23. Share a highlight from your fellowship at your local church.
Monday: Grasp the Gospel
Listen to the end.
24. What word pictures, illustrations, or quotes stand out to you/
25. The NIV of Jonah 2:8 works best with Paige’s teaching: “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Why did Paige say you can’t cling to God and other things? How can you apply this? Be specific.
26. Cling with your mind – what stood out? How do you argue what you “feel” with what you “know?”
27. Cling with your heart — what stood out? How do you see personal pronouns in Jonah’s prayer? How is God personal to you?
28. The real translation of idols is “worthless things of fleeting vapors.” What things have you clung to as your solid rock that failed you?
29. What was her point with her story about Sproul and Piper and the chair?
30. Cling with your life — what stood out? What did she mean with grace lowers, raises, and levels?
31. What was her point with her closing story about her dad?
1. How has the Lord manifested Himself to you this week? I have been aware of his mercies in many of the seemingly mundane routines of my life this week. The fact that my life is not in turmoil right now is a blessing. 2. Read Jonah 1:15-2:10 A. What strikes you in this text and why? That the men greatly feared the Lord and begged for his mercy in what they were about to do. Pagans who are far from God are doing his will while one of God’s own prophets is not. B. What questions do you have and what is your best guess at the answer? Were any of these men truly converted after this? It say that they were exceedingly afraid, offered sacrifices and made vows to the Lord, but there is really no indication that they weren’t treating God like any other god that they worshiped.
C. Why do you think God might be showing you this today? Because I really need to examine my motives for doing things. Am I doing them with a heart toward really pleasing the Lord and doing his will or out of a frenzied compulsion to do all that I can to “make him happy” and make my life smooth.
I really need to examine my motives for doing things. Am I doing them with a heart toward really pleasing the Lord and doing his will or out of a frenzied compulsion to do all that I can to “make him happy” and make my life smooth.
2. Read Jonah 1:15-2:10 A. What strikes you in this text and why?
In Jonah’s prayer he references praise to God that is reminiscent of David in the Psalms. I can feel the claustrophobic nature of what he is experiencing. Deep comes to deep, and then, then! He turns and praises God! Love it all!
“He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me! You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’ “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.””
Jonah 2:2-9 NLT
B. What questions do you have and what is your best guess at the answer?
What changes Jonah’s heart? Is it because he can’t take the pain of the “fish?” I’m guessing he is afraid and decided he should give in and humble himself.
C. Why do you think God might be showing you this today?
I need to look to the Lord for all my needs. Praise God through it all.
2. Read Jonah 1:15-2:10
A. What strikes you in this text and why?
I don’t see repentance in Jonah. He says he cried to the Lord and the Lord heard him. He also says he will offer sacrifices with thanksgiving, but I don’t see words of contrition. I must be missing something.
B. What questions do you have and what is your best guess at the answer?
If Jonah didn’t repent, why did God rescue him. My best guess is that God is a God of mercy, who gives us what we do not deserve.
C. Why do you think God might be showing you this today?
I don’t deserve mercy, but God keeps giving it to me anyway.
Thursday: Introduction
3. Listen up through when she reads through the text.
A. What strikes you and why?
The focus of the book of Jonah is about Grace, biblical Grace. That’s the true miracle, not the fish.
B. Why doesn’t God tell us more about the fish?
The fish is not the focus. God can do anything he wants, whenever he wants. He made the natural laws. He can change them whenever he wants.
C. What isn’t it rational to say miracles are not possible?
Not believing in miracles is an a priori argument. It’s an assumption. “I don’t believe this, therefore it cannot be true.” It is based on faith. We come to every miracle in Scripture through the resurrection. If we don’t believe in miracles, we do not believe in the resurrection. If the resurrection is not true, then our faith is vain and we are still in our sins.
4. Is Jonah swallowed for judgment? For salvation? For correction? Is God acting as an affronted sovereign or a loving parent? See Hebrews 12:4-7 and comment.
I think Jonah is swallowed for correction. God is acting like a loving parent who disciplines for Jonah’s good.
Heb. 12;10 “For they [fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.”
God has a good reason for disciplining us. He wants to make us holy and righteous.
5. Look closely at John 1:8-9. Why doesn’t it say simply that He is faithful and gracious to forgive our sin? What part do we play in forgiveness? How short are your accounts?
We need to confess our sins – not just say the words, but repent. If we do not repent, we are rebelling and He cannot dwell in a rebellious heart.
So good to have you back, Diane. You are so wise. I am going to look up priori argument! 🙂 I don’t see repentance in him either. What hit me that Paige said is it took him 3 days and 3 nights to even cry out!
How has the Lord manifested Himself to you this week? I and 2 other ladies prayed with another woman who asked for prayer because she was going on a trip and was gripped with fear that she wouldn’t be returning. The Lord directed the questions we asked her and she was able to discern what was triggering the fear. We then blessed her and when I checked with her the next day she has remained at peace with her trip.
2. Read Jonah 1:15-2:10
A. What strikes you in this text and why? A few things from Jonah’s prayer. My life was slipping away and I remembered the Lord. Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. It took him 3 days in the belly of a whale to remember God and His mercies. Then God’s response was immediate.
B. What questions do you have and what is your best guess at the answer? Why it took Jonah 3 days to remember. Stubbornness? It was a miracle he was still alive.
C. Why do you think God might be showing you this today? My hurriedness at times and failure to slow down exhale and recognize all God’s mercies to me
3. Listen up through when she reads through the text. A. What strikes you and why?
The way I think about grace may not mean what God means by grace. I have never thought of that before. I’m not sure I even know what it means.
B. Why doesn’t God tell us more about the fish?
The fish doesn’t matter. He wants us to be more preoccupied with the actual miracle here. God’s grace is the central miracle. C. Why isn’t it rational to say miracles are not possible?
Just because you don’t believe it doesn’t mean it’s not true. 4. Is Jonah swallowed for judgment? For salvation? For correction?
I think (now), for correction.
Is God acting as an affronted sovereign or a loving parent? See Hebrews 12:4-7 and comment.
A loving parent. We must correct our children when they are out of bounds. Jonah was definitely out of bounds.
5. Look closely at John 1:8-9. Why doesn’t it say simply that He is faithful and gracious to forgive our sin?
I think you meant 1 John 1:8-9?
We must know we are sinners first, and acknowledge that we need forgiveness. Of course He is faithful and gracious.
What part do we play in forgiveness? What does real repentance look like?
See above. But, we are active in our participation of being forgiven. Real repentance is the act of asking forgiveness. We must have an action.
How have you thought about grace, Laura — and how is this different? I know Keller talks about how the penny of grace has to keep dropping further and further into our souls.
I guess I always thought of grace as God’s forgiveness; that He automatically gives us grace. I think it could be different in that I have to first repent (take action) and ask Him for this forgiveness. It’s more of a process than what I imagined.
That is good to see that. Otherwise it leans toward universalism — that everyone is forgiven and going to heaven. I don’t think it is saying that if you sin as a believer and die before you have repented that you are damned, but rather that you are quenching His Spirit and not living in the peace, fellowship, and victory He longs for His children to have.
Laura - dancer
September 24, 2023
Interesting! It never dawned on me that understanding God gives grace would lean toward universalism, but yes! You are correct. This way makes us acknowledge our part in the sinning. So enlightening for me.
Judy Liddle
September 22, 2023
6. What word pictures, stories, or quotes stand out to you and why? The story about meeting her friend from Nashville at the Met. We have two different time zones in Indiana So if you are meeting someone even 50 miles away it s easy to be meeting at 1:00 but we may not both br talking central time zone.
7. She points out some coordinating conjunctions — what do you remember:
A. Find and comment on the down, down, downs of Jonah 1
B. “Then” of 2:1 (How long did it take him to cry out to the Lord?) after 3 days and 3 nights
C. “For” of 2:3 (Who really cast Jonah into the sea?) God
She points out contradictory conjunctions. Other religions use “therefore” following sin. Sin has consequences. Christianity uses therefore (or the concept) as well, but then uses “but” or “yet.”Find the “buts” or “yets” in the following and comment on the grammar of grace.
A. Romans 3:19/ Romans 3:21-22 we are not under the law anymore, through faith in Jesus we have righteousness.
B. Luke 15:21-2 the son owned up to his sin and said I’m no longer worthy to be your son, but the father put his best robe in him and ordered a celebration for his return.
C. Jonah 1:4 using 2:4 I have been banished from your sight yet I can look towards your holy temple.
D. Share your testimony in a sentence using therefore and but. (I would say, “My life revolved around myself therefore I was miserable but God came to me through my sister sharing His good news and lifted me out of the depths.”) I was lost in despair and ignoring God and therefore deserved punishment, but now I’m found because of His bringing me to a place of desperation so I finally turned to Him.
6. What word pictures, stories, or quotes stand out to you and why?
Love the Schoolhouse Rock memory!
7. She points out some coordinating conjunctions — what do you remember: A. Find and comment on the down, down, downs of Jonah 1
Jonah is going down to Joppa, he goes down to the bottom of the ship, he goes down to the bottom of the water. This is his psalm of descent. He can go no lower. Why? for justice. The Lord allowed this. He expected it and it is logical.
B. “Then” of 2:1 (How long did it take him to cry out to the Lord?)
It takes him 3 days and 3 nights in the fish to cry out to the Lord. It takes a loonnggg time to get to this point. With maturity, this gets shorter.
C. “For” of 2:3 (Who really cast Jonah into the sea?)
God cast him into the sea.
8. She points out contradictory conjunctions. Other religions use “therefore” following sin. Sin has consequences. Christianity uses therefore (or the concept) as well, but then uses “but” or “yet.”Find the “buts” or “yets” in the following and comment on the grammar of grace. A. Romans 3:19/ Romans 3:21-22
The law is provided to help us in our sin. But, He also provides a way to keep right with Him without the law.
He knows we are sinful but He also provides a way out by giving us Jesus.
B. Luke 15:21-2
The younger son confessed to the father how he has sinned against him. The father tells his servants to get the finest robe and begin a celebration that he is home.
The younger son was disobedient and disrespectful but the father celebrates the son has come home.
C. Jonah 1:4
Jonah runs by leaving on a ship to Tarshish, but the Lord produces a violent storm to slow him down.
Jonah disobeys, but the Lord stops him for his own good.
D. Share your testimony in a sentence using therefore and but. (I would say, “My life revolved around myself therefore I was miserable but God came to me through my sister sharing His good news and lifted me out of the depths.”)
I was living a chaotic life where I tried to control everything and everyone, therefore I was broken and defeated, BUT God reminded me of His control over my life and took charge of the situation(s) for me.
9. Point out contradictory conjunctions
A. What was her point about other religions using the word therefore?
In other religions we have to earn merit, to deserve reward.
B. Jonah has tried everything to abandon God — now what is his greatest fear?
He feared being abandoned by God.
C. God is not answering with a therefore rather yet (verse 6) COMMENTS?
“Yet you brought my life from the pit” Yet indicates undeserved, unmerited. There is no way to deserve it. Yet and But is the essence of the gospel. Merit implies we can somehow earn it. We can never earn grace. She says grace is not unconditional, it is counter-conditional! It goes against everything we are taught to believe about the world.
D. How is the grace Jonah is given different than winning the lottery?
There’s always a slight chance to win the lottery. There is no chance we can earn grace.
E. What examples did she give with “but?”
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.
10. What was her point in Jonah looking toward the temple? What does the temple represent? What did she mean that you have to be at the bottom to be saved?
The Holy of Holies is the throne room of God. He seats on the mercy seat that is on the top of the ark of the covenant. He is holy. We cannot measure up. We cannot enter in. That is fearful. We cannot deserve to approach. We can only approach God in his holy justice through the lens of a sacrifice by a substitute sprinkled on the mercy seat. But… God sees us through the sacrifice of Jesus – the sacrifice that made an end to all other sacrifices, once for all. The curtain was torn. We can enter.
11. How does seeing the holiness of God help you see the depth of your sin?
We are self-justifying creatures. We are constantly rationalizing our sin to make it appear not as bad as it really is. It is only against the standard of God’s holiness that we see our depravity clearly.
Even though this may be the lowest participation on a study in my 15 years of blogging, the few left are such a blessing to me. I know I should have not tried to do less work by not having questions, so I’ve learned from that. Whether or not I try Paige again, the Lord will have to show me. I do learn so much from her but I also know she is a lot, especially for women in other studies. But both she and you are blessing me! I also love my in-person group.
Awww….Dee. I do like Paige and I do appreciate the pointed questions this week. I think so many are so stretched. I have overcome a habit that used my time in such a wasteful way. Since I have given it up I am finding that I am sleeping more, and have more time to do more ordinary things like keeping my house cleaner! I do still struggle with the study in the morning, as I still find it hard to wake up! I try to do a little bit all day and then wrap up at night. I never thought I needed to learn anymore about Jonah, but wouldn’t you know! I have been learning thanks to you and Paige.
Dee, I absolutely love Paige’s teaching and regret not staying regular with answering here on the blog. I have listened and started answering but with traveling and family needs I have gotten derailed and not finished and gotten anything posted. I’m asking for prayer for our granddaughter Aerilyn the one with spina bifida. She will be 10 years old this coming Tuesday. She has been having headaches and vomiting off and on for several weeks now. She has a brain shunt and initially we suspected it is her problem. Doctoring is not easy because we live 4 hours from Children’s Hospital in Omaha where all her specialists are and they wanted her to have scans and X-rays done locally or in Kearney first to rule out possible normal issue. Turns out she did have a UTI but for 3 weeks now every time it looks like she is better after a few days the headache and vomiting comes back. The kids are kind of at their wits end since nothing definitive is showing up. We need God’s direction and encouragement for her care. Just appreciate the prayers of this group.
Prayers for your granddaughter and your family for answers and healing.
Ernema T. Boettner
September 24, 2023
Bev, I will pray for Aerilyn. For guidance for your family and also for the doctors. I, too, have been behind here. Glad we have such a kind, loving, and understanding group and Bible Study leader!
Dee, thank you so much for persevering with us. Paige is like Tim Keller to me. They express things so well and yet when I put what I think they said, it does not sound as eloquent! But oh, I learned so much from them. It just takes a little more effort on my part to put my Filipino thoughts into English. LOL I did like the less work but I found myself wandering so pointed questions would help me more even if I feel like I cannot keep up.
I am here and I will be here. I love this blog!
Wednesday: God Hunt and The Text
1. How has the Lord manifested Himself to you this week?
I am quite behind and will try to catch up! I have been apprehensive about a documentary screening that I have helped organize. But God gave me peace and as the day of the screening came, God’s peace prevailed. No rushing here and there; just a comforting thought that all is well.
After the screening: We had great feedback from the 44 people who attended. The Lord reminded me again of the lesson learned from last week: “Who is in your boat?” As I looked around and saw familiar and unfamiliar faces, I prayed to God that He would do mighty work in the lives of these people as they live with loved ones who have been diagnosed with dementia. I thank God for the producers and filmmakers of the documentary for bringing hope to struggling families. It was worth the time and effort invested in getting our community together.
2. Read Jonah 1:15-2:10
A. What strikes you in this text and why?
That it took Jonah 3 days and 3 nights to come to an acknowledgment of his need for God. He had to go to the lowest of lowest to come to his senses. Sometimes, we have to be so down, down, down in the pit and the only way out is up.
B. What questions do you have and what is your best guess at the answer?
How did Jonah survive inside the belly of the fish? It must have been big enough for him to be able to stay above water and have air, I guess. Not sure I have the brain to really ask good questions from this story
C. Why do you think God might be showing you this today?
He is in control and for me to not focus on what I do not understand from the text but on what understanding God gives to me.
Well, I feel a little like I’m eavesdropping here, but missing you all and just gleaning from your study here. We are about to start Jonah at church, wish I had been able to join you all. I will be back one day! Love and prayers for you all, made me smile just to see your tiny faces today.
What word pictures, stories, or quotes stand out to you and why? Her story about boy on his brother’s shoulder so heart wrenching.
10. What has Jonah wanted to do according to Jonah 1:3? Run from the Presence of the Lord. Now what does he want to do according to Jonah 2:4? I have been banished from your sight, yet I will look again to your holy temple. What does the temple represent? The Presence of the Lord
11. What are the two central components of the temple, that represent both law and mercy? (Bad news and good news) What do you learn about each? Temple is holy and to enter it required blood shed and death. It was never the sinner’s blood there was a substitute. We misunderstand our sinfulness That is why the Good News isn’t that good to us because the bad news is not that bad.
12. Why must we look through the lens of holiness to really see our sin? (Not just drugs, sex, and rock and roll but apathy toward those who are lost, hungry… self-promotion…) because we should not attempt to lower God s Standard of holiness to our standard of holiness.
13. Was there a time when you reached the bottom and looked to God that you can remember? If so, share briefly. (You may have been a believer — Jonah was!) In a time of loneliness and rejection, I spent a lot of time looking at the word hope in scripture.
14. She told about her 5-year old running out into the street so the president could see him. Do you have a desire to be seen by God? I’ve never thought about. If He knows number of hairs on my head, I thought He could see me. How is the only way we can be seen by God and not die? Through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
15. Why is there no more temple? Jesus is our temple, Jesus is our atoning sacrifice and mercy seat.
16. How are the cries of Jonah in the depths overcome by Jesus’ cries from the cross? Jesus cries were not answered.
17. How did John Stott define the essence of sin and the essence of salvation? Sin is man substituting himself for God. Salvation God substituting Himself for man. Man puts himself where only God should be and God puts Himself where only man should be. God accepts the penalties that belong to man alone.
18. What was the point of the little boy standing on the shoulders of his brother in St. Louis? We are standing on the shoulders of Jesus. His death means our life. That is the guarantee of grace. Jesus accomplished it for us.
19. How could she say grace is based on merit? Whose merit? Jesus got what I deserved and I get what He deserves. It’s Jesus merit
20. Do you tend to revert to works-righteousness, thinking your behavior will win His love and mercy? Paige asks, “What does the act stop in Jonah 2?) There some of that Have I spent enough time with Him today or am I riding on yesterday’s coat tails. Because grace is never about our action
21. The word translated steadfast love in 6 is “hesed.” This is the ground of grace. What does she say about it? Her stopping never giving up love. Because of great power of God He can save. It’s because of the great love of God that He does save prompted by just His love.
22. To be loved but not known is superficial. To be known and not loved is our worst nightmare. Only Jesus sees us to the bottom and loves us to the sky. (Keller) Do you believe this? (I have heard Keller compare this to lovemaking in a good marriage — being seen naked yet loved to the sky.) I believe Jesus sees me the real me and loves me any way. The other part of statement I don’t know. I get what I get some days.
23. Share a highlight from your fellowship at your local church. A lady at church started a group to start praying for our church to have spiritual growth. She has called it digging ditches to prepare the ground for the Lord to work. Today 7 people showed up for preservice prayer and the average had been 2-3. Then a young man from Texas told me he had been attending 2 months but was being baptized because he felt it was time. The friend with him said he wants to be baptized. May His name be praised for bringing people into His kingdom.
Sunday: Church
23. Share a highlight from your fellowship at your local church.
We had quite a few people who were not present at church today because of other commitments and illnesses. But what a blessing to see the ones who came. Two of the young adults who will be baptized next month were there. A sister in Christ who has not attended for 2 years due to her pursuit of a higher education degree came today to tell us she is finally done and would like to come regularly again. Three boys who are being fostered by a young couple with three kids of their own were at the children’s church and had a good exchange with them as they participated in the lesson’s activity. Then people lingered and talked to one another after the service. These moments warm my soul.
A prayer request:
Please pray for me. A month or so ago, I found a lump on my neck. My doctor prescribed an antibiotic for me for 7 days and advised me to wait for another week to see if the lump went away. Though much smaller now, I still have it so I am going for an ultrasound on Tuesday at 11 am. My soul has vacillated between fear and trusting God. I have to constantly remind myself of what I KNOW about God rather than how I feel. I am thankful for the consistent encouragement of the Word through this blog and for all who are here. Thank you for your prayers.
Thank you so much, dear friends. I will go tomorrow for the test with confidence in our Father who hears our prayers and knows our future. You all bless me so!
Praying got you, Bing. Lord, I pray that you will cover Bing with your peace, comfort and healing. Give the doctors wisdom and guidance. In Jesus’ name I pray.
I am not sure where this comment will land lol but I am happy to report that my ultrasound report said, “No suspicious adenopathy or mass.”The nodule is actually in the thyroid and is very small. The recommendation is to monitor it. My prayer is for it to dissolve completely. But for now, join me in thanking God for His mercy and grace! I am waiting for my primary physician to give me further advice. Thank you so much for your prayers. I really felt an overwhelming peace while I was lying down on the examining table and I had a lovely technician do the procedure on me. I also got to visit with a friend who gave me a ride while Richard was at the dentist’s office getting a crown!
Today was a testament to God’s tender care of me and Richard while giving each other an opportunity to minister to a few people in between appointments. I am very grateful to the God whom we serve. Love to all!
Laura - dancer
September 24, 2023
10. What has Jonah wanted to do according to Jonah 1:3? Now what does he want to do according to Jonah 1:4? What does the temple represent?
He wanted to run away at first. Now, in 2:4 he looks to God and His holy temple. The temple represents the place where God can see us, the place where the mercy seat is, where the offering of sacrifice was brought.
11. What are the two central components of the temple, that represent both law and mercy? (Bad news and good news) What do you learn about each?
I’m not sure that I get this question but I will take a stab at it. Is it the mercy seat and the sacrifice? Bloodshed and death? The good news is that it isn’t on me, but it is the sacrifice that takes it for me. God sees us there.
12. Why must we look through the lens of holiness to really see our sin? (Not just drugs, sex, and rock and roll but apathy toward those who are lost, hungry… self-promotion…)
I am not good enough to stand in front of the Lord. When we see who we really are, we will cry out and that is where grace is found. It’s at the bottom.
13. Was there a time when you reached the bottom and looked to God that you can remember? If so, share briefly. (You may have been a believer — Jonah was!)
Absolutely! When my kids were teenagers. They were so hard and I just had to give up and give in to Him. He took over. Thank You Lord!!
14. She told about her 5-year old running out into the street so the president could see him. Do you have a desire to be seen by God? How is the only way we can be seen by God and not die?
Yes, I would love to be seen by Him. I think the only way to be seen by God and not die is through Jesus. Jesus sits in place of us and represents us.
15. Why is there no more temple?
Jesus is the temple. He is the mercy seat for us.
16. How are the cries of Jonah in the depths overcome by Jesus’ cries from the cross?
Because Jesus paid it all for us.
17. How did John Stott define the essence of sin and the essence of salvation?
By substitution. We substitute ourselves as God and God substitutes Himself for man.
18. What was the point of the little boy standing on the shoulders of his brother in St. Louis?
Oh my gosh I have now cried twice about this story. 😢😢 We are standing on the shoulders of Jesus.
Only one missing is Holy of Holies represents justice of God and you were right on the mercy seat representing His mercy. Truth and mercy met at the cross.
Sunday: Church
23. Share a highlight from your fellowship at your local church.
—Yesterday we had a fellowship dinner after church so interaction was abundant with God’s people in my church. Many were concerned about my granddaughter Aerilyn being sick and prayers for her were abundant. I was blessed by the encouragement of God’s people who pray. As of last night she had a very good day. We are trusting God for that continue.
Thank you to each of you for your prayers.
And Bing you are and will be in my prayers for your Drs. Appointment on Tuesday.
Monday: Grasp the Gospel
Listen to the end.
24. What word pictures, illustrations, or quotes stand out to you/
—in her talking about our need to cling with our minds Paige said “We have to argue what we feel with what we know” It’s not about the emotions or inspirations but the Truth. She said “Plant yourselves in the promises of God.” and “Salvation belongs to the Lord” is a doctrine not an inspiration. It is a truth statement not a belief statement.
25. The NIV of Jonah 2:8 works best with Paige’s teaching: “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Why did Paige say you can’t cling to God and other things? How can you apply this? Be specific.
—I seem to have missed that specific thought in my starting and stopping the video to take notes.
26. Cling with your mind – what stood out? How do you argue what you “feel” with what you “know?”
— Her emphasis on “Salvation belongs to the Lord!” stood out to me. It is doctrine and truth not just inspiration or a belief statement. That is a powerful truth and it is all Jesus. God alone brought salvation to Jonah and to me.
—Arguing what I feel with what I know happens by going to God’s Word and planting myself in the promises of God.
Yesterday morning as I got up early and spent time reading the Bible and praying for Aerilyn God gave me personally a very short promise in the middle of Psalm 42:5 “…Hope thou in God…” That was something solid from God’s Word for my mind to take hold of yesterday when my emotions were struggling.
27. Cling with your heart — what stood out?
—The personal pronouns are prominent in the passage of Jonah’s prayer. It isn’t just truth alone but but the promises are mine personally.
How do you see personal pronouns in Jonah’s prayer?
—They are kind of shocking in that prior to being thrown into the sea and ending up in the belly of the fish Jonah was running from the very presence of God and trying to shut God completely out of his life. But now in his deep distress his true relationship to God has become very upfront and personal.
How is God personal to you?
—I would say God becomes very personal to me in prayer. I have found when my needs are overwhelming me if I write down my prayers based on His scripture I am able to clarify the things in my heart and mind and bring them together.
28. The real translation of idols is “worthless things of fleeting vapors.” What things have you clung to as your solid rock that failed you?
—Primarily for me it has been other people. This is not implying the individuals are worthless vapors but as idols in my life they will fail to be what God alone is meant to be in my life.
29. What was her point with her story about Sproul and Piper and the chair?
—She said don’t just love the Lord because you have forgiveness and consider Him useful to your life somehow. But love Him because you see his beauty and his worth. Love Him for Who He is.
30. Cling with your life — what stood out? What did she mean with grace lowers, raises, and levels?
—This is the reality that the ground is level at the foot of the Cross. We all come to Jesus with equal need. All are sinners born into the flesh that way and we have no power in and of ourselves to rescue us from a deserved death.
Her example in comparing the two men, the Apostle Paul and the thief on the Cross is excellent. By comparison their lives and their status were worlds apart but they were equal in their need of God’s grace which is only found in Jesus.
31. What was her point with her closing story about her dad?
—Even though her dad was a preacher the man questioning him didn’t take him at face value. He said point blank “Do you believe in Jesus?” He dad replied “I do and it is a miracle.” And my need is to always remember that my faith and knowledge of Jesus is truly a miracle not based on anything I have done. All grace!!
25. The NIV of Jonah 2:8 works best with Paige’s teaching: “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Why did Paige say you can’t cling to God and other things? How can you apply this? Be specific. I have to come empty handed so I can grasp grace only. Grace isn’t helping me it’s saving me. Sometimes when I hit a rough patch I can start depending on friends more than working the situation out with the Lord. I need to put my reliance totally on Him. He alone can make the path smooth.
26. Cling with your mind – what stood out? How do you argue what you “feel” with what you “know?” Plant self in the truth about God and in His promises. God has already satisfied my deepest need through Jesus.
27. Cling with your heart — what stood out? How do you see personal pronouns in Jonah’s prayer? How is God personal to you? I have to understand in my heart that God is for me and not against me. It has to have a firm foundation in God and what Jesus has done for me. The personal pronouns usage is Jonah claiming God as his God. God is personal to me He surrounds me at times and I don’t even want to move. I just want to stay near Him.
28. The real translation of idols is “worthless things of fleeting vapors.” What things have you clung to as your solid rock that failed you? Friends and family
29. What was her point with her story about Sproul and Piper and the chair? It’s not enough to see and know God We have to love love Him for all that He is, truth and beauty, love, and just.
30. Cling with your life — what stood out? What did she mean with grace lowers, raises, and level? We are all equal at the foot of the cross. We are all in need of His grace.
31. What was her point with her closing story about her dad? (Amazing how humble her dad remained.) It’s a miracle when we come to the end of ourselves and realize that we all need Jesus.
19. How could she say grace is based on merit? Whose merit?
The merit refers to His sacrifice for us.
Now I’m confused. She talks about grace never being about our action, only Jesus giving Himself for us. Dee, you and I had that discussion above about universalism. It seems that Paige is saying He died for all (which He did) and we don’t have to do anything for this grace.
20. Do you tend to revert to works-righteousness, thinking your behavior will win His love and mercy? Paige asks, “What does the act stop in Jonah 2?)
I don’t think this way any more.
21. The word translated steadfast love in 6 is “hesed.” This is the ground of grace. What does she say about it?
It is a complex word. It means more; never stopping, never giving up, un breaking, always and forever LOVE.
22. To be loved but not known is superficial. To be known and not loved is our worst nightmare. Only Jesus sees us to the bottom and loves us to the sky. (Keller) Do you believe this? (I have heard Keller compare this to lovemaking in a good marriage — being seen naked yet loved to the sky.)
I do believe this. It has taken me a long time to get to this point though.
Tuesday: Take-A-Way — Think!
32. What is your take-a-way and why?
—What a wonderful lesson on the amazing grace of God. Paige said earlier in this lesson the heart of the book of Jonah is his prayer. She commented “ The heart of the matter is do we understand God’s grace and what will we do with God’s grace.” She said grace is only found at the bottom and we have to get to the very bottom to fully understand grace and what it really is. That is where we see ourselves accurately as the sinners we really are without hope but for the grace of God. And God’s amazing grace is manifested to us in the person of Jesus Christ. It’s all about Jesus and the Cross. That is where I find hope and life.
—I want to thank you sweet friends again for praying for my granddaughter Aerilyn. God answered our prayers for her and she turned a corner on Sunday and is feeling well again. We are praising Him. Today is her 10th birthday and it is a joy to celebrate this little dark haired beauty (looks like her momma) who is a special gift from God.
The format has nothing to do with my failure to post. I have been listening to the sermons and reading the posts.
I will make it a priority to participate more. I’ve had a busy couple of weeks, but that’s no excuse. I still find time to do other things that are less important. Sorry!
32. What is your take-a-way and why? Don’t wait for 3 days when I’m in a mess of my own making to turn to God. Even when I don’t feel Him, He’s working and I need to trust in Him, obey and lean into Him and not wallow in self pity.
You all have no idea how much I miss participating here! I always follow along, and listen to everything Dee suggests and gives links to, and usually for the links others of you post. I am in a deep season of pruning activities, since I didn’t even realize how overcommitted I was until people besides my husband started telling me I was doing too much. I long to be able to come back someday, but in the meantime please know I am with all of you in spirit. Even if I never get to come back, I will search out heaven for each one of you so that we can make up for lost time!!
Oh, Mary B! I just have to get back to you. I have been kind of off and on as well but this blog is very special to me. I love this “Even if I never get to come back, I will search out heaven for each one of you so that we can make up for lost time!!”
As always there is so much to learn from Paige!
Oh Mary How good to hear from you. Heaven is gonna be so great when we get to meet. And we will have forever to find and connect with our sisters in Christ. I love the thought.
My takeaway:
Since I am much of a feeling person, I want to focus on the many answers here for questions 25-30. To not cling to worthless idols and to cling with my heart, mind, and life to Jesus, by His grace. To argue what I feel with what I know is true these past couple of months as I dealt with the lump in my neck.
25. The NIV of Jonah 2:8 works best with Paige’s teaching: “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Why did Paige say you can’t cling to God and other things? How can you apply this? Be specific.
You have to grasp the gospel. It is the string that unties the whole knot. It has been given to you. You must cling if you are desperate. You only come with empty hands so you may only grasp it, nothing else. Jonah finally prays! I should pray like Jonah did.You cling right where you are, in all your muck.
26. Cling with your mind – what stood out? How do you argue what you “feel” with what you “know?”
Plant yourself in the promises of God even when we don’t feel like it. What is the truth of God? He gave us our greatest need which is Jesus. Jonah knows his greatest need is atonement and he gazes to the temple. It’s what he knows.
27. Cling with your heart — what stood out? How do you see personal pronouns in Jonah’s prayer? How is God personal to you?
It is true and it is mine. The Lord is his God.
I love when He surprises me; when I pay attention and He nudges me. Someone shows up, a song comes on, a payment is made.
28. The real translation of idols is “worthless things of fleeting vapors.” What things have you clung to as your solid rock that failed you?
People, food, work, my children.
29. What was her point with her story about Sproul and Piper and the chair?
You are not “there” until you are actually sitting in the chair. You have to treasure the chair. It’s not enough to just talk about our faith, rather we must yearn for it.
30. Cling with your life — what stood out? What did she mean with grace lowers, raises, and levels?
The sailors called out to Yahweh for help. Finally, Jonah does the same thing as the pagans! He is following them! Even though he knows more then them about God, he still needs grace. We all need grace, no matter who we are.
31. What was her point with her closing story about her dad?
Knowing Jesus is a miracle. Aren’t we fortunate? Thank You Lord.
69 comments
1. How has the Lord manifested Himself to you this week? I have been aware of his mercies in many of the seemingly mundane routines of my life this week. The fact that my life is not in turmoil right now is a blessing.
2. Read Jonah 1:15-2:10
A. What strikes you in this text and why? That the men greatly feared the Lord and begged for his mercy in what they were about to do. Pagans who are far from God are doing his will while one of God’s own prophets is not.
B. What questions do you have and what is your best guess at the answer? Were any of these men truly converted after this? It say that they were exceedingly afraid, offered sacrifices and made vows to the Lord, but there is really no indication that they weren’t treating God like any other god that they worshiped.
C. Why do you think God might be showing you this today? Because I really need to examine my motives for doing things. Am I doing them with a heart toward really pleasing the Lord and doing his will or out of a frenzied compulsion to do all that I can to “make him happy” and make my life smooth.
Love this from Dawn:
I really need to examine my motives for doing things. Am I doing them with a heart toward really pleasing the Lord and doing his will or out of a frenzied compulsion to do all that I can to “make him happy” and make my life smooth.
1. How has the Lord manifested Himself to you this week?
I continue to be blessed by God in that my awful habit is still at bay. Thank You Lord! I want You more than I want me.
Wonderful, Laura!
2. Read Jonah 1:15-2:10
A. What strikes you in this text and why?
In Jonah’s prayer he references praise to God that is reminiscent of David in the Psalms. I can feel the claustrophobic nature of what he is experiencing. Deep comes to deep, and then, then! He turns and praises God! Love it all!
“He said, “I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me! You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’ “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me. Seaweed wrapped itself around my head. I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death! As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.””
Jonah 2:2-9 NLT
B. What questions do you have and what is your best guess at the answer?
What changes Jonah’s heart? Is it because he can’t take the pain of the “fish?” I’m guessing he is afraid and decided he should give in and humble himself.
C. Why do you think God might be showing you this today?
I need to look to the Lord for all my needs. Praise God through it all.
2. Read Jonah 1:15-2:10
A. What strikes you in this text and why?
I don’t see repentance in Jonah. He says he cried to the Lord and the Lord heard him. He also says he will offer sacrifices with thanksgiving, but I don’t see words of contrition. I must be missing something.
B. What questions do you have and what is your best guess at the answer?
If Jonah didn’t repent, why did God rescue him. My best guess is that God is a God of mercy, who gives us what we do not deserve.
C. Why do you think God might be showing you this today?
I don’t deserve mercy, but God keeps giving it to me anyway.
Thursday: Introduction
3. Listen up through when she reads through the text.
A. What strikes you and why?
The focus of the book of Jonah is about Grace, biblical Grace. That’s the true miracle, not the fish.
B. Why doesn’t God tell us more about the fish?
The fish is not the focus. God can do anything he wants, whenever he wants. He made the natural laws. He can change them whenever he wants.
C. What isn’t it rational to say miracles are not possible?
Not believing in miracles is an a priori argument. It’s an assumption. “I don’t believe this, therefore it cannot be true.” It is based on faith. We come to every miracle in Scripture through the resurrection. If we don’t believe in miracles, we do not believe in the resurrection. If the resurrection is not true, then our faith is vain and we are still in our sins.
4. Is Jonah swallowed for judgment? For salvation? For correction? Is God acting as an affronted sovereign or a loving parent? See Hebrews 12:4-7 and comment.
I think Jonah is swallowed for correction. God is acting like a loving parent who disciplines for Jonah’s good.
Heb. 12;10 “For they [fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.”
God has a good reason for disciplining us. He wants to make us holy and righteous.
5. Look closely at John 1:8-9. Why doesn’t it say simply that He is faithful and gracious to forgive our sin? What part do we play in forgiveness? How short are your accounts?
We need to confess our sins – not just say the words, but repent. If we do not repent, we are rebelling and He cannot dwell in a rebellious heart.
So good to have you back, Diane. You are so wise. I am going to look up priori argument! 🙂 I don’t see repentance in him either. What hit me that Paige said is it took him 3 days and 3 nights to even cry out!
How has the Lord manifested Himself to you this week? I and 2 other ladies prayed with another woman who asked for prayer because she was going on a trip and was gripped with fear that she wouldn’t be returning. The Lord directed the questions we asked her and she was able to discern what was triggering the fear. We then blessed her and when I checked with her the next day she has remained at peace with her trip.
2. Read Jonah 1:15-2:10
A. What strikes you in this text and why? A few things from Jonah’s prayer. My life was slipping away and I remembered the Lord. Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. It took him 3 days in the belly of a whale to remember God and His mercies. Then God’s response was immediate.
B. What questions do you have and what is your best guess at the answer? Why it took Jonah 3 days to remember. Stubbornness? It was a miracle he was still alive.
C. Why do you think God might be showing you this today? My hurriedness at times and failure to slow down exhale and recognize all God’s mercies to me
Sounds like a great example of how Christians who know the Word are competent to counsel!
3. Listen up through when she reads through the text.
A. What strikes you and why?
The way I think about grace may not mean what God means by grace. I have never thought of that before. I’m not sure I even know what it means.
B. Why doesn’t God tell us more about the fish?
The fish doesn’t matter. He wants us to be more preoccupied with the actual miracle here. God’s grace is the central miracle.
C. Why isn’t it rational to say miracles are not possible?
Just because you don’t believe it doesn’t mean it’s not true.
4. Is Jonah swallowed for judgment? For salvation? For correction?
I think (now), for correction.
Is God acting as an affronted sovereign or a loving parent? See Hebrews 12:4-7 and comment.
A loving parent. We must correct our children when they are out of bounds. Jonah was definitely out of bounds.
5. Look closely at John 1:8-9. Why doesn’t it say simply that He is faithful and gracious to forgive our sin?
I think you meant 1 John 1:8-9?
We must know we are sinners first, and acknowledge that we need forgiveness. Of course He is faithful and gracious.
What part do we play in forgiveness? What does real repentance look like?
See above. But, we are active in our participation of being forgiven. Real repentance is the act of asking forgiveness. We must have an action.
How have you thought about grace, Laura — and how is this different? I know Keller talks about how the penny of grace has to keep dropping further and further into our souls.
I guess I always thought of grace as God’s forgiveness; that He automatically gives us grace. I think it could be different in that I have to first repent (take action) and ask Him for this forgiveness. It’s more of a process than what I imagined.
That is good to see that. Otherwise it leans toward universalism — that everyone is forgiven and going to heaven. I don’t think it is saying that if you sin as a believer and die before you have repented that you are damned, but rather that you are quenching His Spirit and not living in the peace, fellowship, and victory He longs for His children to have.
Interesting! It never dawned on me that understanding God gives grace would lean toward universalism, but yes! You are correct. This way makes us acknowledge our part in the sinning. So enlightening for me.
6. What word pictures, stories, or quotes stand out to you and why? The story about meeting her friend from Nashville at the Met. We have two different time zones in Indiana So if you are meeting someone even 50 miles away it s easy to be meeting at 1:00 but we may not both br talking central time zone.
7. She points out some coordinating conjunctions — what do you remember:
A. Find and comment on the down, down, downs of Jonah 1
B. “Then” of 2:1 (How long did it take him to cry out to the Lord?) after 3 days and 3 nights
C. “For” of 2:3 (Who really cast Jonah into the sea?) God
She points out contradictory conjunctions. Other religions use “therefore” following sin. Sin has consequences. Christianity uses therefore (or the concept) as well, but then uses “but” or “yet.”Find the “buts” or “yets” in the following and comment on the grammar of grace.
A. Romans 3:19/ Romans 3:21-22 we are not under the law anymore, through faith in Jesus we have righteousness.
B. Luke 15:21-2 the son owned up to his sin and said I’m no longer worthy to be your son, but the father put his best robe in him and ordered a celebration for his return.
C. Jonah 1:4 using 2:4 I have been banished from your sight yet I can look towards your holy temple.
D. Share your testimony in a sentence using therefore and but. (I would say, “My life revolved around myself therefore I was miserable but God came to me through my sister sharing His good news and lifted me out of the depths.”) I was lost in despair and ignoring God and therefore deserved punishment, but now I’m found because of His bringing me to a place of desperation so I finally turned to Him.
I remember that about living in Indiana — and I know they used to not to daylight savings time too — so got very confusing!
Judy, the time zone thing always gets me! I have lots of family in Indiana…
6. What word pictures, stories, or quotes stand out to you and why?
Love the Schoolhouse Rock memory!
7. She points out some coordinating conjunctions — what do you remember:
A. Find and comment on the down, down, downs of Jonah 1
Jonah is going down to Joppa, he goes down to the bottom of the ship, he goes down to the bottom of the water. This is his psalm of descent. He can go no lower. Why? for justice. The Lord allowed this. He expected it and it is logical.
B. “Then” of 2:1 (How long did it take him to cry out to the Lord?)
It takes him 3 days and 3 nights in the fish to cry out to the Lord. It takes a loonnggg time to get to this point. With maturity, this gets shorter.
C. “For” of 2:3 (Who really cast Jonah into the sea?)
God cast him into the sea.
8. She points out contradictory conjunctions. Other religions use “therefore” following sin. Sin has consequences. Christianity uses therefore (or the concept) as well, but then uses “but” or “yet.”Find the “buts” or “yets” in the following and comment on the grammar of grace.
A. Romans 3:19/ Romans 3:21-22
The law is provided to help us in our sin. But, He also provides a way to keep right with Him without the law.
He knows we are sinful but He also provides a way out by giving us Jesus.
B. Luke 15:21-2
The younger son confessed to the father how he has sinned against him. The father tells his servants to get the finest robe and begin a celebration that he is home.
The younger son was disobedient and disrespectful but the father celebrates the son has come home.
C. Jonah 1:4
Jonah runs by leaving on a ship to Tarshish, but the Lord produces a violent storm to slow him down.
Jonah disobeys, but the Lord stops him for his own good.
D. Share your testimony in a sentence using therefore and but. (I would say, “My life revolved around myself therefore I was miserable but God came to me through my sister sharing His good news and lifted me out of the depths.”)
I was living a chaotic life where I tried to control everything and everyone, therefore I was broken and defeated, BUT God reminded me of His control over my life and took charge of the situation(s) for me.
Love your sentence testimony, Laura!
9. Point out contradictory conjunctions
A. What was her point about other religions using the word therefore?
In other religions we have to earn merit, to deserve reward.
B. Jonah has tried everything to abandon God — now what is his greatest fear?
He feared being abandoned by God.
C. God is not answering with a therefore rather yet (verse 6) COMMENTS?
“Yet you brought my life from the pit” Yet indicates undeserved, unmerited. There is no way to deserve it. Yet and But is the essence of the gospel. Merit implies we can somehow earn it. We can never earn grace. She says grace is not unconditional, it is counter-conditional! It goes against everything we are taught to believe about the world.
D. How is the grace Jonah is given different than winning the lottery?
There’s always a slight chance to win the lottery. There is no chance we can earn grace.
E. What examples did she give with “but?”
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.
10. What was her point in Jonah looking toward the temple? What does the temple represent? What did she mean that you have to be at the bottom to be saved?
The Holy of Holies is the throne room of God. He seats on the mercy seat that is on the top of the ark of the covenant. He is holy. We cannot measure up. We cannot enter in. That is fearful. We cannot deserve to approach. We can only approach God in his holy justice through the lens of a sacrifice by a substitute sprinkled on the mercy seat. But… God sees us through the sacrifice of Jesus – the sacrifice that made an end to all other sacrifices, once for all. The curtain was torn. We can enter.
11. How does seeing the holiness of God help you see the depth of your sin?
We are self-justifying creatures. We are constantly rationalizing our sin to make it appear not as bad as it really is. It is only against the standard of God’s holiness that we see our depravity clearly.
Your answer to the lottery versus grace clarified that for me!
Even though this may be the lowest participation on a study in my 15 years of blogging, the few left are such a blessing to me. I know I should have not tried to do less work by not having questions, so I’ve learned from that. Whether or not I try Paige again, the Lord will have to show me. I do learn so much from her but I also know she is a lot, especially for women in other studies. But both she and you are blessing me! I also love my in-person group.
Awww….Dee. I do like Paige and I do appreciate the pointed questions this week. I think so many are so stretched. I have overcome a habit that used my time in such a wasteful way. Since I have given it up I am finding that I am sleeping more, and have more time to do more ordinary things like keeping my house cleaner! I do still struggle with the study in the morning, as I still find it hard to wake up! I try to do a little bit all day and then wrap up at night. I never thought I needed to learn anymore about Jonah, but wouldn’t you know! I have been learning thanks to you and Paige.
Laura – -you have been so faithful for so long and it has been such a joy to see you grow!
Dee, I absolutely love Paige’s teaching and regret not staying regular with answering here on the blog. I have listened and started answering but with traveling and family needs I have gotten derailed and not finished and gotten anything posted. I’m asking for prayer for our granddaughter Aerilyn the one with spina bifida. She will be 10 years old this coming Tuesday. She has been having headaches and vomiting off and on for several weeks now. She has a brain shunt and initially we suspected it is her problem. Doctoring is not easy because we live 4 hours from Children’s Hospital in Omaha where all her specialists are and they wanted her to have scans and X-rays done locally or in Kearney first to rule out possible normal issue. Turns out she did have a UTI but for 3 weeks now every time it looks like she is better after a few days the headache and vomiting comes back. The kids are kind of at their wits end since nothing definitive is showing up. We need God’s direction and encouragement for her care. Just appreciate the prayers of this group.
Bev, I’m saddened to hear of your granddaughter’s medical troubles. It must be so frustrating. I am praying for her and your family.
Prayers for your granddaughter and your family for answers and healing.
Bev, I will pray for Aerilyn. For guidance for your family and also for the doctors. I, too, have been behind here. Glad we have such a kind, loving, and understanding group and Bible Study leader!
Dee, thank you so much for persevering with us. Paige is like Tim Keller to me. They express things so well and yet when I put what I think they said, it does not sound as eloquent! But oh, I learned so much from them. It just takes a little more effort on my part to put my Filipino thoughts into English. LOL I did like the less work but I found myself wandering so pointed questions would help me more even if I feel like I cannot keep up.
I am here and I will be here. I love this blog!
Wednesday: God Hunt and The Text
1. How has the Lord manifested Himself to you this week?
I am quite behind and will try to catch up! I have been apprehensive about a documentary screening that I have helped organize. But God gave me peace and as the day of the screening came, God’s peace prevailed. No rushing here and there; just a comforting thought that all is well.
After the screening: We had great feedback from the 44 people who attended. The Lord reminded me again of the lesson learned from last week: “Who is in your boat?” As I looked around and saw familiar and unfamiliar faces, I prayed to God that He would do mighty work in the lives of these people as they live with loved ones who have been diagnosed with dementia. I thank God for the producers and filmmakers of the documentary for bringing hope to struggling families. It was worth the time and effort invested in getting our community together.
2. Read Jonah 1:15-2:10
A. What strikes you in this text and why?
That it took Jonah 3 days and 3 nights to come to an acknowledgment of his need for God. He had to go to the lowest of lowest to come to his senses. Sometimes, we have to be so down, down, down in the pit and the only way out is up.
B. What questions do you have and what is your best guess at the answer?
How did Jonah survive inside the belly of the fish? It must have been big enough for him to be able to stay above water and have air, I guess. Not sure I have the brain to really ask good questions from this story
C. Why do you think God might be showing you this today?
He is in control and for me to not focus on what I do not understand from the text but on what understanding God gives to me.
That was a new insight for me that he didn’t cry out right away — believe me, I would have!
Well, I feel a little like I’m eavesdropping here, but missing you all and just gleaning from your study here. We are about to start Jonah at church, wish I had been able to join you all. I will be back one day! Love and prayers for you all, made me smile just to see your tiny faces today.
We are always so happy to see you, dear Lizzy.
Lizzy, I smiled when you said, “Tiny faces”. I am also following along and gleaning from the exchanges here.
What word pictures, stories, or quotes stand out to you and why? Her story about boy on his brother’s shoulder so heart wrenching.
10. What has Jonah wanted to do according to Jonah 1:3? Run from the Presence of the Lord. Now what does he want to do according to Jonah 2:4? I have been banished from your sight, yet I will look again to your holy temple. What does the temple represent? The Presence of the Lord
11. What are the two central components of the temple, that represent both law and mercy? (Bad news and good news) What do you learn about each? Temple is holy and to enter it required blood shed and death. It was never the sinner’s blood there was a substitute. We misunderstand our sinfulness That is why the Good News isn’t that good to us because the bad news is not that bad.
12. Why must we look through the lens of holiness to really see our sin? (Not just drugs, sex, and rock and roll but apathy toward those who are lost, hungry… self-promotion…) because we should not attempt to lower God s Standard of holiness to our standard of holiness.
13. Was there a time when you reached the bottom and looked to God that you can remember? If so, share briefly. (You may have been a believer — Jonah was!) In a time of loneliness and rejection, I spent a lot of time looking at the word hope in scripture.
14. She told about her 5-year old running out into the street so the president could see him. Do you have a desire to be seen by God? I’ve never thought about. If He knows number of hairs on my head, I thought He could see me. How is the only way we can be seen by God and not die? Through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
15. Why is there no more temple? Jesus is our temple, Jesus is our atoning sacrifice and mercy seat.
16. How are the cries of Jonah in the depths overcome by Jesus’ cries from the cross? Jesus cries were not answered.
17. How did John Stott define the essence of sin and the essence of salvation? Sin is man substituting himself for God. Salvation God substituting Himself for man. Man puts himself where only God should be and God puts Himself where only man should be. God accepts the penalties that belong to man alone.
18. What was the point of the little boy standing on the shoulders of his brother in St. Louis? We are standing on the shoulders of Jesus. His death means our life. That is the guarantee of grace. Jesus accomplished it for us.
19. How could she say grace is based on merit? Whose merit? Jesus got what I deserved and I get what He deserves. It’s Jesus merit
20. Do you tend to revert to works-righteousness, thinking your behavior will win His love and mercy? Paige asks, “What does the act stop in Jonah 2?) There some of that Have I spent enough time with Him today or am I riding on yesterday’s coat tails. Because grace is never about our action
21. The word translated steadfast love in 6 is “hesed.” This is the ground of grace. What does she say about it? Her stopping never giving up love. Because of great power of God He can save. It’s because of the great love of God that He does save prompted by just His love.
22. To be loved but not known is superficial. To be known and not loved is our worst nightmare. Only Jesus sees us to the bottom and loves us to the sky. (Keller) Do you believe this? (I have heard Keller compare this to lovemaking in a good marriage — being seen naked yet loved to the sky.) I believe Jesus sees me the real me and loves me any way. The other part of statement I don’t know. I get what I get some days.
never stopping never giving up love
Loved this too, Judy and Dee. “never stopping never giving up love”
23. Share a highlight from your fellowship at your local church. A lady at church started a group to start praying for our church to have spiritual growth. She has called it digging ditches to prepare the ground for the Lord to work. Today 7 people showed up for preservice prayer and the average had been 2-3. Then a young man from Texas told me he had been attending 2 months but was being baptized because he felt it was time. The friend with him said he wants to be baptized. May His name be praised for bringing people into His kingdom.
Sunday: Church
23. Share a highlight from your fellowship at your local church.
We had quite a few people who were not present at church today because of other commitments and illnesses. But what a blessing to see the ones who came. Two of the young adults who will be baptized next month were there. A sister in Christ who has not attended for 2 years due to her pursuit of a higher education degree came today to tell us she is finally done and would like to come regularly again. Three boys who are being fostered by a young couple with three kids of their own were at the children’s church and had a good exchange with them as they participated in the lesson’s activity. Then people lingered and talked to one another after the service. These moments warm my soul.
A prayer request:
Please pray for me. A month or so ago, I found a lump on my neck. My doctor prescribed an antibiotic for me for 7 days and advised me to wait for another week to see if the lump went away. Though much smaller now, I still have it so I am going for an ultrasound on Tuesday at 11 am. My soul has vacillated between fear and trusting God. I have to constantly remind myself of what I KNOW about God rather than how I feel. I am thankful for the consistent encouragement of the Word through this blog and for all who are here. Thank you for your prayers.
Praying Bing! ♥️♥️
Prayers all goes smoothly. This lump goes away or is easily treated. May God’s peace rest upon you.
Oh Father, be with Bing, give her Your peace. Give wisdom to the doctors, and Your healing hand on her.
In Jesus Name I pray
Thank you for sharing Bing…will put Tuesday at 11am on my calendar to pray and will be praying for His peace over you in the meantime. 😊❤️🙏
Thank you so much, dear friends. I will go tomorrow for the test with confidence in our Father who hears our prayers and knows our future. You all bless me so!
Praying got you, Bing. Lord, I pray that you will cover Bing with your peace, comfort and healing. Give the doctors wisdom and guidance. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Thank you, Patti. and my prayers are for you as well during these difficult days.
I am not sure where this comment will land lol but I am happy to report that my ultrasound report said, “No suspicious adenopathy or mass.”The nodule is actually in the thyroid and is very small. The recommendation is to monitor it. My prayer is for it to dissolve completely. But for now, join me in thanking God for His mercy and grace! I am waiting for my primary physician to give me further advice. Thank you so much for your prayers. I really felt an overwhelming peace while I was lying down on the examining table and I had a lovely technician do the procedure on me. I also got to visit with a friend who gave me a ride while Richard was at the dentist’s office getting a crown!
Today was a testament to God’s tender care of me and Richard while giving each other an opportunity to minister to a few people in between appointments. I am very grateful to the God whom we serve. Love to all!
10. What has Jonah wanted to do according to Jonah 1:3? Now what does he want to do according to Jonah 1:4? What does the temple represent?
He wanted to run away at first. Now, in 2:4 he looks to God and His holy temple. The temple represents the place where God can see us, the place where the mercy seat is, where the offering of sacrifice was brought.
11. What are the two central components of the temple, that represent both law and mercy? (Bad news and good news) What do you learn about each?
I’m not sure that I get this question but I will take a stab at it. Is it the mercy seat and the sacrifice? Bloodshed and death? The good news is that it isn’t on me, but it is the sacrifice that takes it for me. God sees us there.
12. Why must we look through the lens of holiness to really see our sin? (Not just drugs, sex, and rock and roll but apathy toward those who are lost, hungry… self-promotion…)
I am not good enough to stand in front of the Lord. When we see who we really are, we will cry out and that is where grace is found. It’s at the bottom.
13. Was there a time when you reached the bottom and looked to God that you can remember? If so, share briefly. (You may have been a believer — Jonah was!)
Absolutely! When my kids were teenagers. They were so hard and I just had to give up and give in to Him. He took over. Thank You Lord!!
14. She told about her 5-year old running out into the street so the president could see him. Do you have a desire to be seen by God? How is the only way we can be seen by God and not die?
Yes, I would love to be seen by Him. I think the only way to be seen by God and not die is through Jesus. Jesus sits in place of us and represents us.
15. Why is there no more temple?
Jesus is the temple. He is the mercy seat for us.
16. How are the cries of Jonah in the depths overcome by Jesus’ cries from the cross?
Because Jesus paid it all for us.
17. How did John Stott define the essence of sin and the essence of salvation?
By substitution. We substitute ourselves as God and God substitutes Himself for man.
18. What was the point of the little boy standing on the shoulders of his brother in St. Louis?
Oh my gosh I have now cried twice about this story. 😢😢 We are standing on the shoulders of Jesus.
Terrific answers, Laura.
Only one missing is Holy of Holies represents justice of God and you were right on the mercy seat representing His mercy. Truth and mercy met at the cross.
Sunday: Church
23. Share a highlight from your fellowship at your local church.
—Yesterday we had a fellowship dinner after church so interaction was abundant with God’s people in my church. Many were concerned about my granddaughter Aerilyn being sick and prayers for her were abundant. I was blessed by the encouragement of God’s people who pray. As of last night she had a very good day. We are trusting God for that continue.
Thank you to each of you for your prayers.
And Bing you are and will be in my prayers for your Drs. Appointment on Tuesday.
Thank you Bev. Please see my update above!
Monday: Grasp the Gospel
Listen to the end.
24. What word pictures, illustrations, or quotes stand out to you/
—in her talking about our need to cling with our minds Paige said “We have to argue what we feel with what we know” It’s not about the emotions or inspirations but the Truth. She said “Plant yourselves in the promises of God.” and “Salvation belongs to the Lord” is a doctrine not an inspiration. It is a truth statement not a belief statement.
25. The NIV of Jonah 2:8 works best with Paige’s teaching: “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Why did Paige say you can’t cling to God and other things? How can you apply this? Be specific.
—I seem to have missed that specific thought in my starting and stopping the video to take notes.
26. Cling with your mind – what stood out? How do you argue what you “feel” with what you “know?”
— Her emphasis on “Salvation belongs to the Lord!” stood out to me. It is doctrine and truth not just inspiration or a belief statement. That is a powerful truth and it is all Jesus. God alone brought salvation to Jonah and to me.
—Arguing what I feel with what I know happens by going to God’s Word and planting myself in the promises of God.
Yesterday morning as I got up early and spent time reading the Bible and praying for Aerilyn God gave me personally a very short promise in the middle of Psalm 42:5 “…Hope thou in God…” That was something solid from God’s Word for my mind to take hold of yesterday when my emotions were struggling.
27. Cling with your heart — what stood out?
—The personal pronouns are prominent in the passage of Jonah’s prayer. It isn’t just truth alone but but the promises are mine personally.
How do you see personal pronouns in Jonah’s prayer?
—They are kind of shocking in that prior to being thrown into the sea and ending up in the belly of the fish Jonah was running from the very presence of God and trying to shut God completely out of his life. But now in his deep distress his true relationship to God has become very upfront and personal.
How is God personal to you?
—I would say God becomes very personal to me in prayer. I have found when my needs are overwhelming me if I write down my prayers based on His scripture I am able to clarify the things in my heart and mind and bring them together.
28. The real translation of idols is “worthless things of fleeting vapors.” What things have you clung to as your solid rock that failed you?
—Primarily for me it has been other people. This is not implying the individuals are worthless vapors but as idols in my life they will fail to be what God alone is meant to be in my life.
29. What was her point with her story about Sproul and Piper and the chair?
—She said don’t just love the Lord because you have forgiveness and consider Him useful to your life somehow. But love Him because you see his beauty and his worth. Love Him for Who He is.
30. Cling with your life — what stood out? What did she mean with grace lowers, raises, and levels?
—This is the reality that the ground is level at the foot of the Cross. We all come to Jesus with equal need. All are sinners born into the flesh that way and we have no power in and of ourselves to rescue us from a deserved death.
Her example in comparing the two men, the Apostle Paul and the thief on the Cross is excellent. By comparison their lives and their status were worlds apart but they were equal in their need of God’s grace which is only found in Jesus.
31. What was her point with her closing story about her dad?
—Even though her dad was a preacher the man questioning him didn’t take him at face value. He said point blank “Do you believe in Jesus?” He dad replied “I do and it is a miracle.” And my need is to always remember that my faith and knowledge of Jesus is truly a miracle not based on anything I have done. All grace!!
I too liked argue what we feel with what we know!
25. The NIV of Jonah 2:8 works best with Paige’s teaching: “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Why did Paige say you can’t cling to God and other things? How can you apply this? Be specific. I have to come empty handed so I can grasp grace only. Grace isn’t helping me it’s saving me. Sometimes when I hit a rough patch I can start depending on friends more than working the situation out with the Lord. I need to put my reliance totally on Him. He alone can make the path smooth.
26. Cling with your mind – what stood out? How do you argue what you “feel” with what you “know?” Plant self in the truth about God and in His promises. God has already satisfied my deepest need through Jesus.
27. Cling with your heart — what stood out? How do you see personal pronouns in Jonah’s prayer? How is God personal to you? I have to understand in my heart that God is for me and not against me. It has to have a firm foundation in God and what Jesus has done for me. The personal pronouns usage is Jonah claiming God as his God. God is personal to me He surrounds me at times and I don’t even want to move. I just want to stay near Him.
28. The real translation of idols is “worthless things of fleeting vapors.” What things have you clung to as your solid rock that failed you? Friends and family
29. What was her point with her story about Sproul and Piper and the chair? It’s not enough to see and know God We have to love love Him for all that He is, truth and beauty, love, and just.
30. Cling with your life — what stood out? What did she mean with grace lowers, raises, and level? We are all equal at the foot of the cross. We are all in need of His grace.
31. What was her point with her closing story about her dad? (Amazing how humble her dad remained.) It’s a miracle when we come to the end of ourselves and realize that we all need Jesus.
Her dad sounds pretty great! Good answers, Judy.
19. How could she say grace is based on merit? Whose merit?
The merit refers to His sacrifice for us.
Now I’m confused. She talks about grace never being about our action, only Jesus giving Himself for us. Dee, you and I had that discussion above about universalism. It seems that Paige is saying He died for all (which He did) and we don’t have to do anything for this grace.
20. Do you tend to revert to works-righteousness, thinking your behavior will win His love and mercy? Paige asks, “What does the act stop in Jonah 2?)
I don’t think this way any more.
21. The word translated steadfast love in 6 is “hesed.” This is the ground of grace. What does she say about it?
It is a complex word. It means more; never stopping, never giving up, un breaking, always and forever LOVE.
22. To be loved but not known is superficial. To be known and not loved is our worst nightmare. Only Jesus sees us to the bottom and loves us to the sky. (Keller) Do you believe this? (I have heard Keller compare this to lovemaking in a good marriage — being seen naked yet loved to the sky.)
I do believe this. It has taken me a long time to get to this point though.
Laura — I think she’s distinguishing doing from believing. We can’t earn grace by actions, but we can receive by faith.
Tuesday: Take-A-Way — Think!
32. What is your take-a-way and why?
—What a wonderful lesson on the amazing grace of God. Paige said earlier in this lesson the heart of the book of Jonah is his prayer. She commented “ The heart of the matter is do we understand God’s grace and what will we do with God’s grace.” She said grace is only found at the bottom and we have to get to the very bottom to fully understand grace and what it really is. That is where we see ourselves accurately as the sinners we really are without hope but for the grace of God. And God’s amazing grace is manifested to us in the person of Jesus Christ. It’s all about Jesus and the Cross. That is where I find hope and life.
—I want to thank you sweet friends again for praying for my granddaughter Aerilyn. God answered our prayers for her and she turned a corner on Sunday and is feeling well again. We are praising Him. Today is her 10th birthday and it is a joy to celebrate this little dark haired beauty (looks like her momma) who is a special gift from God.
Wonderful news about your granddaughter, Bev.
The format has nothing to do with my failure to post. I have been listening to the sermons and reading the posts.
I will make it a priority to participate more. I’ve had a busy couple of weeks, but that’s no excuse. I still find time to do other things that are less important. Sorry!
Dawn — that’s helpful to know. But no pressure!
32. What is your take-a-way and why? Don’t wait for 3 days when I’m in a mess of my own making to turn to God. Even when I don’t feel Him, He’s working and I need to trust in Him, obey and lean into Him and not wallow in self pity.
You all have no idea how much I miss participating here! I always follow along, and listen to everything Dee suggests and gives links to, and usually for the links others of you post. I am in a deep season of pruning activities, since I didn’t even realize how overcommitted I was until people besides my husband started telling me I was doing too much. I long to be able to come back someday, but in the meantime please know I am with all of you in spirit. Even if I never get to come back, I will search out heaven for each one of you so that we can make up for lost time!!
Oh, Mary B! I just have to get back to you. I have been kind of off and on as well but this blog is very special to me. I love this “Even if I never get to come back, I will search out heaven for each one of you so that we can make up for lost time!!”
As always there is so much to learn from Paige!
Oh Mary How good to hear from you. Heaven is gonna be so great when we get to meet. And we will have forever to find and connect with our sisters in Christ. I love the thought.
I agree Bev — sweet thought, Mary.
My takeaway:
Since I am much of a feeling person, I want to focus on the many answers here for questions 25-30. To not cling to worthless idols and to cling with my heart, mind, and life to Jesus, by His grace. To argue what I feel with what I know is true these past couple of months as I dealt with the lump in my neck.
25. The NIV of Jonah 2:8 works best with Paige’s teaching: “Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Why did Paige say you can’t cling to God and other things? How can you apply this? Be specific.
You have to grasp the gospel. It is the string that unties the whole knot. It has been given to you. You must cling if you are desperate. You only come with empty hands so you may only grasp it, nothing else. Jonah finally prays! I should pray like Jonah did.You cling right where you are, in all your muck.
26. Cling with your mind – what stood out? How do you argue what you “feel” with what you “know?”
Plant yourself in the promises of God even when we don’t feel like it. What is the truth of God? He gave us our greatest need which is Jesus. Jonah knows his greatest need is atonement and he gazes to the temple. It’s what he knows.
27. Cling with your heart — what stood out? How do you see personal pronouns in Jonah’s prayer? How is God personal to you?
It is true and it is mine. The Lord is his God.
I love when He surprises me; when I pay attention and He nudges me. Someone shows up, a song comes on, a payment is made.
28. The real translation of idols is “worthless things of fleeting vapors.” What things have you clung to as your solid rock that failed you?
People, food, work, my children.
29. What was her point with her story about Sproul and Piper and the chair?
You are not “there” until you are actually sitting in the chair. You have to treasure the chair. It’s not enough to just talk about our faith, rather we must yearn for it.
30. Cling with your life — what stood out? What did she mean with grace lowers, raises, and levels?
The sailors called out to Yahweh for help. Finally, Jonah does the same thing as the pagans! He is following them! Even though he knows more then them about God, he still needs grace. We all need grace, no matter who we are.
31. What was her point with her closing story about her dad?
Knowing Jesus is a miracle. Aren’t we fortunate? Thank You Lord.