Sermon: Answering Gods Call (Jonah 1)

Here is the start of a new sermon series, “Encouragement from the Book of Jonah.” In the first message, “Answering God’s Call,” we’ll explore how God calls each of us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace His purpose for our lives. Discover how Jonah’s story reveals the importance of recognizing God’s voice and facing life’s challenges with courage. Whether you’re wrestling with a big decision or seeking direction, this message will inspire you to stop running and start following God’s lead. Come and be encouraged to take the first step towards fulfilling your calling.

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Notes

Rockwell Church     Oct  20, 2024     Pastor Chris Teien
Answering God’s Call    Jonah 1

#1 Recognize God’s Call in Your Life (v.1-2)

#2  Stop Running Away from God’s Plan (v.3-10)

#3  Trust God in the Storms and Surrender to His Discipline (v.11-17)

CleanVoice Summary:

Answering the Call: Lessons from Jonah’s Journey

Fleeing from God’s Call: A Deep Dive into Jonah’s Story

What happens when we run from God’s calling? Pastor Chris Teinn unpacks the fascinating narrative of Jonah, drawing powerful parallels between the reluctant prophet’s journey and our modern-day struggles with divine purpose.

Through personal anecdotes and biblical insights, Pastor Teien reveals how God’s calling isn’t always about grand gestures – sometimes it’s about faithfulness in small things. He skillfully weaves together the stories of various biblical figures like Isaiah, Moses, and Jonah, highlighting their different responses to God’s call.

Key insights include:

• God’s call extends to everyone, even the unlikely or reluctant
• Running from God’s purpose leads to spiritual storms
• Divine discipline comes from a place of love
• Small acts of obedience can lead to significant impact

Whether you’re wrestling with a calling, feeling stuck in resistance, or simply curious about God’s purpose for your life, this powerful message offers practical wisdom and encouragement.

Ready to explore how God might be calling you? Tune in to discover how Jonah’s ancient story could illuminate your modern-day journey of faith and purpose.

Chapters

00:00:00 – God’s Call in Your Life
00:02:23 – Overcoming Fear: Responding to God’s Call
00:04:18 – Answering the Call to Ministry
00:05:49 – Jonah’s Reluctant Mission to Nineveh
00:07:58 – Jonah’s Refusal and Isaiah’s Willingness
00:09:45 – Moses and the Call to Lead
00:12:09 – Overcoming Fears and Trusting God’s Plan
00:15:02 – Jonah’s Confession and Consequences
00:16:38 – Jonah’s Rebellion and God’s Mercy
00:19:18 – The Prodigal Son’s Redemption
00:21:30 – Choosing God’s Call Over Worldly Success
00:24:21 – Surrendering to God’s Discipline in the Storms of Life
00:26:20 – Responding to God’s Discipline

Key Takeaways

• The importance of faithfully responding to God’s calling, even when it seems daunting.
• The contrast between Jonah’s reluctance and the eagerness of figures like Isaiah in serving God.
• The need to trust in God’s guidance and provision, rather than letting fear or doubt hold us back from serving Him.

Detailed Summary

In this sermon, Pastor Chris Teien explores the story of Jonah, focusing on God’s call in Jonah’s life and in the lives of his listeners. He emphasizes that God’s call is not limited to “big things” – sometimes it’s about being faithful with the small things. The pastor shares his own experience of seeking God’s direction for his life, and how he ultimately found his calling. He encourages the congregation to reflect on whether there is something God has been calling them to do, and to have the faith to follow that call, even if it seems daunting. The speaker shares how they initially resisted the call to full-time Christian ministry, despite feeling God’s prompting. They describe their journey of gradually stepping into service, volunteering for various roles in their church. The speaker then contrasts their experience with that of the biblical figure Jonah, who also initially refused God’s directive to preach to the wicked city of Nineveh. The speaker believes Jonah’s story to be historically true, rather than a parable, and highlights the contrast between Jonah’s reluctance and the prophet Isaiah’s eagerness to serve God. Here is a summary of the key points from the dialogue:

The speaker discusses how God calls people, even the unlikely or reluctant, to serve him and spread the gospel. They highlight the stories of Isaiah, Moses, and Jonah – those who initially made excuses or ran away, but ultimately answered God’s call. The speakers encourage listeners to consider how God may be calling them, whether to serve in a new ministry, reach out to others, or make a significant life change. They emphasize the importance of trusting in God’s promise to be with us, even in our weaknesses, rather than allowing fear or doubt to prevent us from responding to His plan. The speaker discusses the story of Jonah, who was told by God to go to the city of Nineveh and deliver a message, but instead tried to flee in the opposite direction. Despite Jonah’s attempts to avoid God’s call, he was caught in a violent storm at sea, which the sailors attributed to Jonah’s disobedience. Jonah eventually took responsibility for his actions and was willing to sacrifice himself to save the crew. The speaker draws parallels to other biblical figures, such as Elijah, who also struggled with God’s directives at times. The story highlights the futility of running from God’s will and the importance of obedience, even when it is difficult. Elijah, after a great spiritual victory, becomes exhausted and afraid, fleeing from the wicked Queen Jezebel. God cares for him, providing food and a helper in Elisha. This mirrors the Israelites’ lack of trust in God’s promises, leading to 40 years of wandering, and the prodigal son’s choice to leave his father, only to return in humility. Despite our failures, God shows grace and mercy, preserving us even in our disobedience, as seen with Jonah. The Bible provides many examples of God’s discipline when people choose not to obey Him, as seen in the book of Haggai, where the people’s neglect of God’s house led to poor harvests. The speakers discuss Jonah’s reluctance to follow God’s call to preach to the Ninevites, a feared and brutal people. They suggest that Jonah, like many of us, may have been held back by past hurts, self-doubt, or fear of failure. However, the speakers emphasize the importance of trusting God’s plan, even in the face of challenges. They caution that even in times of success, we must remain vigilant and resist temptation. Ultimately, the speakers encourage surrendering to God’s discipline, as Jonah did when he was swallowed by the great fish, for it is through these trials that we can grow and fulfill God’s purpose for our lives. The speaker emphasizes that God disciplines those He loves, as seen in the story of Jonah. They encourage the listeners to reflect on the difficulties in their lives and how they may be drawing them closer to God. The speaker highlights biblical figures who responded to God’s call in different ways, both positively and negatively, and encourages the listeners to be quick to say “yes” to God’s prompting, no matter how small or daunting the task may seem. The overall message is about trusting and obeying God, even when it is difficult.

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