INTRODUCTION
Being disciplined is never fun. But sometimes it's only after a season of brokenness that we begin to see life more clearly. Is that why God might discipline us? Not to pay us back, but because he actually loves us?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Were you disciplined as a child? What was your most "memorable" experience of being disciplined?
- The main idea in this message is that God is generous with his grace and thorough with his discipline. Is it possible to be gracious and loving without ever having to discipline?
- Describe a time in your life when things seemed pretty bleak and you felt like surrendering, giving up. What happened? What did you do?
- Read Jonah 1:17-2:10. Jonah realized that his "running" would mean that he would miss the things God has for him. Looking back, when have you "run" and missed something God might have had for you?
- How would you paraphrase Jonah's prayer?
- Are there recent events in your life where you feel like God was trying to get your attention? What is keeping you from calling out to him for help?
MOVING FORWARD
We run because we think in following God we will miss something good. And as a result of running in all these different directions, what we really miss is the one relationship that we don't want to live without - a relationship with our heavenly Father.
So, are you tired of running? Resisting? Are you ready to wave the white flag and surrender? Here's the promise: If in your distress you call for help, God will answer you.
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit God's love for them.
Jonah 2:8