Weekly Lesson for August 18, 2013

Guest speaker: Dr. Matthew McKellar
Associate Professor of Preaching/Chair of the Preaching Department
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

“A Case of Forgotten Grace” Jonah 3:10-4:4 Bible Study 08/18/13
Our text today indicates that Jonah’s restoration was still not complete. Rather than rejoicing in the repentance of Nineveh and God’s sparing of the city, he expresses resentment and becomes the “pouting prophet”. He still had much to learn about God’s amazing grace. Grace is the unmerited and unearned favor of God. How are you presently responding to it?

I. Delight in the demonstration of grace

-Jonah should have been thrilled!
-Like Cain, Jonah burned with anger.
-Why? Because the Lord showed grace to Nineveh

II. Praise the distribution of grace

-“Was this not my word…?”
-An attempt at self-justification
-A self-appointed theological advisor
-Summary of attributes: gracious, compassionate, merciful

III. Participate in the extension of grace

-An incomplete echo (I Kings 19:4)
-Desire for divine euthanasia
-Jonah would rather expire than extend.
-The Lord: still gracious to Jonah

IV. So What?

-Because every blessing you taste flows from grace, determine to treasure it in every circumstance.
-“The reputation of the God of grace in Nineveh necessitated the loss of the reputation of Jonah in Israel.” – Sinclair Ferguson
-“May the grace of God be precious to you, the basis for your praise of God, not your protest, as it was with Jonah.” – Bob Deffinbaugh
-“Every day of our Christian experience should be a day of relating to God on the basi of His grace alone. We are not only saved by grace, but we also live by grace every day.” – Jerry Bridges