• The book takes place somewhere around 780 B.C., in the time of Jeroboam II (I Kings 14:25.
• The story of Jonah is factual and not just an allegory because Jesus refers to it as such in the New Testament (Matthew 12:39-41.
• Jeremiah 18:7-10.
  • Why did Ninevah react so well to Jonah’s preaching? Luke 11:29-30 shows that Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites. Somehow they knew about Jonah’s plight and it effected them greatly. Historically, the nation of Syria was also a a low point when Jonah did his preaching.
  • The Ninevites showed true repentance by changing their minds and their actions, from the king down to the common man.
• Jonah 4 - Jonah shows his Jewish bias. He was biased against the Ninevites from the beginning, which is why he didn’t want to go preach to them. He was extremely upset when God did not destroy them for their sins.
• Application:
  • We must learn God’s compassion for all people.
  • National sin requires national repentance.
  • God is the Creator and all creation is at His disposal.
  • We must obey God if we are to have His blessing.

• I Corinthians 16:13-14 - Act like men!
• II Peter 3:18
• Hebrews 5:12-14 - There were those among the Hebrews that had not grown as they should.
• II Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourself.
• Child or man
  • Child:
    • Milk
    • Demands attention
    • Tears over small things
    • Takes blessings for granted
    • Have own way
    • No sense of obligation
    • Self-centered
    • Ask for trifling things
    • No stickability
    • Refuses to admit mistakes
  • Man
    • Meat
    • Needs no applause
    • Weeps only over things that matter
    • Thankful
    • Submit to Christ and others
      • Romans 12:10 - Outdo one another in showing honor.
      • I Corinthians 1:10 - If we submit to one another, we can come to one mind on matters of judgment.
    • Accepts obligation
      • I Corinthians 12:19 - We all have our own part to play.
    • Christ centered
      • Matthew 6:33
      • Philippians 2:4-7 - Look out for the interests of God first so that you can serve Him.
    • Ask for things that matter.
    • Steadfast
      • I Corinthians 15:58
    • Ready to correct mistakes
      • Psalms 51:10-13 - David repents of his sin with Bathsheba
      • James 5:16 - Confess your faults.
      • We all make mistakes. We must have humility to asmit them and make them right.
      • Philippians 3:14-15
• The way to grow
  • II Peter 1:5-12
  • Hebrews 5:14

• Ephesians 1:9
• Ephesians 1:13.

[Sorry, no audio for this lesson due to technical difficulties.]

• Mark 9:35 - We are not to try to compete with each other to be first. We are to show humility. This applies even to elders, deacons, and preachers, who are to be servants. We are all ultimately merely servants of God.
• Mark 9:38-40 - This does not authorize any kind of “independent religion,” i.e. “I can be in fellowship without being a member of the church or practicing ‘traditional’ worship.” We must all obey the same commandments from God.
• Mark 9:43-48 - We must do whatever it takes to remove sin from our lives. The message here is figurative, but we must sometimes take drastic measures to get away from sin.
• Mark 9:49 - This could be referring to the purifying effect of persecution.

• Differences of the two laws:
  • Old:
    • Keep Sabbath
    • Animal blood
    • Mechanical music
  • New:
    • Meet on Sunday
    • Jesus’ blood
    • Vocal music
• This is all true, but if this was the only difference, we would still be under the same system but with different commands.
• System of law demands:
  • No man could fully follow the law as the system demanded and be made perfect in God’s eyes.
• System of faith demands:
  • No man can have faith enough to justify himself. He needs the grace of God to carry him the rest of the way.
• Philippians 3:13-14 - We must press on toward the goal!