2. Jonah 3
1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the
second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the
great city and proclaim to it the proclamation
which I am going to tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and
went to Nineveh according to the word of the
LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city,
a three days’ walk. 4 Then Jonah began to go
2
3. Jonah 3
through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out
and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be
overthrown.” 5 Then the people of Nineveh
believed in God; and they called a fast and put on
sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. 6
When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he
arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from
3
4. Jonah 3
him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on
the ashes. 7 He issued a proclamation and it said,
“In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his
nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste
a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. 8 “But
both man and beast must be covered with
sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that
4
5. Jonah 3
each may turn from his wicked way and from the
violence which is in his hands. 9 “Who knows, God
may turn and relent and withdraw His burning
anger so that we will not perish.” 10 When God
saw their deeds, that they turned from their
wicked way, then God relented concerning the
calamity which He had declared He would bring
upon them. And He did not do it.
5
7. Big Idea
How then will they call on Him in
whom they have not believed? How
will they believe in Him whom they
have not heard? And how will they
hear without a preacher?
Romans 10:14
7
9. Conversion
6-8% – said the minister was the reason. His personality or reputation brought them to
that church.
4-6% – were walk-ins. One day they decided they needed to go to church, so they did.
2-4% – said they were attracted by the church’s outstanding program and facilities.
1-2% – said it was because someone visited them or knocked on their door.
.1% – said that it was through a radio or T.V. program that they had been reached.
However, 70-90% replied that their conversion was the result of the witness from a family
member, friend, or work associate.
9
10. Aren’t you glad there are 2nd chances?
[God said to Jonah,] “Arise, go to
Nineveh the great city and proclaim to
it the proclamation which I am going
to tell you.”
10
11. God doesn’t get wrong
numbers
God’s Call
God’s message
11
12. God’s
Call But you are a chosen race,
a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people for God’s
own possession, so that
you may proclaim the
excellencies of him who
has called you out of
darkness into his
marvelous light;
1 Peter 2:9
12
13. Luke 21:13–15 It will lead to an
opportunity for your testimony. So
make up your minds not to prepare
beforehand to defend yourselves; for
I will give you utterance and wisdom
which none of your opponents will
be able to resist or refute.
…do not worry
beforehand about
what you are to say,
but say whatever is
given you in that hour;
for it is not you who
speak, but it is the
Holy Spirit.
Mark 13:11b
13
14. Success starts with obedience
So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh
according to the word of the LORD.
14
16. One man’s obedience
Then the people of Nineveh
believed in God; and they called a
fast and put on sackcloth from the
greatest to the least of them.
16
17. Good Question
How then will they call on Him in whom
they have not believed? How will they
believe in Him whom they have not
heard? And how will they hear without a
preacher? How will they preach unless
they are sent?
Romans 10:14–15a
17
19. Jesus said
And I, if I am lifted up
from the earth, will
draw all men to Myself.
John 12:32
No one can come to Me
unless the Father who
sent Me draws him…
John 6:44
19
20. proclamation
In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his
nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste
a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. But
both man and beast must be covered with
sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that
each may turn from his wicked way and from the
violence which is in his hands.
20
21. Not a result programs
Who knows, God may turn and relent
and withdraw His burning anger so
that we will not perish.
21
22. A result of one man’s reluctant obedience
When God saw their deeds, that they
turned from their wicked way, then
God relented concerning the calamity
which He had declared He would bring
upon them. And He did not do it.
22
23. Surprises About the Ninevites you know
1. Most of the unchurched prefer to attend church on Sunday morning if they attend.
2. Most of the unchurched feel guilty about not attending church.
3. Ninety-six percent of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if they are
invited (more than nine out of 10).
4. Very few of the unchurched had someone share with them how to become a Christian.
5. Most of the unchurched have a positive view of pastors, ministers and the church.
6. Many of the unchurched have a church background.
7. Some types of “cold calls” are effective; many are not.
8. The unchurched would like to develop a real and sincere relationship with a Christian.
9. Many of the unchurched are far more concerned about the spiritual well-being of their children
than themselves.
23
24. Facts
1. The unchurched are not antichurch.
2. Over 17 million people will accept Christ if presented with the gospel.
Another 43 million are close.
3. Most unchurched persons believe in the existence of both heaven and
hell.
4. Unchurched persons are nervous but willing to talk about matters of faith.
5. Most of the unchurched have a fairly high view of the Bible.
6. Most of the unchurched would rather talk to a layperson than a minister
about religious matters.
7. Many of the unchurched wonder why their Christian neighbors and
coworkers do not invite them to church.
8. Most of the unchurched have a spiritual view of life.
24
1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” 3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk. 4 Then Jonah began to go
through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. 6 When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from
him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. 7 He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. 8 “But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that
each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. 9 “Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.” 10 When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.
Let’s Pray
Stand and recite the “Big Idea”
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14
Have you been to a crusade , Revival, Big outreach
6-8% – said the minister was the reason. His personality or reputation brought them to that church.
4-6% – were walk-ins. One day they decided they needed to go to church, so they did.
2-4% – said they were attracted by the church’s outstanding program and facilities.
1-2% – said it was because someone visited them or knocked on their door.
.1% – said that it was through a radio or T.V. program that they had been reached.
However, 70-90% replied that their conversion was the result of the witness from a family member, friend, or work associate.
[God said to Jonah,] “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.”
God’s Call
God’s message
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; 1 Peter 2:9
…do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11b
Luke 21:13–15 It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.
So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the LORD.
Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.
Not flashy, no graphics, no venue
Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.
How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Romans 10:14–15a
The citizens of Nineveh
The King of Nineveh
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.
John 12:32
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…
John 6:44
In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.
Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.
When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.
Most of the unchurched prefer to attend church on Sunday morning if they attend.
Most of the unchurched feel guilty about not attending church.
Ninety-six percent of the unchurched are at least somewhat likely to attend church if they are invited (more than nine out of 10).
Very few of the unchurched had someone share with them how to become a Christian.
Most of the unchurched have a positive view of pastors, ministers and the church.
Many of the unchurched have a church background.
Some types of “cold calls” are effective; many are not.
The unchurched would like to develop a real and sincere relationship with a Christian.
Many of the unchurched are far more concerned about the spiritual well-being of their children than themselves.
The unchurched are not antichurch.
Over 17 million people will accept Christ if presented with the gospel. Another 43 million are close.
Most unchurched persons believe in the existence of both heaven and hell.
Unchurched persons are nervous but willing to talk about matters of faith.
Most of the unchurched have a fairly high view of the Bible.
Most of the unchurched would rather talk to a layperson than a minister about religious matters.
Many of the unchurched wonder why their Christian neighbors and coworkers do not invite them to church.
Most of the unchurched have a spiritual view of life.
Write three names down
Pray for them for three weeks
Invite them to church
