Encounters with God Encountering the God of Justice

Encounters with God Encountering the God of Justice & Mercy Jonah 1: 1 -3; 3: 1 -5; 4: 1 -11

May 25, 2014 Prayer Requests n n n n n Sylvester Family - Bereavement Charles Brown -- Health Traci Frazier – Health Peggy & Danny -- Health Ruth Gawith -- Health Ginnie Jellison – Health Donnie Meeks – Health Keith Mc. New – Salvation James Alexander -- Salvation

Sunday. Teacher. com Lesson Password: Experience Illustrated Bible Life Password: Complex

http: //globalmission. nazarene. org/ Sandra Great Britain David Mexico Saurabh Bangladesh, Angola, Namibia Ruth India, Israel, Australia, New Zealand Keith & Ruth Switzerland Sarah Swaziland Wayne Africa Nazarene show on MTV Lebanon produces fruit The feedback in general was so encouraging and it put us in place that we are thinking to seriously do season two of the show … for the year 2015, ” said Ayman Kafrouny, the pastor of Bouchrieh Church of the Nazarene in Beirut, who produced, wrote and hosted the program. The objective was to produce a quality Christian broadcast for Arabicspeaking people around the world in cooperation with MTV Lebanon, a secular station that wanted to run a Lenten-themed show in the 40 days leading up to Easter. The program was 95 percent funded through Nazarenes' offerings to World Mission Broadcast – a denominational ministry that supports the evangelism and discipleship efforts of various Nazarene radio, Internet and TV programs around the world.

Praying for the US & Canada Vibrant renewal revives Chanute Kansas church Alexanders: CA, OK, GA, QC Vanderpool: NM (SE ABQ) Jellisons: UT, TX, AK The church's 60 members began praying every Shultzs: CA, DC, MA, BC Moores: AZ, NM, DC, CA, YT, QC Tuesday night. Since then, numerous people Abby Nielson: MA, OH, VT, QC received Christ and the church hosted multiple Aliece Nielson: NM, VT, PEI baptisms and dedications. Church attendance L. Kilgore: VA, MI T. & P. Brown: IL, HW, PA, DC increased by about 70 and around 20 new Nazarenes Nielsons: OH, PEI, VT, MA, RI were added into church membership. The church also Griffins: VT, OH, (Northeast) C. Yazzie: NM, AZ, & Navajo Nation started a new capital campaign, added a new administrative assistant and worship/youth pastor, Adams: NM, CA, MA B. Brown: GA, OR, ON and began new small groups. In June, the B. Vito: NY, ID congregation will plant a new Hispanic church. "For us, our leadership got hold of the book, “Shift: How Nine Churches Experienced Vibrant Renewal. ” Pastor Mc. Donald said. "Once we got this book in our hands, we just put everything in the book into practice. It was almost like God gave used this book as tool to bring renewal to the church. God heard the prayers of His people during the season of prayer and then He equipped the church with this incredible Shift resource. “ http: //usacanadaregion. org/usa-canada-region

Nineveh (Modern Day Mosul)

Johah 1 (NIV) 1 The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me. ” 3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.

The Word of the Lord Came to Jonah n n n Why do you think Jonah would choose to flee from God’s direction? What was wrong with Jonah’s understanding of God? Why didn’t God give up on Jonah and just find someone else?

Jonah 3 (NIV) Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you. ” 3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown. ” 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

Turn, Turn n Why did Jonah decide to go to Nineveh after all? Was Jonah pleased that the people began to show penitence? Why or why not? Why do you think Jonah’s message was effective?

Jonah 4 (NIV) But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2 He prayed to the LORD, “Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3 Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live. ” 4 But the LORD replied, “Is it right for you to be angry? ” 5 Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city.

Jonah 4 (NIV) 6 Then the LORD God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live. ” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant? ” “It is, ” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead. ”

Jonah 4 (NIV) n 10 But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11 And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals? ”

Man’s Anger & God’s Mercy n n n How does this story demonstrate God’s justice and mercy? What does Jonah’s experience with the plant, worm, and wind tell us about justice and mercy? How do we balance love and mercy in our relationships with others?

Encounters with God June – August 2014 Encountering God the Son John 1: 35 -51