Small Group Guide
October 19
Application Questions:
Grace to Calm the Storm (Jonah 1:11-16)
1. Running from God in "One Area"
Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
Is there one specific area of your life where you're "running from God"—perhaps in matters of lust, greed, gossip, or unforgiveness—even as you try to be an obedient Christian elsewhere? What practical steps can you take this week to stop running and turn toward obedience in that area?
2. The Ripple Effect of Disobedience
Jonah 1:12 And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
Jonah realized his sin was the reason for the storm, affecting the innocent sailors. When you consider a compromise or habitual sin in your life, who are the people being injured by the ripple effect (spouse, children, friends, unsaved coworkers, church body)? How does realizing your sin's external cost motivate you toward repentance and change?
3. Abdicating Christian Leadership
Joshua 7:24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
[If you're a dad], where are you letting comfort, distraction (e.g., video games, entertainment), or fear cause you to fail to lead your family spiritually? How will you reclaim your God-given role this week? [If you're not], where are areas where your sin affects others?
4. Efforts to Save Yourself
Jonah 1:13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
The sailors "rowed hard" but couldn't save themselves. In what life-storm (guilt, anxiety, relational issue) are you currently "rowing hard" through human effort (self-help, busy-ness, performance) instead of relying completely on God's grace and finished work in Christ?
5. Escaping God's Judgment on Your Terms
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
You cannot escape the judgment of a holy God on your own terms. What false assurance or good work are you secretly trusting in to stand before God (your church attendance, your morality, your giving) rather than the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ alone?
6. Moving from Terror to Trust
Jonah 1:14 Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, We beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee.
The sailors' "prayer of terror" eventually led them to a prayer of trust when they called on Yahweh. If you are currently in a storm, is your prayer a bargain ("God, if you save me, I'll...") or a submission of trust ("Lord, You have done as it pleased You")? How can you cultivate the latter?
7. Practical Recognition of God's Sovereignty
Psalm 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.
The pagan sailors came to the realization that the Lord "hast done as it pleased thee" (v. 14). How does this truth of God's complete sovereignty over all circumstances (country, world events, personal trials) practically change the way you view your current difficulties and fears?
8. Fearing the Storm vs. Fearing the God of the Storm
Jonah 1:16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows.
The sailors moved from being "exceedingly afraid" of the storm (v. 10) to "exceedingly afraid of the Lord." What is the object of your greatest fear right now (financial loss, disease, failure, etc.)? How can you intentionally shift your focus and worship to the God who sovereignly controls all those things?
9. Worship After the Storm
Jonah 1:16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows.
The sincerity of the sailors' faith was confirmed when they "offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows." How do you worship God after He calms a storm in your life? What "sacrifices" (of time, resources, praise) or "vows" (commitments to obedience) should you make now to reflect genuine, lasting faith?
10. Resting in the Substitute
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Jonah's plunge calmed the storm, symbolizing Christ's ultimate sacrifice. Do you still live with a "religion of fear"—worried God is angry with you or waiting for you to mess up—or are you resting in the "perfect love" of Christ's finished work as your Substitute, knowing God looks on you with love?
Sermon Outline:
Grace to Calm the Storm (Jonah 1:11–16)
Central Theme: God's grace provides a substitute to calm the storm of His wrath, leading to genuine faith and worship.
Introduction
Illustration: Nita Friedman running from the law while observing the speed limit—a picture of trying to keep God's law in most areas but running from Him in one.
The Problem: Jonah, an obedient prophet, is running from God's command to go to Nineveh.
God's Response: A storm to stop him (v. 4). Sin will find you out (v. 10).
Sermon Title: Grace to Calm the Storm.
1. The Cost of Disobedience (Jonah 1:11–12)
The escalating storm leads the sailors to ask Jonah what to do (v. 11).
Jonah owns his guilt: "Take me up, and cast me forth... for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you" (v. 12).
A) Sin always demands a punishment.
God is a just Judge (Gen. 18:25).
The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23).
B) Your sin doesn't affect just you.
God's people should be a blessing (Gen. 12:3), but disobedience makes them a curse (Gen. 12:17; 20:1–7).
Achan's sin affected his household and 36 soldiers (Josh. 7:5, 24).
Application: Our disobedience (e.g., lack of leadership, compromise) ripples out, injuring spouse, children, and the unsaved community.
2. Our Inability to Save Ourselves (Jonah 1:13)
The sailors' first instinct is human effort: "rowed hard to bring it to the land" (v. 13).
Human effort cannot save: "they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them."
Salvation is by grace through faith, not works (Eph. 2:8–9; Titus 3:5).
Human effort ("the flesh") accomplishes nothing (John 6:63).
We cannot escape God's judgment on our own terms (Amos 2:14–16).
3. Salvation by Seeing God's Sovereignty (Jonah 1:14, 16)
The sailors move from terror to genuine seeking.
Transition from Paganism to True Worship:
They cry out to "Yahweh," the covenant name of the one, true God (v. 14).
They recognize God's sovereignty: "...for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You" (v. 14).
Reverential Awe:
After the sea is calm, "Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly" (v. 16). The object of their fear changed from the storm to the God of the storm.
They "feared with a great fear" and proved their sincere worship by offering sacrifices and making vows (v. 16). Their religion of fear turned into faith.
4. The Sacrifice of a Substitute (Jonah 1:15)
Jonah is cast into the sea, and "the sea ceased from her raging" (v. 15). God's justice is appeased.
Jonah as a Symbol: Jonah is an imperfect symbol, but his plunge represents propitiation (turning aside God's wrath).
This foreshadows the Scapegoat on the Day of Atonement, where sin was placed on a substitute (Lev. 16:7–10, 21).
Jesus the Ultimate Substitute:
Jesus directly connected the event to Himself (Matt. 12:40).
Jesus willingly plunged into the ultimate storm of God's wrath on the cross—a storm He didn't deserve.
The Result: Because Christ took our storm, God's wrath is calmed. We have a calm soul and a religion of love, not fear (1 John 4:18).
Conclusion: Will you trust the sacrifice of the Substitute?