JONAH A 28-DAY DEVOTIONAL What do you do when following Jesus requires you to do something you really don t want to do? This is what happened to Jonah. When God asked him to do something, Jonah said NO WAY. Then Jonah rebelled, and ran. Even after all of that, God still pursued him. God still wanted to do something great through Jonah s life. Over the next twenty-eight days we will be reading through the book of Jonah. Each day you will notice three categories to help you in your study: PRAY, DO, SONG These three actions are here to help guide you in this study. As you read, please write down any words or verses that stand out. Answer the questions laid out in the study for you. Then work through the 3 action categories. We hope this study helps you in your journey! i
DAY 1 JONAH 1:1-17 To get familiar with what we are working with, please read all of Jonah chapter 1 today. Calm down, don t panic, it s just 17 verses. As you read, write down any questions you may have or even verses that stand out. These will be good to discuss in the future with a friend, someone at church or someone in your Group. Once you finish reading, please work through the 3 action steps: PRAY, DO, & SONG.
DAY 1 DAY 1 QUESTIONS LEARN This section features a few questions every day to help you think deeper about what you are reading. Use the space below to jot down any notes or thoughts that occur to you as you read Jonah Chapter 1. When you read the Bible, do you meditate on it deep enough to have the truths sink into your heart or are you just reading to get it done? How can you get the most out of the bible when you read it? If you were to give a title to Jonah chapter one, what would it be? Is this the Jonah story you remember from when you were a kid? What seems different? What parts had you forgotten? What parts surprised you the most? What do you think God is saying to you specifically through the first chapter of Jonah? 3
PRAY DO SONG Ask Jesus to help you stay committed to this 28 day challenge. Ask Him to remind you throughout your day of what you just read. Thank Jesus for the cross! Tell Him you love Him. Ask Him to give you opportunities to make Him famous today. Every day there is an action item so that the story can jump off the pages and into your life. Today, text or talk to 1-3 people (friends or family) and ask them if they did their Jonah devotional today. We will make recommendations of worship tunes for you to listen to as part of your time with Jesus each day. Today s song is: You Will Never Run by Rend Collective. You can find this on Spotify, itunes music, Youtube, etc. 4
DAY 2 2 KINGS 14:23-27 This is the first time the Bible mentions Jonah. Let s find out what this man was up to before he gets his own book. You are about to read some pretty weird names. If you can t pronounce them just make up pronunciations or give them nick-names. Remember, as you read, write down any thoughts you have in the space provided on the following pages.
DAY 2 DAY 2 QUESTIONS LEARN This section features a few questions every day to help you think deeper about what you are reading. Use the space below to jot down any notes or thoughts that occur to you as you read 2 Kings 14:23-27. Write down everything you learned about Jonah from the passage you just read. Who is his dad? Where is he from? What is his job? Etc. 2 Kings 14:23-27 calls Jonah God s servant and it says that God spoke through him to restore the borders of the kingdom. What can we learn about Jonah s relationship with God and God s relationship with Jonah through those two things? 6
DAY 2 DAY 2 QUESTIONS (CONTINUED) LEARN This section features a few questions every day to help you think deeper about what you are reading. Use the space below to jot down any notes or thoughts that occur to you as you read 2 Kings 14:23-27. Describe your relationship with God. What s it like? Is it good or bad? Strong or weak? Close or disconnected? What s your favorite part about following Jesus? What s the hardest part? Write down how you think God would describe His relationship with you? How does He think about you? (Try and use every day language) 7
PRAY DO SONG Tell Jesus what you want out of your relationship with Him. Ask Him what He wants in His relationship with you. Ask Him to help grow your connection with Him deeper than it s ever been before. Thank Him for waking you up today. Pray for someone who doesn't have a relationship with Jesus. Ask Him to save them. Every day there is an action item so that the story can jump off the pages and into your life. To focus more on your relationship with Jesus, set an alert on your phone for 12:00 (or lunch) and 7:00 (dinner) and take time to think about Jesus when these alarms go off. Spend two minutes thanking Him for your day, tell Him anything you are stressed or anxious about and ask Him to help you see the rest of the day through His eyes. We will make recommendations of worship tunes for you to listen to as part of your time with Jesus each day. Today s song is: Only King Forever by Elevation Worship 8
DAY 3 JONAH 1:1-3 As we begin to re-read the first chapter of Jonah, make sure to spend time thinking about how this story can impact your own life. We challenge you to read this section three or four times to let it have the most impact. Write down any thoughts you have in the space provided on the following pages.
DAY 3 DAY 3 QUESTIONS LEARN This section features a few questions every day to help you think deeper about what you are reading. Use the space below to jot down any notes or thoughts that occur to you as you read Jonah 1:1-3 Do you think, The word of the Lord can come to you? Can God still speak to us? If so, how? Has God ever said something to you? What was it? Have you ever wanted to run from something you knew God wanted you to do? Explain. What are you running from right now? 10
DAY 3 DAY 3 QUESTIONS (CONTINUED) LEARN This section features a few questions every day to help you think deeper about what you are reading. Use the space below to jot down any notes or thoughts that occur to you as you read Jonah 1:1-3 What are the things that you do to avoid or ignore God when He is trying to get your attention? Jonah got in a boat to get away from God, what is your boat? Can you get away from the presence of the Lord? If you can t, then why do you try? How should the reality that you can t escape God s presence change the way you live today? 11
PRAY DO SONG Ask God to speak to you. Ask Him to say something to your heart today. Be still and silent for two minutes and listen. Maybe He says something, maybe He whispers something to your heart. What if the reason you ve never heard from God is because you ve never stopped speaking long enough to listen... Every day there is an action item so that the story can jump off the pages and into your life. Is there someone who you know Jesus wants you to invite to church and you haven t done it yet? You keep avoiding the conversation and making excuses. Get out of the boat, be a bringer, and invite them to come to church with you this week. We will make recommendations of worship tunes for you to listen to as part of your time with Jesus each day. Today s song is: Oceans by Hillsong United 12
DAY 4 JONAH 1:1-6 Focus on verses 3 through 6 as you read today. We challenge you to read that section three or four times to let it have the most impact. Read the questions on the following pages and make sure to use the space provided to take notes as you go.
DAY 4 DAY 4 QUESTIONS LEARN This section features a few questions every day to help you think deeper about what you are reading. Use the space below to jot down any notes or thoughts that occur to you as you read Jonah 1:1-6. What s the craziest/scariest weather you have ever been in? Who caused the storm? What does the storm tell us about the power of God and His rule over creation? What storm is happening in your life right now? How can you sleep at a time like this? What kind of mental state do you think Jonah was in at the time? Do you think he was depressed? How do you feel when you disobey God? How is your life when you are disconnected from God, when you stop going to church, when your not spending time with Him...how do you feel? 14
DAY 4 DAY 4 QUESTIONS (CONTINUED) LEARN This section features a few questions every day to help you think deeper about what you are reading. Use the space below to jot down any notes or thoughts that occur to you as you read Jonah 1:1-6. How has your sin hurt others around you? Has your disobedience ever caused pain for other people? How so? How do you think Jonah felt when the captain told him to call out to his god? Have you ever had God brought up in a situation where you were doing something you weren t supposed to? How does it make you feel? 15
PRAY DO SONG Is it possible that you have been praying to the wrong God? Is it possible that you have been looking to popularity, good grades, a person, a sport, or something else to calm the storm you feel in you life? Maybe today you need to wake up, come out of hiding and ask Jesus to calm the storm in your life. Every day there is an action item so that the story can jump off the pages and into your life. During the chaos of the storm the crew threw cargo into the ocean to lighten the load. Sometimes when life is crazy you need to lighten your load. What is something that you need to stop doing or do less of today so that you can focus more on Jesus? We will make recommendations of worship tunes for you to listen to as part of your time with Jesus each day. Today s song is: Worthy by NewSpring Worship 16
DAY 5 JONAH 1:1-10 Focus on verses 7 through 10 as you read this section again today. Read the questions on the following pages and make sure to use the space provided to take notes as you go.
DAY 5 DAY 5 QUESTIONS LEARN This section features a few questions every day to help you think deeper about what you are reading. Use the space below to jot down any notes or thoughts that occur to you as you read Jonah 1:1-10 In ancient times, people would roll dice (or cast lots) and believed that the gods were speaking through what was normally random chance. How do you get answers in your life when things are confusing? When you have questions who do you turn to? Who helps you make sense of things when your life is going crazy? In what ways are you living a life that is different from who you claim to be? Write down everything you can think of where what you say and what you do don t match up. 18
DAY 5 DAY 5 QUESTIONS (CONTINUED) LEARN This section features a few questions every day to help you think deeper about what you are reading. Use the space below to jot down any notes or thoughts that occur to you as you read Jonah 1:1-10 We see the crew ask Jonah questions. When going through hard times people need you to ask them questions. Where are you from? What s your story? What is your life all about? What god do you serve? Who do you need to ask some of these questions to today? Can you be honest when you are running from God? Why do we spend so much time pretending like our relationship with Jesus is good instead of actually working on growing it? Who is someone that you can be real with on how your relationship with Jesus is going? 19
PRAY DO SONG Ask Jesus to help make the things you say and the things you do match up this week. Ask Jesus to help you be the you He has created you to be. Take some time to be real with the person you said you can be honest with. Tell them where in your life you are running from God. Tell them some of the doubts you have. Ask them to pray for you. We will make recommendations of worship tunes for you to listen to as part of your time with Jesus each day. Today s song is: Good Good Father by Housefires 20
DAY 6 JONAH 1:1-13 Focus on verses 11 through 13 as you read this section again today. We challenge you to read it at least twice today. Read the questions on the following pages and make sure to use the space provided to take notes as you go.
DAY 6 DAY 6 QUESTIONS LEARN This section features a few questions every day to help you think deeper about what you are reading. Use the space below to jot down any notes or thoughts that occur to you as you read Jonah 1:1-13. Jonah acknowledges his guilt in verses 11-12. Do you think he is truly sorry at this point? How do we move from just knowing sin is bad to having it break our heart? What sin in your life is messing you up, what sin makes you feel gross and frustrates you? What sin are you sick of? Have you ever been in a situation where the one thing you needed to do was the one thing you didn t want to do? How did you respond? Where are you rowing hard to avoid doing the thing God called you to do? 22
DAY 6 DAY 6 QUESTIONS (CONTINUED) LEARN This section features a few questions every day to help you think deeper about what you are reading. Use the space below to jot down any notes or thoughts that occur to you as you read Jonah 1:1-13. In life, we often like to blame other people for the problems we are facing. Can you identify when you are the problem? Jonah knew he was the issue. Where are some areas/relationships that you have tried to put the blame on other people when you are really the problem? 23
PRAY DO SONG Ask Jesus to help you have enough courage and strength to own your own mistakes and not blame others. Ask Jesus to make sin taste disgusting and obedience to Him taste sweet! Ask Him to give you a heart that breaks for the things that break His heart! Today when you sin (and you will) own up to it. Right there on the spot. Admit that you were in the wrong and ask for forgiveness. We will make recommendations of worship tunes for you to listen to as part of your time with Jesus each day. Today s song is: Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship 24
DAY 7 JONAH 1:1-17 Focus on verses 14 through 17 as you read this section again today. We challenge you to read it at least twice today. Read the questions on the following pages and make sure to use the space provided to take notes as you go.
DAY 7 DAY 7 QUESTIONS LEARN This section features a few questions every day to help you think deeper about what you are reading. Use the space below to jot down any notes or thoughts that occur to you as you read Jonah 1:1-17. We see the crew make vows to serve God. What can we learn about people coming to know Jesus through their experience? Why do you think they chose to follow God? Jonah is in the belly of the whale for 3 days and 3 nights. What does this remind you of? How is the gospel of Jesus similar to Jonah, Chapter 1? 26
DAY 7 DAY 7 QUESTIONS (CONTINUED) LEARN This section features a few questions every day to help you think deeper about what you are reading. Use the space below to jot down any notes or thoughts that occur to you as you read Jonah 1:1-17. What is the biggest question you have from Jonah chapter one? What BIG thing do you feel like God has been trying to say to you through Jonah chapter one? What is one verse you can try to memorize from chapter one? Write it on a sheet of paper or in the notes app on your phone and work on committing it to memory throughout the day. 27
PRAY DO SONG Thank Jesus that you made it through chapter 1. Ask Him to help you stay committed for 21 more days! Ask Him to continue to grow a hunger for his word in your heart! Challenge someone who isn t doing the devotional to study it with you. Make plans to grab breakfast or coffee and work through it together. We will make recommendations of worship tunes for you to listen to as part of your time with Jesus each day. Today s song is: Death In His Grave by John Mark McMillan 28