Sermon Notes
Title: An Unlikely Love Story (Part I)
Text: Proverbs 3:11-12
Topic: The Evidence of God’s Love
Teacher: Dr. Barry D. Lovett
Time: 2/13/11 FBCH;
File Under: Holiday (Valentines Day)
11 My child, do not reject the Lord’s discipline, and don’t get angry when he corrects you. The Lord corrects those he loves, just as parents correct the child they delight in. Proverbs 3:11-12 (NCV)
Jonah is a story of God’s great love for Jonah and God’s love for you. There are four evidences of God’s love for Jonah.
GOD CALLED JONAH. Jonah 1:1-3
GOD CHASTENED JONAH. Jonah 1:4-7
Chasten: “To inflict suffering upon for the purpose of moral improvement.”
Everything in this story obeys God except Jonah.
In Chapter one God had Jonah’s mind.
He has a plan for you and it’s a good plan. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
In Chapter two God got a hold of Jonah’s body.
You’ve gone through some hard times because you’ve been running from the Lord and now he finally has your attention. He’s got your body. You’re here right now not by accident but by design.
“When you lose your life that’ when you’ll find it.” Jesus
Digging Deeper: What do you see in Jonah’s prayer (Chapter 2)? A psalm of thanksgiving? A call for help? Recommitment? What do you make of the fact that Jonah prays “inside the fish” (Jonah 2:1)… and uses verbs in the past tense as though God had already answered prayer?