To engage the learners in a study of the Scripture text:
Have your group read Jonah 4:1-4 and discuss the following questions.
- What does the word “this” in verse 1 refer to?
- How does Jonah’s anger and his prayer connect to the story in chapter 1?
- How does Jonah’s prayer here compare to his prayer in chapter 2?
- How had God shown mercy to the Ninevites?
- How had God shown mercy to Jonah?
Have your group read Jonah 4:5-11 and discuss the following questions.
- What three things did God “provide”? If you were Jonah, how would you have felt about God’s “provision”?
- How is the dialog in verse 9 similar to the dialog earlier in the chapter?
- What lesson was God trying to teach Jonah through these events?
- How did Jonah’s attitude toward the Ninevites compare to God’s attitude toward them?
- How can you relate to Jonah’s desire to limit God’s mercy to others? To whom might God be calling you to show mercy?
To encourage personal application:
Consider dividing into groups of three or four people for the following time of sharing and prayer.
- How do you typically express anger?
- Specifically, what do you do when you feel angry or frustrated with God?
- How could you grow in these areas?
- How has God spoken to you or challenged you through these four lessons from the book of Jonah? In prayer, commit to a plan of action in this regard.