Wesley Methodist Church
24 May 2014
Unlimited Grace
Sermon illustration
Amish town of Nickel Mines
Gunman ties up and shoots at 10 school girls killing five
and kills himself
Nineveh Capital of Assyria
Known for brutality
He knows in his head about God's forgiveness
but in his heart he does not feel Nineveh deserves it
Men compartmentalise
think in boxes
Women are wired together with emotions
Book of Jonah
is about the prophet, not his prophecy
Jonah's character
God's job of saving Jonah.
When God watches over us he wants to teach us
(not looking out to catch us and punish us)
Jonah's relationship with the plant was
relational
functional
based on what the plant could do for him
Jonah did not care at first when the plant dies
only when it could no longer provide shade.
Vending machine that provides Milo
Appreciated
Loved
But God loves us beyond what we can do for him
more about what he can do for us.
Our offerings are made real by the way we live.
Not plugged into God?
Luke15 Prodigal son story
ends abruptly
we are not told how elder brother responds
Likewise
story of Jonah
ends abruptly
we are not told how the prophet Jonah responds
the abrupt ending is a teaching point for the listener
How will YOU respond
Will you choose to be angry
or forgive?
will you nurture pain in your heart?
Will you realise it to God
Your choice
Will you receive grace
to forgive
to chage the world?
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