By Pastor Bruce Oyen
Email: bk_oyen@hotmail.com
Introduction to this posting.
In a previous posting, I gave a simple outline of each chapter of the Book Of Jonah. In this posting, I will give a fuller outline of chapter one. It is the outline from which I recently preached on this chapter. However, it does not have all the details, such as Scripture references, used when the sermon was preached.
Some thoughts on preaching.
It is better to seldom preach from manuscripts. Instead, keep most of the material stored in one's memory. Then, during sermons, use outlines to keep on track. This method enables preachers to have important frequent eye-contact with their listeners. It also enables them to preach what I call prepared-but- extemporaneous sermons. In such sermons, there is an eye-to-eye connection between the preacher and his audience that reading a manuscript does not allow. When we are not tied to a manuscript, we can preach with our our eyes, facial expressions, bodily movements, personalities, and our words. When we are not tied to a manuscript, we more fully communicate with those to whom we are speaking. But onto my outline on Jonah, chapter one!
An Introduction To Sermon On Jonah, Chapter One.
When this sermon was preached, this outline was preceded, of course, by an introduction to the subject matter. The introduction included a giving of my shorter outlines of each chapter, given in a previous posting. The introduction also included a reading of the entire first chapter of Jonah, at which we again looked as each main point was expounded on. Therefore, much of the chapter was gone over twice in the sermon. As we proceeded through the main points and sub-points, application was made to ourselves. As one can see, it is easy to apply some of these points to both Christians and non-Christians. Thus, the sermon has an evangelistic thrust to it as well.
1.) First, we read of Jonah's commission, verses 1 and 2.
A. The content of his commission.
1.) It was specific.
2.) It was startling.
B. The city of his commission
1.) Its location.
2.) Its history.
3.) Its wickedness.
4.) Its danger.
5.) Its need.
6.) Its repentance.
7.) Its destruction.
2.) Second, we read of Jonah's rebellion, verse 3.
A. The reasons for his rebellion.
1.) His bias against Gentiles.
2.) His bitterness against the Assyrian Ninevites.
B. The expressions of his rebellion.
1.) He tried to avoid Nineveh.
2.) He tried to avoid God.
C. The foolishness of his rebellion.
He could run away from the will of God, but he could not run away from the presence of God.
3.) Third, we read of Jonah's guilt, verses 4 - 17.
A. His guilt affected the sea, verse 4.
B. His guilt affected the ship, verse 4.
C. His guilt affected the sailors, verses 5a and 6 - 8.
D. His guilt affected his strength, verse 5b.
E. His guilt affected his statement, verses 9 and 10.
F. His guilt affected his senses, verses 11 and 12.
G. His guilt affected his service, verses 13 - 17.
A Conclusion To Sermon on Jonah, Chapter One.
Concluding a sermon on such a chapter as this one is easy. If we are Christians, we have been commissioned to be Christ's witnesses, though we might never be sent far away. And, we have been commanded to live Christlike lives. But, like Jonah, we can rebel against God's will. However, not one of our reasons for doing so is acceptable. When we rebel, we are guilty. And this guilt will affect us and others until we get right with God. The conclusion should include time for prayers of repentance.
A Concluding Song
A hymn or Gospel song can be very a effective means of driving home to the heart the Biblical truths considered during a sermon. In this case, we sang the first and last verses of that grand old song of repentance, "Lord, I'm Coming Home." Those verses and chorus say this: "I've wandered far away from God -- now I'm coming home; the paths of sin too long I've trod -- Lord, I'm coming home. My soul is sick, my heart is sore -- now I'm coming home; My strength renew, my hope restore -- Lord, I'm coming home. Coming home, coming home, never more to roam; open now thine arms of love -- Lord, I'm coming home."
