Effective Preaching Workshop 2025: Jonah

The Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the Bible not only to communicate to us through what they said but also through how they said it. So, when you are reading the Bible, it’s important to not only focus on what is said, but how it is said.

Jonah Chapter 1: Identifying Repeating Vocabulary

• God calls Jonah to arise (v1) and the ship captain calls Jonah to arise (v6)
• But Jonah goes down to Joppa (v3), down into the ship (v3), down into the inner part of the ship (v5), lays down (v5) and will ultimately go down into the sea (v15)
  • Because Jonah is fleeing from the presence of the LORD (v3 x2, v10)
• Throughout the chapter, the pagan sailors look more like God than the prophet does
  • God calls Jonah to arise (v1) and so does the ship captain (v6)
  • God hurls a wind on the sea (v4) and then the sailors hurl the cargo (v5), and hurl Jonah into the sea (v12, v15)
• There is an escalation of the pagan sailors’ fear
  • They are afraid of the storm (v5)
  • They are exceedingly afraid when they learn Jonah is the cause of the storm (v10)
  • They are even more afraid when the storm ceases, because they realize the LORD is God (v16)
• The repetition in vocabulary highlights the fact that while Jonah says that he fears the LORD (v9) it is not Jonah but the pagan sailors who fear the LORD (v16)

Jonah Chapter 2: Identifying the Structure of the Text

• Is Jonah parable or history? Jesus answers it for us in Matthew 12 – this is history.
• Parallel structure of Jonah
  • A – Jonah’s 1^st commission & disobedience 1:1-3
    • B – Jonah & Pagan Sailors 1:4-16
      • C — Jonah’s Grateful Prayer 1:17-2:10
  • A’ – Jonah’s recommission & compliance 3:1-4
    • B’ – Jonah & Pagan Ninevites 3:5-10
      • C’ – Jonah’s Angry Prayer 4:1-8
  • D  final lesson on compassion 4:9-11

Example Sermon Outline: Jonah 2

• Intro: Are there times when you’re not sure what to pray, how to pray, or afraid you’ll make a mess of it? In Jonah chapter 2, we find the prayer of Jonah, and Jonah is a prophet – when it comes to prayer, he’s a professional. Let’s look at his prayer so that we might grow more confident in prayer.
• Jonah’s prayer makes God want to vomit – how do we know?
  • Choice of vocabulary (2:10): every occurrence of vomit is negative in the Bible
  • Jonah only prays at his lowest point (2:5)
• Do you ever think, “After what I’ve done, if I were to pray, it’d make God want to vomit”?
• Notice what happens when Jonah prays a pathetic prayer – God answers it
  • Jonah has been going down, down, down, down, down (1:3, 5, 2:5)
  • Jonah prays and then Jonah goes up (2:6)
  • Because as Jonah correctly summarizes, “Salvation belongs to the LORD” (2:9)
• Big Idea: God can answer even your most pathetic prayers because prayer is not powered by man’s obedience but by God’s omnipotence
  • 1 Peter 3:7 is true, James 5:16 is true, but don’t turn God into Santa Claus
    • “If you’re good you get what you ask for, if you’re bad you get coal”
    • That destroys grace and tramples on the gospel
  • The power of prayer isn’t your will being done in heaven, but God’s will being done on earth
• So, pray. Wherever you are and whatever you have done – pray. And then look for God’s deliverance.
• God can answer even your most pathetic prayers because prayer is not powered by man’s obedience but by God’s omnipotence

Jonah Chapters 3 & 4: Distinguishing Between Blanks and Gaps and Putting It All Together

• We communicate not only with what we say but also with what we choose not to say
  • Blank: an inconsequential omission
  • Gap: an intentional omission intended to communicate meaning
• How identifying repeating vocabulary as well as the structure of the text is beneficial
  • Since Ch. 3 is parallel to Ch. 1 you know to be looking for points of comparison and contrast
    • Chapter 1
      • The word of the LORD comes to Jonah, and he disobeys
      • The word comes to Jonah and calls him to arise (1:1) and Jonah rebels
    • Chapter 3 
      • The word of the LORD comes to the Ninevites and they
      • The word comes to the king of Nineveh, and he arises (3:6) and repents
  • Repetition of language in 3:10 and 4:1
    • Notice the repetition of רָעָ֣ה though translated in different ways
      • Ninevites turn from their “evil”
      • So, God turns from the “disaster” He said He would do to them
      • Jonah sees God’s response and is “displeased”
    • Repetition serves to show us that Jonah’s heart is still out of step with God’s heart
  • Repetition of language in 4:1 and 4:6
    • Jonah is exceedingly glad when God gives him grace (4:6)
    • Jonah is exceedingly angry when God gives grace to others (4:1)
  • Repetition of language in 4:6 and 4:7, 8
    • God appoints a plant to bless Jonah (4:6)
      • And to save Jonah from His “discomfort” = “evil” (3:10, 4:1)
    • God appoints a worm and scorching east wind to correct Jonah (4:8)
    • God is sovereign in both times of blessing and correction
• Value of identifying blanks and gaps 
  • The LORD asks Jonah a question (4:4) but we do not find an answer from Jonah
    • We’re left to conclude Jonah is disrespectfully walking away without providing an answer
  • Jonah builds a booth to provide shade for himself (4:5), but the LORD then appoints a plant to provide shade for Jonah (4:6)
    • We’re left to conclude that Jonah’s booth was unable to provide sufficient shade
    • Jonah is once again acting in rebellion, but God gives him grace

Example Sermon Outline: Jonah 3:10-4:11

Intro: You can pay $X/hr to take a masterclass in chess from a grandmaster, in cooking from a Michelin star chef, etc. But this morning we get to take a masterclass for free – a masterclass in grace from God Himself

• Grace always pursues
  • Back in 1:4, Jonah tried to run “But the LORD” – aren’t you thankful God intervenes in the midst of our obstinance? 
  • Now, even when Jonah shouts in God’s face, “I told you so” (4:2) God doesn’t let him go
• In place of wrath, God gives rescue
  • God doesn’t pursue Jonah to punish him but to bless him (4:6)
  • We’ve seen this back in chapters 1 and 2 and now here once more God pursues Jonah to give him adequate shelter
• Big Idea: Grace will either flow through you or fester within you
  • Jonah loves when grace is given to him (4:6) but hates it when grace is given to others (4:1)
  • Sea of Galilee and Dead Sea are quite different: one teeming with life and the other filled with death, though both find their water from the same source – Jordan River
    • What makes the difference? Sea of Galilee has water come in and water flows out; Dead Sea water comes in and sits and bakes
  • John 7:38 – “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” not “into”
    • We’re not to retain grace but release it into the lives of others
  • Does grace flow through you or fester within you?
    • Through your work? 
      • When a co-worker wrongs you and then makes a mistake do you hang them out to dry or do you, like God, cover for them and provide shelter and protection for them?
    • Through your finances?
      • Do you hold onto everything that God has given to you, or do you graciously give to others? Do you only give to those who are “deserving” or are you moved to be generous to the undeserving?
  • Grace will either flow through you or fester within you