Mad About A Christmas Tree Series

Notes for Sermon 7/27/2003

Jonah 4:5-11

Introduction:

The lady who got mad about the Christmas tree.

WBTU:

A. Read Jonah 4:5-11.

B. How stupid and ridiculous to get mad about a vine.

C. How stupid and ridiculous to get mad at God for Jonah’s mission was a success.

D. Jonah’s mission. No, it wasn’t Jonah’s mission. It was the Lord’s mission.

E. Jonah’s mission and the Lord’s mission, Jonah’s will and the Lord’s will were miles apart.

F. We need to be one with Jesus Christ. We have a new heart and a new mind through Jesus Christ. Our will needs to conform to His will.

G. However, many times our mission, our agenda and the Lord’s mission and the Lord’s agenda are far apart. Our will is in opposition to the Lord’s will.

H. We can learn a lot from missionaries

I. (Mat 28:18 NIV) Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.(Mat 28:19 NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,(Mat 28:20 NIV) and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

J. What is the objective of a missionary? To do this. What is the central mission of the church? To help everyone know Jesus Christ and his mission for their lives. To be saved and to be sent.

Thesis: What is the Lord’s will and heart and why is it important to the local church?

For instances:

1. What is the Lord’s will and heart?

A. (1 Tim 2:3 NIV) This is good, and pleases God our Savior,(1 Tim 2:4 NIV) who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

B. (2 Pet 3:9 NIV) The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

C. Why did he send his Son?

D. (Rev 5:9 NIV) And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

2. Why is this important to the local church?

A. In the church, the mission of the Lord must be more than just a hobby, more than just a sideline.

B. It must be a passion for us, something that burns within our hearts and drives our lives and our churches.

C. Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. How? Through the church, through individual believers.

D. In this day and time, North American churches are not pulling their weight. We see people in poorer countries sacrificing. We see them paying a great price and undergoing persecution because of their faith in God and their love for his work.

E. Their was a time when most missionaries came from North America, but now the missionaries are coming from South America, Asia and Africa. In fact, this is the only continent in the world where the church is not growing. We are not reaching the world nor are we reaching our own countrymen. We must confess that in our lives and in our churches we have become preoccupied with other things.

F. We have been silly and ridiculous like Jonah got over the vine, or gourd plant.

G. We can see how ridiculous we have become on the internet, some of the stuff people are actually selling in the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus Saves Air Fresheners, picture of Jesus holding a lamb. He says, “Express your feelings with this beautiful meaningful air freshener.

H. There is a guy selling religious hot sauce. His first recipe was The Wrath. His new brew is called Armageddon. He says it’s great with potato salad, deviled eggs, pancakes, curry dishes, and Navajo tacos.

I. Holy steps insoles for your shoes. They have a picture of the city of Jerusalem on them. They are made of three layers. Top and bottom layers are made of foam. The middle layer is dirt from Jerusalem so that you can always be walking on holy ground.

J. Wash away your sins soap. “Do other soaps leave you with an unclean feeling? Wash away your sins soap drives those troublesome sin blots down the drain.” This will make cleanliness next to godliness for $8. For $12 we can get the matching bubble bath soap.

K. Pet baptizing kit. For those of you who thought that repent and be baptized were just for adults. Father Andrew is selling this on E-bay. If Nero has been biting the postman, or Cuddles has been chewing up the drapes, this is for you. It comes with holy water, a baptismal certificate, a prayer and instructions for a ceremony that will enrich the lives of both you and your pet.