Sermons on Jonah 1:1-2:8:

The Praying Prophet Series

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 1, 2022

Jonah prays from inside the great fish. When we realize that God wants us to accomplish something, we ought not to run.

Fear the God – Respect 2:1-9 At the beginning of chapter 1, we see Jonah as The Protesting Prophet. He did not want to go to Nineveh as directed by God. It is noted in verse three that he “rose up to flee…from the Presence of the Lord.” Jonah had sinned by running from God. However, we can see ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-10

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Unanticipated Direction Series

Contributed by Jason Jones on Nov 16, 2022

Six Truths for Unanticipated Storms

Jonah was a prophet of God from the northern kingdom of Israel. God called him to go to wicked and cruel people and preach judgment and repentance. Assyria was a rising world power in the mid 740’s BC and was expanding its territory with ruthless invasions of other nations resulting in torturous ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Jonah The Deserter Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 9, 2021

He was a deliberate, determined, disobedient deserter of duty, and yet he was an instrument of God for the salvation of many. That is the real wonder, and not the whale experience.

Jonah is one of the most famous books of the Old Testament. It is known of by masses of people who never read any of the Bible. Strange as it may seem it was the first book of the Bible to be translated into Chinese. The trouble with all the widespread knowledge about Jonah is that it is all ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-3

Jonah's Flight Lessons Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 9, 2021

The lesson that many point out here is that we learn by this experience that good timing, and all things working out to aid you in your plan, is no necessary proof that it is God's will. Even the most evil of schemes can work like a charm,

Many of you have no doubt heard several times of the boy who drew a picture in Sunday School of an airplane with four people in it. The Sunday School teacher asked him what part of the Bible he was illustrating, and he said it was a picture of the flight of Mary and Joseph with Jesus into Egypt. ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:3

Awakened By A Pagan Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 9, 2021

All it takes for many pagans to become children of God is a faithful prophet who will awake at their rebuke; pray for their preservation, and begin to proclaim the person of Christ.

Jonah and Paul were alike in that they were both commissioned by God as missionaries to the Gentiles, and both were alike in their desire to go to Spain. Both of them had the experience of being on a storm tossed ship with pagans. These superficial similarities, however, become material for a ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:4-6

The Lord Or Luck Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 9, 2021

God cannot let a man be free to disobey His law and at the same time compel him to obey it. This is the price God was willing to pay to make a man with free will.

\ A speculator, who won and lost money by instinct, was discussing success with a business man who had done very well. They were discussing whether success was attained by planned judgment, or by mere luck. The business man said judgment, but the speculator held out for luck. He pointed out to the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:7

The Fear Of God Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 9, 2021

The word fear in relation to God can mean very opposite things. There is a fear of God which is terror at his might and wrath, and there is a fear of God which is reverence, or worship. There is still another which is knowledge and wisdom of God.

We live in a world where words are weapons. Someone said, "Words are weapons and we must wield them well if we would win." Much of the success of cons and cults is the direct result of their clever use of words. So many arguments are often based on a perverted manipulation of words, but ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:8-10

Scripture And Suicide Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 9, 2021

Suicide is almost always folly in our culture, for it is basically just a means of escape. It is usually based on ignorance of the future. People think their present situation is permanent, and they cannot stand to think of living with their present burden for the rest of their lives.

The book of Jonah gives a very favorable account of the attitude and character of the pagans involved. In fact, they are at points pictured on a higher level than Jonah himself. At last, however, we see a change in Jonah, and some of his good character breaks through. The sailors had all ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:11-12

Pagan Piety Series

Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 9, 2021

We see here an example of how God can use evil to bring forth good. Jonah disobeyed and did the opposite of God's will, and yet there was no loss, for by his act of evil he was led providentially to bring the knowledge of the true God to these men.

Total depravity is not the concept that man is as bad as he can be, for we all know that there are many degrees of evil among the lost, and this holds true even among the saved. Some redeemed people are less sinful than others, and some lost people are less sinful than others. Total depravity, ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:13-17

Baptism: John, Jesus & The Old Testament

Contributed by Edward Hardee on May 1, 2021

This message is an exploration of some Old Testament symbols of baptism. This message was used in preparation for baptism at church.

Title: Jesus, the Old Testament & Baptism – It mattered to Jesus Theme: To show the importance of baptism and the symbols from the Old Testament Text: Matthew 3:13 - 17 Matthew 3:13-17 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 3:13-17, Jonah 2:1-10, 1 Corinthians 10:14, 1 Peter 3:18-22

Denomination: Church Of God

You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide Series

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 22, 2023

A four part series on Jonah. A good reminder that you can run… but you can’t hide from God! Teaching sheet at the end of the text. Updated September, 2025

“You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide” Jonah 1:1-16 Pastor John Bright Jonah 1 “1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3 But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-16, Psalm 32:3-4, Romans 8:12-16, 1 Corinthians 1:27, Psalm 118:8  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

Title: The Unfathomable Grace Of God: The Man That Swallowed By A Big Fish. Series

Contributed by Don Aldrich Tamayo on Jun 23, 2023

Through the story of Jonah, we will discover the depth of God's love, the consequences of disobedience, the power of repentance, and the transformative nature of God's grace. May our hearts be opened to receive these timeless truths and be moved to embrace God's call in our own lives.

Introduction: Hey there, friends! Today, we're diving into the epic story of Jonah—a tale packed with reluctance, crazy storms, big fish, and mind-blowing grace. It's like a Hollywood blockbuster, but with a powerful message that hits close to home. So, buckle up and get ready to uncover ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-3, Jonah 3:1-10, Matthew 6:33

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures Series

Contributed by Perry Greene on Sep 4, 2019

In our desperate times we often pray as a last resort. God may answer but how much greater would it be if prayer was our first impulse?

1. An older lady lay ill in her bed. Her family had gathered to encourage her. Her daughter said, “Mama, we’ve asked the preacher to come and pray for you.” The lady replied, “O no, has it come to that?” 2. In the story of Jonah: a. God is concerned about Nineveh – Jonah is not b. The storm shows ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Who Was God Trying To Catch?

Contributed by Barry O Johnson on Sep 10, 2019

Many times when we read the story of Jonah, our focus is on the significance of the great fish. But should that be our focus? This message looks at the message of Jonah that we often miss.

Tonight, we’re going to have an opportunity to get into a story that’s very familiar to all of us. But I want to look at it from the vantage point of “Who was God trying to catch?” The Holy Spirit speaks to each one of us and He speaks to us individually with words specifically to us. But there ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-10, 2 Peter 3:9, Ezekiel 33:11, 1 Timothy 2:4, Genesis 1:26-28, Genesis 2:19-20, Psalm 106:23, Jonah 1:1-17, Jonah 3:1-10, Jonah 4:1-11  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Part 1 - Lost Grace Series

Contributed by Dr. Bradford Reaves on Sep 23, 2019

The Incredible story of Jonah and the Depth of God's Grace

Grace Community Church, Winchester, VA www.gracecommunity.com Watch this message at https://youtu.be/NDlefgUVE-A Chuck Swindoll said, “The clock of life is wound but once, And no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. To lose one’s wealth is sad indeed. To lose one’s health is ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-3, 2 Kings 14:25, Matthew 12:40, Matthew 4:19, Psalm 139:7-9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Brethren