Sermons on Jonah 1:1-21:

Storm, Sleep, And Sacrifice

Contributed by Joseph Smith on May 4, 2010

New Year's Day 1989: Jonah, running from his responsibility, fell asleep. It might have been the sleep of a rationalized conscience; or depression. But a greater than Jonah is here, Christ, who can heal both conscience and soul.

It's not easy to stay out of the storms, no matter what escape you plan. It's just not easy to keep from getting rained on and buffeted around when the storm is coming, no matter what means you use to take shelter. This week, on the afternoon of the sudden squall, I had gone home to attend to my ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

Sometimes It Takes A Worm

Contributed by Rev. Timothy Porter on Dec 23, 2020

Let's look at Jonah and his story and get a whole new take on it. I want you to see the story of Jonah as everything that comes into your lives – good and bad – as a means of seeing God’s provision.

SomeTimes It Takes A WORM! With Pastor Tim Porter Introduction: Have you ever made a mistake? Have you ever messed up due to your on stupidity or disobdience? Has there ever been a time when you were rescued because of your disobiedance and you couldn't explain it? The ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:5-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

15 The First Death Wish Series

Contributed by Michael Collins on Oct 29, 2020

This is the 15th of 31 devotions from a series called, 'The Church Called Jonah.' In these devotions, which are based on the book of Jonah, I make a comparison between The Church-at-large in the light of this present global pandemic.

# 15 – The First Death Wish Jonah 1:12: “And he said to them, ‘Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.’” In our previous devotion we saw how the sailors asked Jonah what they should do to him so that the sea ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:12, Matthew 24:1-31, Matthew 24:21, Proverbs 28:13

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sermon # 20 - A Repentant Heart Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Oct 25, 2024

Jonah was brought to the depths and after being battered in the belly of a big fish, Jonah repented and turned back to God. Rebellion is detrimental to us and only those who repent and get back to God can fulfill His purposes for their lives.

For this study and meditation we will read, Jonah 1:17, “When Jonah fell into the sea, the LORD chose a very big fish to swallow Jonah. He was in the stomach of the fish for three days and three nights.” (ERV) When Jonah disobeyed God, and voyaged in the opposite direction to the place God bid him ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:17, Jonah 2:1, Psalm 119:144, Judges 16:21, Judges 16:27, Luke 15:15-17, Luke 15:13, Proverbs 20:20-21, Judges 16:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Skin Deep Series

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Sep 10, 2004

Jonah depended on family and nationality as the basis of his Spirituality. His relationship does not go to the heart.

Last week we talked about free will. How Jonah was exercising his free will when he went and caught a boat going the opposite direction from where God send him. We looked over the scripture to determine Jonah’s qualifications. If he was being called for the first time as a Prophet. From the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-10

Denomination: Congregational

Running Back To God Series

Contributed by Davon Huss on Jun 30, 2003

A sermon on running back to God from Jonah 2. (Adapted from an outline by Jack Peters)

Jonah 2 RUNNING BACK TO GOD Introduction: A. This fish tastes fishy. B. You know the smell of fish and of ocean meat. Imagine that but 10 X worse. C. Imagine the situation that Jonah finds himself. He is engulfed by the mouth of a huge fish, or whale or whatever. How terrifying. D. He goes ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-10, Matthew 12:39-40

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Repentance

Contributed by Billy Kryger on Jul 24, 2003

The message of repentance is missing from preaching today! This message uses the story of Jonah to illustrate repentance.

INTRODUCTION: · “Repentance” = “To change one’s ways because of contrition” · The Bible is a Book of repentance: o Used 46 times in the Old Testament o Used 65 times in the New Testament · There are three types of repentance in the Bible. All are in the text: o Repentance of saints—verse 3 o ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Silencing The Stranger - Hitchhiker 1 Series

Contributed by Spencer Homan on Nov 19, 2009

This sermon takes a little different look at the book of Jonah... as one traveling as a hitchhiker on the road of life.

Jonah 1:1-17 NIV The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me." 3 But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Sermon # 48 - No Room For Rebellion Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Feb 12, 2025

Jonah’s heart was hard and right to the end he was not willing to accept God’s forgiveness and compassion that was extended to the people of Nineveh. Rebellion against God is sin and if there is such a sin in our lives, may we set it aside and walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Today’s meditation is taken from Jonah 4:9, “But God said to him, "What right do you have to be angry about the plant?" Jonah replied, "I have every right to be angry—angry enough to die!"” (GNB) God spoke to Jonah who was annoyed and angry, and asked him if it was right on his ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:9, Psalm 32:9, Exodus 32:9-10, Psalm 95:10-11, Hebrews 3:8-10, Hebrews 3:11-15, Hebrews 4:1-2  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Sermon # 18 - Peace-Makers Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Oct 18, 2024

Jonah’s disobedience to God resulted in total chaos and turmoil for all aboard the ship. God’s call to His children is to be peace-makers wherever we are. The word of God cautions those who cause disunity and discord of serious consequences.

We read in Jonah 1:15, “And they lifted Jonah up and threw him out into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging.” (AFV) The background to this verse is that a sea-voyage which commenced peacefully, with the hopes of a tranquil journey, was suddenly confronted with a furious and violent storm. ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:15, Matthew 5:9, Acts 9:26-28, Proverbs 6:16-19, 1 Kings 18:17-18, Romans 16:17, 1 Samuel 20:27-31  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Paying The Vows Series

Contributed by Keith Walker on May 18, 2004

Was preached to a pastor’s conference. Two vows are mentioned in Jonah which has particular application to preachers.

INTRODUCTION Years ago there was a trial in Chicago. The famous lawyer, Clarence Darrow, was making his closing arguments and said of one man’s damaging testimony, “Why, a person could as easily believe this man’s testimony as he could believe that the whale swallowed Jonah.” Well, there were some ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures Series

Contributed by Shawn Drake on Jan 12, 2003

This is the 2nd sermon in the series "Stubborn Saints". This sermon looks at how Jonah repented and followed God.

Sunday Evening January 12, 2003 Bel Aire Baptist Church Series: ¡§Stubborn Saints¡¨(#2) DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES Jonah 2:1-10 Introduction: 1. How many times have you waited until you ran out of all other options to ask God for help? As the saying goes, ¡§Desperate ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:1-10

Denomination: Baptist

Yesterday, Today Or Tomorrow? Series

Contributed by Denn Guptill on Oct 3, 2004

We know what happened after Jonah preached in Nineveh but what happened to Nineveh after that?

He arrived looking like a character out of a Wes Craven movie. He definitely wasn’t dressed for success and pretty wasn’t a word that would be used in describing him. His skin was bleached a pasty white, his hair was matted and there was a slightly fishy smell about him. If you were to describe ...read more

Scripture: Nahum 1:1-8

Denomination: Wesleyan

Let Go And Let God

Contributed by John Kapteyn on Oct 18, 2000

The middle verse of Jonah says "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs".

Introductory Considerations 1. One of best known stories in Bible is the story of Jonah - often seen as a children’s story and heard many children’s songs about it. 2. But the story of Jonah is a story that has an important message to each of us - as a church and as individuals. Not just about a ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 2:8

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Unhappy Success Series

Contributed by Thomas Bowen on Sep 10, 2004

Jonah goes as directed but is not happy about it. When the mission goes great, the anger comes out.

Unhappy Success Jonah 3 & 4 Well in the way of a quick review, we have been talking about the prophet Jonah. We looked at how he exercised his free will and went in the opposite direction of God’s instruction. We heard about these Sailors that acted more righteous than God’s prophet. Praying, ...read more

Denomination: Congregational