Sermons on Jonah 1:8-12:

Eagle's Wing Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Aug 7, 2022

God, grant me the courage to change the things I can.

[This the second sermon that is based on Reinhold Niebuhr's prayer/poem "The Serenity Prayer." This sermon is about asking God to grant us the courage to change the things that we can.] Once upon a time, a caterpillar crawled inside a hare’s house when the hare was away and set ...read more

Scripture: Romans 7:15, Isaiah 40:25-31, Jonah 1:2, Jonah 1:12, Jonah 1:17, Romans 8:28-31, Jonah 2:2, Jonah 3:4, Jonah 4:2, Jonah 4:6-11, Jonah 3:9-10, Isaiah 40:31, 1 Samuel 17:46, Numbers 14:9  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: United Methodist

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

The Life Of Jonah

Contributed by Dr. Odell Belger on Jan 12, 2022

Some people describe others by saying, “They have an attitude problem.”

Illus: There used to be a song that some churches in the South liked to sing called, “I woke up this morning feeling fine! I woke up with heaven on my mind.” But I have a confession, sometimes I wake up and I am not feeling fine, and I certainly do not have heaven on my mind. Generally, when we ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17, Jonah 2:1

Denomination: Baptist

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 2 - Severe 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/io3o8Y4SH2M Standing in line at the grocery store will usually provide me with some headline updates on the stars of Hollywood. I don’t follow most of these people and rarely entertain myself ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:4-17

Denomination: Brethren

2. The Futility Of Running From God Series

Contributed by Grant Adams on Nov 29, 2020

We cannot run away from God. We all try sometimes. We all try to make our own choices do our own thing. We never seem to learn the futility of it all.

I. A Deliberate Choice 1. The Ship 2. Life is made up of choices. Hebrews 11:24-25 3. Jonah made a deliberate choice to rebel against God. a. Tarshish was the farthest point that he could flee. As much as 1,600 – 2,000 miles b. Jonah refused to surrender his will to God’s will. 4. The idea was, “I ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:3-10

Denomination: Baptist

26 The Prophet's Lamenting Series

Contributed by Michael Collins on Jan 14, 2021

This message is about Jonah lamenting to God in response to God relenting on bringing punishment on the people of Nineveh on account of their repenting at Jonah's preaching.

# 26 – The Prophet’s Lamenting Jonah 4:1-4 – “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the LORD, and said, “Ah, LORD, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-4, Jonah 1:14, Jonah 1:12, Mark 11:27-33, 2 Kings 7:3-20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

The Reluctant Missionary: Jonah Preaches To Nineveh

Contributed by Mark A. Barber on Jan 16, 2021

God's will will be done whether we are willing or not.

The Reluctant Missionary: Jonah Preaches to Nineveh Jonah 3:1-10 The story of Jonah and the whale is a favorite story at Vacation Bible School. Children are drawn with the fascination of the idea of being swallowed alive. It also addresses the natural fear children have of the unknown. A story ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-10, Jonah 3:1-5, Jonah 4:1-11, Jonah 2:1-10, Jonah 1:1-17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Into The Storm Series

Contributed by Jefferson Williams on Jul 29, 2020

This morning, we are going to see a prophet try to run away from God. And we will see God pursue Jonah with a storm. At the end of this section, the story gets a bit fishy.

In the Storm (Jonah 1:4-17) Pastor Jefferson M. Williams Chenoa Baptist Church 09-08-19 A Whale of a Storm This past week, Hurricane Dorian slammed into the Bahamas as a category 5 storm. Then it stalled. It just sat still over the Bahamas for more than. 24 hours as hurricane force winds, ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:4-17

Denomination: Baptist

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

When God’s Ways Don’t Make Sense, Then What?

Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Jun 23, 2019

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE THINK WE KNOW BETTER THAN GOD WHAT HIS PLAN SHOULD BE. IF A LOVED ONE IS SICK AND IN PAIN, WE WANT TO TREAT THE PAIN RIGHT AWAY, WHEN THE PAIN COULD BE NECESSARY TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM

WHEN GOD’S WAYS DON’T MAKE SENSE, THEN WHAT? JONAH 1:1-16 WE’VE JUST STARTED A SERIES DEALING WITH THINGS IN LIFE THAT DO NOT GO AS WE WOULD WANT THEM TO. SOMETIMES IT SEEMS AS IF THERE IS TRIAL AFTER TRIAL PUT ON OUR PLATE AND WE WANT TO ASK GOD WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND WHEN IT WILL STOP. ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-16

Denomination: Baptist

The Love Of God's Call Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 7, 2019

Many remember Jonah as a book about Jonah and the big fish. This book is really about the relentless love and pursuit of God.

Intro: What do most people remember about Jonah if you have ever heard the story in VBS or Sunday School? You probably remember that it is a whale of a tale. There would be lots of talk about Jonah and his disobedience and reluctance to go where God tells him to go. The problem with remembering ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:1-17

Denomination: Baptist

The Love Of God's Call Part 2 Series

Contributed by Billy Ricks on May 7, 2019

Part 2 this is not about you. This book is about God and His call and pursuit of man. Especially the pouting prophet, Jonah.

Intro: I want to remind you that this whale of a tale called the book of Jonah is not about a great big fish, a great big city or a grumpy old prophet. This book is about a Great big God that is willing to graciously deal with a disobedient, disgruntled, disgusted prophet. In this story of a ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:2-17

Denomination: Baptist

At The Mercy Of The Sea Series

Contributed by Christopher Benfield on Feb 27, 2019

Knowing Jonah was the reason for the storm the faced, the mariners continued to do all they could to spare Jonah from being thrown into the sea. Little did they know that God had a greater plan!

At the Mercy of the Sea Jonah 1: 11-16 As we continue to move through the book of Jonah, I want to remind us of the powerful theme presented – the sovereignty of God in pursuing men unto Himself. Jonah had been called of God to preach a message of repentance to the Ninevites, and he chose to flee ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:11-16

Denomination: Baptist