Sermons on Jonah 4:1-3:

"Let It Go" Series

Contributed by Brad Henry on Oct 20, 2011

The last part of the book of Jonah is all about attitude. God used Jonah to help save the Ninevites. Now Jonah is mad because he disliked the Ninevites. No matter how bad we may feel about our enemies we need to see them saved as WE ALL were once enemies

Our final lesson on Jonah is all about attitude. Jonah 3:10 “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.” This is why Jonah fled in the first place. He did not want God to spare ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-9

Have It God's Way Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Sep 5, 2022

Yes, Jesus accepted this world for what it is, for what we made it … twisted, broken, and full of hurt … but He so loves the world that He came to die for our sins on the cross, not to condemn us but that we might be saved through Him.

[This series is based on Reinhold Niebuhr's "The Serenity Prayer" (the full version). This sermon is based on the line: "Taking, as Jesus did, this world as it is and not as I would have it." It was also delivered on Communion Sunday, so it leads to gathering at the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-5

Denomination: United Methodist

Why Yonah Ran (Jonah 4:1-11) Series

Contributed by Garrett Tyson on Sep 24, 2022

Finally, we learn why Yonah ran from the Word of Yahweh, and first chose death over life. Should God give people a chance to repent? Is it wrong, for God to show mercy? And if God did the right thing, who will be Yonah?

Let's start today by simply rereading Jonah 3. We need to get sucked back into our story, and there's no easier way to do it, than to just read it (NRSV updated): 3 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2 “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Mad At God

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Oct 11, 2023

Look how patient God is with Jonah's sulking. He's that patient with you, too.

Have you ever been mad at God? I have. I became a Christian in my 30’s, which is a little unusual. Quite a number of people recommit in their middle years, as they start looking around and wondering what it’s all about, but they were usually raised at least nominally Christian, while I was ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Who Cares? God Cares! 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.

“Who Cares? God Cares!” Jonah 4:1-11 Pastor John Bright Jonah 4 “1 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 ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11, Genesis 6:8, Psalm 103:8, Exodus 34:6, Numbers 14:18, Nahum 1:3, Psalm 86:15, Luke 12:17-20, Job 1:21, Ephesians 1:17-19  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Methodist

The Pouting Prophet Series

Contributed by Chris Swanson on Nov 2, 2022

The mercy of God towards the people of Nineveh makes Jonah angry.

The mercy of God towards the people of Nineveh makes Jonah angry. Jonah delivered the message, but Scripture does not state if he gave assistance or encouragement. In verses 1-4: For what reason did Jonah turn out to be so furious when God saved Nineveh? The Jews would have rather not shared ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Sermon # 35 - The Heart Of A Christian Leader Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Dec 19, 2024

Jonah was a prophet of God, but he did not understand the loving heart of God towards a repentant people. The heart of Moses as a leader of the Israelites and the forgiving heart of Jesus are the best examples of how a Christian leader should love and care for the people under his or her care.

We read in Jonah 4:1, “Jonah was very unhappy about this and became angry.” (GNB) There are two kinds of emotions that Jonah expressed as mentioned in the verse above, one was sadness, and the other was anger. As we meditate on this portion of scripture, we will try to understand the reasons for ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1, Jonah 3:10, Philippians 1:15-16, Exodus 32:1, Exodus 32:4, Exodus 32:6, Exodus 32:7-8, Exodus 32:31-32, Luke 23:34  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Sermon # 36 - Learning To Forgive Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Dec 20, 2024

Jonah was happy to receive God’s forgiveness for his disobedience, but was unhappy when God did the same for the people of Nineveh who repented of their sins. Jesus paid with his life for our forgiveness, and God expects us to extend this same forgiveness to those who wrong us in any way.

For our meditation we will study Jonah 4:1, “Jonah was very unhappy about this and became angry.” (GNB) When the prophet Jonah preached to the people in the city of Nineveh, they took his words seriously, repented, and had a change of heart. God relented from punishing the people of Nineveh, and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1, Jonah 2:1-2, Jonah 2:6, Romans 5:6, Romans 5:9, Matthew 6:12, Matthew 18:21-22, Matthew 18:23-28, Matthew 18:32-35  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

The Petulance Of Jonah.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 25, 2023

God, for His part, cares for the whole of His creation.

THE PETULANCE OF JONAH. Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-11. The LORD is merciful to those who repent (JONAH 3:10; cf. Psalm 130:3-4). When Jonah at last arrived in Nineveh after his circuitous journey, his message was simple: ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown’ (cf. Jonah 3:4). ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-11

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

17th Sunday After Pentecost. September 20th, 2026. Series

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Aug 28, 2023

Year A, Proper 20.

Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105:1-6, Psalm 105:37-45, Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-11, Psalm 145:1-8, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16 A). BREAD OF HEAVEN. Exodus 16:2-15. In this passage, we join the children of Israel just six weeks into their wilderness journey. The ten plagues, the first ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105:1-6, Psalm 105:37-45, Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:1-11, Psalm 145:1-8, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Sermon # 37 - Excuses People Give Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Dec 27, 2024

Jonah has some lame excuses for why he did not want to obey God and preach to the city of Nineveh. There are many others in the bible who gave excuses and the question is “Are we also giving excuses?” or “Are we fulfilling the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus and leading others into His kingdom?”

We read in Jonah 4:2, “And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:2, Jeremiah 1:6, 1 Corinthians 9:16, 1 Corinthians 14:20, Jeremiah 1:7-8, Exodus 3:11-12, Judges 6:15, 1 Samuel 3:10, Acts 9:6, Matthew 25:24-26  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Sermon # 38 - The Grace And Justice Of God Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Jan 3, 2025

Jonah desired that God should punish the people of Nineveh and was angry when God relented. There are two sides of God, His grace and His justice that go hand in hand. A proper understanding will help us set aside our sinful ways and to stay in the will of God.

For today’s meditation we will look at Jonah 4:2, “And he prayed to the LORD and said, “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:2, Exodus 34:6-7, Exodus 6:6-7, Exodus 15:11, Exodus 32:1, 2 Peter 3:9, Exodus 32:7, Matthew 7:21-23  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Jonah 4:1-4 Series

Contributed by Zak Saenz on Jan 4, 2025

Jonah 4:1-4

So last week we saw that the people and king of Nineveh had repented from their rebellion against God. God had given them an option to either repent and not be destroyed or continue in their rebellion against Him and perish. Malachi 3:6 ~ “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-4

Denomination: Bible Church

Jonah's Anger Vs God's Compassion SermonCentral

Contributed by SermonCentral on Oct 11, 2023

Help my congregation to understand the power of compassion.

Good morning, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I am truly blessed to be standing here before you today, as we gather in unity and fellowship to share in the Word of God. Today, we are going to embark on a journey through the pages of the Bible, specifically focusing on the book of Jonah. Our ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:1-4

Topics: Compassion, Anger

Sermon # 39 - Right Kind Of Prayers Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Jan 8, 2025

Jonah prayed wrong and selfishly because he did not understand the heart of God. Jesus set the example and taught His disciples how to pray. If we align our lives to God’s will and pray accordingly there will be great transformation in our lives and in that of those around us.

We read in Jonah 4:3, “Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” (ESV) As we continue to study about Jonah, there are numerous lessons we have picked up already from the events that transpired in his life. The people of Nineveh repented at ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 4:3, Matthew 6:10, Mark 14:36, Mark 1:15, Psalm 139:23-24, Matthew 6:33, 1 Kings 17:9, 1 Kings 17:16, Philippians 3:10, Acts 28:31, Colossians 1:13  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other