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Post by Minister J. Bryant@BFFM on Nov 13, 2013 14:58:20 GMT -5
Jonah Challenge
4 Days
This is a 4 day challenge to read the 4 chapters in the book of Jonah, which focuses on our attitudes towards God, disobedience and God’s mercy. Bible challenges go beyond reading; as we share our understanding with each other. Bible Challenge MOTTO: The Bible is JUICY. The Bible is LIFE. The Bible is for YOU!
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Post by Kinzie@BFFM on Nov 13, 2013 15:19:34 GMT -5
Minister J!!! Which Bible app do you think is the best? Or do you have a suggestion?
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PastorJohn@BFFM
Pastor/Minister/Group Leader
Contact Pastor
I LOVE life, and it's no wonder why -because Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life."
Posts: 67 
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Post by PastorJohn@BFFM on Nov 13, 2013 15:27:14 GMT -5
I use Bible Gateway. It gives the most options for different translations and searches, and is fairly easy to navigate.
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Post by Minister J. Bryant@BFFM on Nov 13, 2013 15:40:33 GMT -5
When I'm reading and studying I use You Vision. It's a bible app for your phone and online.
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Post by Kinzie@BFFM on Nov 14, 2013 12:13:33 GMT -5
I wanted to try them both! But I downloaded The Bible Gateway first and it is AMAZING! They more bible translations than I even knew existed! And it will even read it to you! I downloaded it on my Kindle and I am listening to The Book of Jonah RIGHT NOW!!!!! Thank you Pastor John!!!
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Post by Kinzie@BFFM on Nov 14, 2013 12:24:10 GMT -5
Ok The book of Jonah... Check!!!! Ok so forgive me now. I have never really participated in a Bible Study, much less one online. How does this work?
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Post by Kinzie@BFFM on Nov 14, 2013 14:15:36 GMT -5
Ok so I "listened" to the Book of Jonah...4 times.... And I am sooooo confused! Why would Jonah be so absolutely defiant? I mean he wanted to be thrown overboard to die in the ocean then do as God asked. And why would Jonah be upset that God Saved the City!?! I just don't understand....
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PastorJohn@BFFM
Pastor/Minister/Group Leader
Contact Pastor
I LOVE life, and it's no wonder why -because Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life."
Posts: 67
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Post by PastorJohn@BFFM on Nov 14, 2013 17:49:40 GMT -5
Great question Kinzie. Jonah is a great book, unfortunately most people never get beyond the Sunday School and coloring book version of the big fish/whale story of Jonah jumping overboard, getting swallowed up in the belly of a fish, and then being delivered to Ninevah 3 days later. To understand his defiance beforehand and afterwards, you need to know about Ninevah. Ninevah was a great land, one of the most beautiful, vast, and wealthiest locations you could visit... BUT it was even greater in wickedness than it was in wealth and power. When I say wicked, I mean horror story stuff like skinning people alive (ouch) and leaving them so buzzards could eat and peck them to death (double ouch). Ninevah was the capital of Assyria, Assyria was Israels enemy. Jonah knows about God's mercy, and he actually fears that when he preaches about Gods judgement on Ninevah, that they will repent and be spared what was due to them. He actually jumped ship not just out of fear (I think), but to be a hero for his own nation... at least they (Ninevah) would get what they deserve and Israel would not be judged by them. Now, since you do understand that Ninevah did repent from their wickedness, why in the world would Jonah be mad?? Most preachers don't get mad when people actually listen to them and take heed to the warnings... The answer (or what I get from it) is that Jonah is human. Have you ever felt like someone needs to 'get what they deserve' (of course you have). Jonah thought that Ninevah deserved death, not another chance to breathe. How many times have we all been hurt by someone and wished bad things on the people that hurt us (guilty here). Jonah is a reminder of ourselves: We run from God when He wants us to do something, we let our anger get the best of us, we are not always happy with the outcome -even when it is what God wants to happen. The book of Jonah is also a prophetic book of things to come. Strange things happen in the book of Jonah that can even test your faith. God is in there taking care of His prophet and working hard at it. God prepared a great fish, a gourd, a worm, an east wind and Jesus refers to this book in the book of Matthew (12:38-40) God's Word is AWESOME!!
Hope this wasn't too confusing and NEVER fully trust what I say, it is just what I got out of it... that is why it is important to read it yourself!!
-Pastor John
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Post by Kinzie@BFFM on Nov 14, 2013 20:00:34 GMT -5
Wow that was a lot to take in Pastor John. And now that I know some of the back story, I can COMPLETELY relate to Jonah and his anger! I we all know people that we think should "get there's"! And with what you said about the city I can understand how Jonah felt, and the lesson God was try to teach him with the plant he gave him for shade. This was a short reading and I am excited to do the next one.... lol! I really enjoyed this and the conversations about it around the office.
You said something about reading different versions of the bible and how take different version may explain it in another way that may be easier to understand. You mentioned the 'Message' version. I really like thAt one and plan to use it more in the future! Thank you!!!!
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Post by Kinzie@BFFM on Nov 14, 2013 20:00:37 GMT -5
So gentlemen..... What's next!!!  !!! I am excited to start the next one!!!! |
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amym
Guppy
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Post by amym on Nov 18, 2013 9:36:46 GMT -5
I appreciated this insight to the story. I really never thought of the anger part of Jonah, but more of the lesson of Jonah not following God's instructions and ending up swallowed by a fish (hey, we've all been there). Anger is something I struggle with DAILY. I will keep close to my heart this lesson and when faced with anger ask myself "Is it right for you to be angry about this (Jonah 4:4)"
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Post by Kinzie@BFFM on Nov 18, 2013 13:33:43 GMT -5
I know exactly what you mean Amy! The story that I remember from Sunday School stops at the part where God "punishes" Jonah by sending the fish to swallow him. I never knew the reason for Jonah's disobedience! The lesson they teach in Sunday School is if you don't obey God, you will be swallowed by a giant fish! Talk about traumatic thought for a kid!!!! lol This Bible Study has really changed my complete picture of this story!!!
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!!! I am excited to start the next one!!!!
