This week's Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Bible Passage: Jonah 3:1-4:11 (3:1-5, 10; 4:1-11)
Discussion Questions:
What is required for a person to be right with God? What keeps a person from admitting his or her need for God's forgiveness?
Food for Thought:
South West Shingles Yacht Club in Britain is one of the more unusual clubs in the world. Membership is by invitation only but some people reject the invitation. They only invite people who did something inept or foolish on the sea. A committee decides if a person's actions qualify and if the person is deemed worthy (inept or foolish enough), he or she is offered a membership. However to accept the membership, the person must admit in writing what he or she did to qualify for membership. If the person is unwilling to admit the blunder, the invitation is withdrawn.
Therein lies the problem: admitting to the blunder. Our pride gets in the way and will just not let us admit it. It's one thing for someone else to recognize our blunder; it is quite another thing for us to admit that we did it. The people of Nineveh were given an opportunity to admit their blunder (rejection of God and His holiness). All of Nineveh took Jonah to heart and admitted their need for God (Jonah 3:5) and God accepted their confession and profession (Jonah 3:10).
The same opportunity is offered to anyone today who is willing to admit his or her sin and need for the Savior, trusting Him alone for salvation. Once told of the invitation, the only thing keeping a person from being in God's family is a willingness or unwillingness to "declare their blunder." The invitation is open to all but limited to those willing to admit, believe and commit.
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book while keeping the group on pace to study through the entire Bible in eight years. The eight-year plan and more information can be found online at LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.
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