Read Hebrews 4 (with special attention on v.14-16)  (go slow, see prompts from Monday)

Study this passage and process through the following three questions:

Know (what does the text say about God?) 
Be (what does it say about us?) 
Do (what does it call us to do?)

• Find time later and consider the following: “Even if we are not in a season of known rebellion like Jonah was, it is always in our best interest to pray like the psalmist prayed: (Ps 139:23-24). Take time to do this.  Pray, and then listen.  Write down any questions or situations God might point out in your heart. 

Explore how Jesus used Jonah’s story in His ministry;

Read: Matthew 12:38-41; Matthew 16:1-4, Luke 11:29-32 (go slow, see prompts from Monday)

• Now pick ONE of those three passages and read the entire chapter it is from.  Study it. Look at the context. 

• What was going on around Jesus when He used the Jonah story in His ministry?  Who was He addressing it to?

• Jesus seems to use the Jonah story as a POSITIVE about Himself (death and resurrection) while pointing to fallen humanity (“…This is a wicked generation…”).  In light of that:
  Know (what does the text say about God?) 
  Be (what does it say about us?) 
  Do (what does it call us to do?)

Read Jonah 2, go slow…

Remind yourself you are in God’s presence and read again; notice how God might be speaking to you through His Word.  Dwell on a word or phrase that jumps out at you; how has God’s Word moved you? Ponder and meditate what has connected with your heart or mind; pray to God about what it is that has moved you today. 

• Now pray through this passage.  For example, read Jonah 2:2, assume that is God speaking, and then pray in response something like, “God, I’m in distress about ____, and I’m realizing I run to ___ instead of You.  Holy Spirit help me ____.).  Read v.6, then pray something like, “God, looking back on life I do see how you have lifted me out of so many pits….

• Consider writing your own prayer to God.  Describe your situation to God with the same degree of detail that Jonah did. 

• With this week’s passage from Jonah 2 capturing Jonah’s prayer, make prayer a priority this week.

Read Matthew 8 (with special attention on v.18-27) (go slow, see prompts from Monday)

• Study this passage and process through the following three questions: Know (what does the text say about God?)
  Be (what does it say about us?)
  Do (what does it call us to do?)
  
• Also, tomorrow’s Sermon will be on Jonah 2. Read through it.

Read 1st Kings 18 (with special attention on v.21-39) (go slow, see prompts from Monday)

• As we saw in Jonah 1, he was conflicted (v.3, 9,12); we are also conflicted in many ways. That is why today’s reading from 1st Kings ch.18 was chosen.
  
• Study this passage and process through the following three questions: Know (what does the text say about God?)
  Be (what does it say about us?)
  Do (what does it call us to do?)