This week in Children at IBC, we dug into a partially well-known story and book of the Bible. Let's do a quick word association. What's the first word that comes to mind when you hear the word, "Jonah"? My guess is that most of you thought, "whale" or maybe "fish". In the book of Jonah, we see more than just the tale of a man swallowed and spit out by a big fish. After he ran from God, was tossed into the sea, and hung out in the belly of a fish, he went back to Nineveh and shared God's message with the people. When they chose to follow God, God granted them mercy and decided not to destroy them. Jonah got grumpy and pouted on a hill, where God taught him a great lesson about mercy. This week, as you extend the conversation, read Jonah a little deeper than the fish story. Yes, it's fun and entertaining; but there is so much more to the story of Jonah and our merciful God.
Here are some questions to ask:
Elementary
- What is the most interesting part of the Jonah's story? The fish? The raging sea calmed? His message to Nineveh? The shade tree and the worm? Why?
- What does it look like to show mercy to people you know and interact with? Is it difficult to be merciful?
Preschool
- Did Jonah obey God? Why or why not?
- It's pretty amazing that God sent a big fish to swallow Jonah. What other amazing things has God done?