Today we wrap up the study of the book of Jonah, which we’ve been going through for the past four Sundays.  I do not know about you, but I enjoyed preaching from it immensely,  a delightful departure from the study of the two Pauline Epistles (Colossians and Philippians) that we’ve previously spent close to six months on.   While preparing my sermon, I came across the following funny story, which many of you may already have heard:

A lady on a plane was reading her Bible. The man sitting next to her gave a little chuckle and asked, "You don't really believe all that stuff in there, do you?"
"Of course I do. It is the Bible," the lady replied.
"Well, what about that guy that was swallowed by that big fish?" he asked.
"Oh, Jonah... Yes, I believe that, too. It is in the Bible," she replied.
"Well, how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the fish?" he asked.
"Well, I don't really know. I guess when I get to heaven, I will ask Jonah," said the lady.
"What if he isn't in heaven?" the man asked sarcastically.
"Then YOU can ask him." replied the lady! 

On a more serious note, the story of Jonah is one of the most ridiculed Bible accounts by people who consider themselves intellectual and sophisticated.  Some ‘Christian liberals’ have attempted to ‘solve’ the problem by saying that  it is not to be taken as actual history, but only as a parable to convey a hidden meaning.  I disagree with this stand for the following reasons:
While the authors of the Bible did use parables, whenever they did, they always said so or made it evident in the context, which is not the case with the book of Jonah.  In addition, Jonah was an actual prophet who is also mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25, and the book of Nahum also records God’s prophecy against the wickedness of the people of Nineveh. 
More importantly, Jesus Christ himself accepted the account as true:
[Jesus] answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the Prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matt. 12:39-40)
In fact Jesus compared Jonah’s experience to His own impending death and resurrection, pointing out the factual and miraculous nature of both!   Thus, to deny the historicity of Jonah’s story is to charge Jesus Christ to be either deceptive (using Jonah as an example, knowing he was only a fictional character) or ignorant (not knowing Jonah was a fictional character), either of which is denying Jesus’ deity.  And the notion that we can accept the miracle of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ without believing the miraculous account of Jonah is absurd.  Either we believe the Bible to be 100% true and inerrant or we don’t believe the Bible at all, for “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” (2 Tim. 3:16) 
Then how do we explain the story of Jonah?  There is little question that it was a miracle performed by God, just like the other miracles in the Bible and many miracles that still happen around the world today.  We may be ridiculed for believing the Bible in its entirety, but once we confess our faith in the resurrected Christ, we should expect it to come with the territory. Since that faith saves us from going to hell, we should be willing to be ridiculed for it as well!

From Pastor Sara’s Heart
January 26, 2014

There was an article this week from a church leadership website I subscribe to that discussed the intent of Sunday preaching. A visiting church consultant asked a church leadership team what the desired end purpose of preaching each Sunday was. Someone answered “Evangelism.” The consultant answered “Wrong!”
Another said “Teaching.” . . . “Wrong”
Worship? Fellowship? Ministry? Service?
“Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!”
The consultant’s answer? “To bring people into an ‘experience’ with God.”
As I read that question in the article I was answering in my head “To draw people closer to God.” So it appears that my own response is somewhat aligned with that of this consultant in the article (whew). But I don’t mention the article’s conclusion because I necessarily agree or disagree with its points. But I do think it’s worth mentioning for the mere premise that not only is there an intentional purpose by a given preacher but there is equally an opinion and expectation by the listening congregation receiving the sermon message. I began to wonder if the two perspectives between the preacher and congregation are always in harmony of if they are ever in tension with one another.
Surely for many people at NCFC the above answers such as worship, evangelism and teaching are what they would answer as far as what preaching should be achieving. I would agree they are very important and worthwhile endeavors to strive for during service. So I can imagine it must annoy or slightly offend that some church consultant out there would say this is “Wrong.” I’m not here to debate those points or ask anyone to take sides. I bring this up to emphasize the point that we are all uniquely created and have distinct a separate personalities. We respond differently both emotionally and spiritually during service. As such we all will also relate differently to God as the Spirit leads us. For some, praise worship is a powerful moving experience that touches their hearts. But for others the intellectual theology of a sermon is what resonates mostly with them. And for others the fellowship and sense of community the service provides is how they “experience” God. And then when you combine the individual unique strengths and giftings of the preacher to this mix, why then you get my point: Sunday service can be a very layered and complex experience for all present.
We may make it that way, but God is not limited by any of this whatsoever. Although the means by which we are in communion with the Lord varies across different emotional and intellectual spectrums, God has the power and capacity to reach us where we are at in our lives. In His own timing and in His own way our hearts and minds are gradually transformed.
Perhaps there is a way in which to tie those responses in with the answer that the desired end purpose of preaching is “To bring people into an ‘experience with God.” Regardless of how, when and why people relate to Sunday service either emotionally or intellectually,  the important thing is that through each of those experiences along the way God speaks to us. And as a result we draw closer to Him. Hopefully there is harmony within that shared effort. Amen to that.

From Pastor Mark’s Heart
January 19, 2014