Jonah - Journeying With The Merciful God

Jonah - Journeying With The Merciful God - NextLevel Online curriculum

Lessons

Jonah: Journeying with the Merciful God is a seven-session study that explores the depth of God’s justice and mercy through the story of Jonah. Guided by Matthew McBirth, the course examines how Jonah’s struggle with obedience, anger, and God’s character mirrors our own wrestlings with divine grace and judgment. Through scripture, reflection, and discussion, participants are invited to see God’s mercy more clearly, confront their resistance, and discover how Jonah ultimately points us to Jesus.

Session 01

A Disordered Setting

Session 1: A Disordered Setting introduces Jonah by exploring how people commonly encounter the story and the different ways its message can be understood. Jonah is a vivid narrative that reveals humanity’s struggle to see God as both just and merciful, using prophecy, satire, and storytelling to make us wrestle with our assumptions. Through discussion, we’ll reflect on justice, mercy, and how God’s character speaks into our lives today.

Session 02

The God of Order

Session 2: The God of Order helps us see how Jonah reorients our understanding of who God truly is. At the heart of the story, God is shown as Lord over creation and covenant—ordering the heavens, sea, and land, while also revealing himself as the God of all nations. This session invites us to reflect on how God’s justice and mercy are not opposites, but part of his desire to bring goodness and restoration to the world.

Session 03

The Fleeing Follower

Session 3: The Fleeing Follower (Jonah 1) shows how Jonah resists God’s will and attempts to run in the opposite direction. Yet God pursues him with justice and mercy, using storms, sailors, and even a great fish to accomplish His purpose. This chapter challenges us to trust God’s will, recognizing that His mercy continues even when we rebel.

Session 04

Jonah: Journeying with the Merciful God

Session 4: The Chasing God (Jonah 2) centers on Jonah’s prayer from inside the fish, where he is reminded that God is the leader and Jonah is the follower. God’s justice and mercy are revealed as Jonah acknowledges God’s power over creation and his own dependence on Him. This chapter invites us to move from a self-centered approach to a God-centered one, trusting His leadership in our lives.

Session 05

The Merciful God

Session 5: The Merciful God (Jonah 3) shows how God’s justice flows out of His mercy as Jonah finally delivers God’s message to Nineveh. Despite Jonah’s reluctance, the people of Nineveh repent wholeheartedly, and God responds with compassion. This chapter reminds us that God’s mercy is steadfast and freely given, calling us to reflect His character rather than reshape Him into our own image.

Session 06

The Angry Servant

Session 6: The Angry Servant (Jonah 4) reveals Jonah’s frustration with God’s mercy toward Nineveh and God’s patient engagement with Jonah’s anger. Through a bush, the heat, and a final question, God exposes Jonah’s misplaced priorities and invites him to see with God’s compassionate heart. This chapter reminds us that honest dialogue with God, even in anger, can lead to deeper understanding and transformation of our hearts.

Session 07

Jonah and Jesus

Session 7: Jonah and Jesus highlights how Jonah’s story points forward to Christ, with parallels in storms, death, and deliverance. Yet Jesus is greater than Jonah—showing fuller compassion, deeper understanding, and a greater purpose in His ministry. This chapter calls us to look to Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God’s mercy and justice and to reflect His character in our lives.