Are We Modern-Day Jonahs?

Why the Church Matters and How We Join God’s Mission

The story of Jonah is familiar to many of us—a reluctant prophet called by God to preach repentance in Nineveh. But as we revisit the story, it becomes more than an ancient narrative; it becomes a mirror. Jonah’s call, his resistance, his eventual obedience, and God’s unmatched grace echo into our lives today as modern believers.

Jonah’s Call… and Ours
God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and proclaim a message of repentance. His response? Run in the opposite direction. Jonah boarded a ship toward Tarshish—a deliberate attempt to flee God’s mission.
We might shake our heads at Jonah’s disobedience, but the truth is that Jonah’s call is also our call. Jesus says in Mark 16:

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation…”

Every believer—each one of us—is called to share the good news.
That mission isn’t just “out there” somewhere far away. It begins right here—in Mercer, Grove City, Greenville, New Wilmington, Slippery Rock, and everywhere we live, work, and gather.

A God Who Saves
In the belly of the great fish, Jonah remembered God. He prayed. He repented. And his prayer ended in a profound declaration:

“Salvation belongs to the Lord.” — Jonah 2:9

We, too, owe everything to God. He saves. He forgives. He rescues us from sin and shame. Our mission flows out of His mercy—out of what He has already done for us.

Jonah’s Challenge
Jonah’s resistance wasn’t just disobedience; it was also discomfort. The Assyrians, the people of Nineveh, were enemies of Israel. Violent, oppressive, feared. Jonah didn’t believe they deserved God’s mercy.

Yet God sent him anyway.
Why? Because God is rich in love and desires repentance—not destruction.
Sharing the gospel includes the good news of God’s love. But it also includes the difficult truth about sin, judgment, and the need to turn back to God. Like Jonah, we are called to proclaim the full message—not just the comfortable parts.

Celebrating What God Is Doing
Here at Bethany Church, we want to be a people who celebrate God’s movement.
We do this in two main ways:
1. Lighting the Gospel Candle
Whenever someone comes to Christ—whether directly through our conversations or indirectly through someone we know—we celebrate by lighting a candle.
It reminds us that God is moving.
He is drawing hearts to Himself.
Salvation is happening.
But recently…the candle hasn’t been lit. That should stir our hearts—not with guilt, but with desire. Desire for God to move again. Desire to join Him in His work.

2. Celebrating Baptisms
This past June, over 125 people huddled under a pavilion in pouring rain to celebrate baptisms. Five were baptized, and three rededicated their lives. It was messy. It was joyful. It was beautiful.

Baptism symbolizes death to sin, new life in Christ, and the power of God at work. It’s a visible reminder that Jesus changes everything.
May we see many more moments like this—more lives transformed, more stories of redemption, more reasons to celebrate.

Are We Ready to Share Our Faith?
Peter gives this charge:

“Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you. Do this with gentleness and respect.” — 1 Peter 3:15

So the question naturally follows:
Are we ready?
Do we:

• really know the truth we believe?
• understand the hope of Christ?
• experience the overflow of God’s work in our lives?
• sense the urgency of sharing Him with others?
• 
  

When we are rooted in Christ, our faith spills out like a shaken soda bottle—joyfully, naturally, uncontainably.

If we don’t feel that overflow, it’s a sign that we need to return to prayer, Scripture, and time in the presence of God. As Romans 12 reminds us, we are transformed by renewing our minds.

Evangelism Begins with Prayer
We cannot argue anyone into the kingdom. Salvation belongs to the Lord. God changes hearts—not us.
But we are called to pray.
When we pray consistently for someone to know Jesus, God works in their heart—and ours. Prayer makes us attentive, compassionate, ready to act. It prepares us for the opportunities God places before us.
Imagine if every person at Bethany prayed daily for two or three specific people. What could God do?

What might happen?

• More conversations about faith.
• More stories of transformation.
• More baptisms.
• More light in Mercer County and beyond.
• More celebrations of God on the move.

Seeing the Opportunities Around Us

God often opens doors in ordinary moments:

• a grieving friend
• a discouraged coworker
• a neighbor in need
• a family in crisis
• a child’s sports team
• Cub Scouts or Girl Scouts
• the grocery store line

Evangelism isn’t only an event—it’s a lifestyle.
It happens in car rides, at dinner tables, in classrooms, while raking leaves, or delivering food. It happens when we stay present, compassionate, and attentive to the people God places in our path.

The Harvest Is Ready
In the Gospels, Jesus looks at the crowd and tells His disciples the harvest is plentiful—but the workers are few.

Today, that is still true.
Right here in the Mercer School District:

• 10,000 people live in the community
• Roughly 40% profess belief in Christ
• That leaves about 6,000 people without saving faith

And that’s just one district—not including Grove City, Greenville, Slippery Rock, New Wilmington, and beyond.
There is work to do.
God is moving.
The question is: will we join Him?

Conclusion
We are modern-day Jonahs—called, commissioned, and sent. The message may be uncomfortable. The mission may stretch us. But the God who sends us also goes with us.

Our role is simple:
Pray.
Look for opportunities.
Share the hope of Jesus.
Celebrate what God is doing.
Because the local church matters.
Because the gospel matters.
Because people matter to God.



Referenced Scripture
Here are all verses referenced within the sermon:

• Jonah 1:3
• Jonah 2:9
• Jonah 3:1–5
• Mark 16:15–16
• 1 Peter 3:15
• Romans 12:1–2
• Colossians 1:13–14