Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

Running From God

Aug 23, 2024

46:34

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Dive into the complexities of sin and identity through the story of Jonah. Discover how his attempt to flee from God's calling leads to chaos and self-discovery. The discussion emphasizes understanding personal sin and the importance of divine connection over societal approval. Jonah's struggle reveals the transformative power of embracing God's grace and love. This exploration encourages listeners to confront their own identities by centering their lives around a relationship with the divine.

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Quick takeaways

Jonah's flight from God illustrates that sin is rooted in self-reliance, leading to personal chaos and spiritual disconnection.

The narrative emphasizes that true transformation and forgiveness stem from recognizing one's need for God's love amid life's storms.

Deep dives

The Nature of Sin and Rebellion

The story of Jonah illustrates the profound nature of sin through the prophet’s initial rebellion against God's command to preach to Nineveh. Instead of obeying, Jonah attempts to flee from God and creates an identity apart from his divine calling. This highlights a crucial insight: sin is not merely about breaking rules, but about building a self without reliance on God’s word, leading to personal chaos and existential despair. Jonah's journey serves as a reminder that one can be outwardly religious yet still lack a true alignment with God, emphasizing the deeper spiritual truths found within the narrative.

Understanding the Competitors of the Heart

02:11

Exploring Identity in Relation to God and Cultural Reflections

04:13

Self-Identity Lies Beneath the Surface

01:31

Intro

2min

Understanding Sin and Identity through Jonah

20min

Exploring Divine Intimacy and the Journey of Jonah

2min

Finding Identity in Divine Relationship

7min

Jonah's Struggle: Identity and Faith

12min

Embracing Divine Love and Transformation

3min

Words like sin, sinner, heathen and heretic have been used for centuries to exclude and oppress people. That’s one reason we need the book of Jonah.

Jonah gives a concept of sin that can’t be used to oppress people. In fact, it shows that it’s one thing to believe in sin and another thing to understand it in your own heart. Jonah was a prophet, but there was a kind of sin in his heart that flew under his radar—until it blew up.

Let’s look at four features in the narrative that each tell us something about sin: 1) the coming word, 2) the running man, 3) the deathly sleep, and 4) the stormy hope.

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on September 9, 2001. Series: The Church in the City. Scripture: Jonah 1:1-10.

Today's podcast is brought to you by Gospel in Life, the site for all sermons, books, study guides and resources from Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. If you've enjoyed listening to this podcast and would like to support the ongoing efforts of this ministry, you can do so by visiting https://gospelinlife.com/give and making a one-time or recurring donation.

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