Timothy Keller Sermons Podcast by Gospel in Life

The Church Before the Watching World

Aug 7, 2024

43:25

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The complexities in Jonah's story reveal profound truths about spirituality and human connection. Ironically, Jonah's disdain for the Ninevites contrasts with his self-sacrifice for desperate sailors, teaching us about empathy. Crises often awaken a deep longing for purpose, leading to reflections on authentic spirituality. The discussion encourages engagement with societal issues, emphasizing that true faith is expressed through compassion. Ultimately, it calls for a courageous embrace of grace and the transformative power of God's love in our lives.

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Quick takeaways

Jonah’s evolution from selfishness to self-sacrifice illustrates the transformative power of God’s grace in overcoming personal prejudices.

The sailors' desperate worship underlines that without genuine faith, spiritual longings can often be distorted by fear and misunderstanding.

Deep dives

The Irony of Jonah's Flight

Jonah's attempt to flee from God's command to preach in Nineveh ironically leads him to the very people he seeks to avoid: the sailors on the ship. Rather than saving himself, Jonah finds himself in a position where he must sacrifice his own safety for the crew, illustrating a profound sense of responsibility for others despite his prejudices. The narrative reveals the complexity of Jonah's character, as his pride blinds him to the truth that he will ultimately become a vessel for God's mercy to those he deems unworthy. This relationship dynamic serves to critique both Jonah's cynical spirit and the broader human tendency to isolate ourselves from those we view as different or undeserving of grace.

Intro

4min

Jonah's Journey: Pride and Perspective

7min

Inherent Worship: Seeking Meaning in Crisis

9min

Exploring the Depths of Faith Through Jonah's Story

3min

Faith in Action: Serving Others

15min

Embracing Grace: The Courage to Stand for Truth

4min

There’s a subplot in the book Jonah: it’s Jonah’s impact on the sailors and their impact on him.

Do you see the exquisite irony here? Jonah runs away because he hates the dirty pagan Ninevites. He doesn’t think they can change and he doesn’t care enough to want them to change. But then, Jonah ends up sacrificing himself for dirty pagan sailors. The very truth missing from Jonah’s mind and heart is imparted even as God seeks him.

Let’s see what this shows us about how we should regard the world. Here is what the sailors teach us: 1) every human being has a deep, spiritual longing, but 2) in our natural state our deep, spiritual longings are distorted by fear.

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on August 5, 1990. Series: Jonah. Scripture: Jonah 1:4-16.

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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