Sermon Study Guide | Series: Numb and Numb-er | Sermon: Sleeping Through The Storm | Scripture: Jonah 3 | Date: November 2, 2025

CONNECT - “A Personal Reflection”

This section is designed to help you relate personally to the theme of the sermon. It encourages you to reflect on your own life experiences and how they connect to the message.

Have you ever done the right thing for the wrong reason? Maybe you followed through on something—showed up, served, even gave—but your heart wasn’t in it. Maybe your spiritual life feels more like fulfilling obligations than experiencing joy. Jonah’s story reminds us that sometimes the biggest gap isn’t between us and God, but between what we’re doing for Him and what we’re feeling with Him.

This week is an invitation: not to feel shame, but to allow God to renew what might have grown numb in our hearts. Take a moment to reflect where might God be inviting you back into a deeper relationship with Him? Share with your group

ENGAGE - “Exploring the Scripture”

This section invites you to dive into the biblical passage, discuss its meaning, and apply it to your life through thoughtful questions.

Read Jonah 3 together. 

• What stands out to you about Jonah’s response the second time God calls him?
  
  
• Consider the phrase “Sometimes the greatest distance in our spiritual life is not between us and God, but between what we are doing for Him and what we are feeling with Him.” Where have you experienced that kind of disconnect?
  
  
• Jonah obeys with his actions, but his attitude is reluctant. Share a time you’ve shown up the same way. What happened?
  
  • Why do you think God still used him? What does that say about God’s character?
    
    
• How do you relate to the idea that “actions are easier to move than attitudes”? How have you seen that show up in your life or faith journey?
  
  
• God’s mercy moved even when Jonah’s didn’t. What does this tell us about the way God works, especially through imperfect people?
  
  
• Jonah’s message was short and lacked compassion—yet Nineveh responded with heartfelt repentance. What do you make of that? How does that challenge your assumptions about what “effective ministry” looks like?
  
  
• Where do you see yourself in this story? Are you more like Jonah (reluctant), Nineveh (responsive), or maybe the king (surprised by grace)?
  
  

APPLY - “Putting the Scriptures into Action”

This section challenges us to take what we’ve learned and implement it in practical ways in our daily lives.

• “Are you showing up to God’s mission but missing His mercy?” This week, evaluate your current spiritual habits—such as serving, giving, or attending church. Identify one area where you’ve been going through the motions without genuine connection.
  
  Practical Step: Set aside 10 minutes each morning this week to pray specifically for renewed love and joy in that area. Ask God to move your heart, not just your hands. Journal how your mindset shifts throughout the week.
  
  
• Is there a place in your life where God has been “repeating Himself”? Reflect on a recurring nudge from God—maybe it’s someone He’s placed on your heart, an invitation to serve, or a step of faith you’ve been delaying.
  
  Practical Step: Take one action toward that nudge this week. It might mean initiating a conversation, signing up for something you’ve avoided, or asking someone to hold you accountable for following through.
  
  
• Think about someone or a group of people you’ve written off, like Jonah did with Nineveh. Who is someone you’ve stopped praying for or stopped believing God could reach? Maybe it’s someone you find difficult, frustrating, or even offensive.
  
  Practical Step: This week, intentionally engage that person or group with an act of kindness. Send a note, offer encouragement, or pray specifically for them each day. Ask God to soften your heart and reshape your perspective.
  
  
• “If God answered your prayers for your enemies, would it look like redemption or revenge?” Consider who your “enemy” might be right now—someone who has wronged you, disagrees with you, or feels hard to love.
  
  Practical Step: Write a short prayer asking God to bless that person’s life with peace, healing, and hope. Pray it daily this week. Notice what happens in your own spirit as you do.
  

PRAY - “Seeking God’s Guidance”

This section offers a short prayer to help us center our hearts and invite God to work in our lives through his scripture.

Merciful God, thank you that your grace outlasts our apathy. Thank you for meeting us not with shame, but with second chances. Help us not only walk in obedience but also allow you to soften our hearts along the way. We don’t want to just do the right thing—we want to feel the right thing too. Show us where we’ve grown numb and invite us back to a place of compassion. May we be people who don’t just carry your message but also reflect your mercy. In Jesus’ name, amen.