1. What does your “belly of the beast” look like?
Jonah found himself trapped in darkness, confusion, and helplessness—a place partly of his own making. The sermon noted that we all experience seasons like this, sometimes because of our choices and sometimes because of circumstances beyond our control.
Can you identify a time when you felt trapped, overwhelmed, or unable to fix your situation? How did that experience affect your relationship with God?
2. Why do we often wait so long to pray?
Jonah didn’t pray during the storm. He prayed after he had sunk to the bottom and reached the end of himself.
Why do you think we often turn to God only after our own plans have failed? What would it look like to cultivate dependence on God before reaching a crisis point?
3. What helps you remember God’s faithfulness?
Jonah’s prayer is filled with Scripture and remembrance of God’s past faithfulness. The sermon emphasized that biblical “remembering” is more than recalling facts—it is allowing God’s past faithfulness to reshape our present perspective.
When facing fear, uncertainty, or suffering, what practices help you remember who God is and what He has done?
4. What idols are hardest for you to surrender?
The sermon suggested that Jonah’s idol wasn’t a carved image—it was control. He wanted God’s plans only when they matched his own desires.
Where are you most tempted to hold onto control instead of trusting God’s authority? What might surrender look like in that area of your life?
5. How does Jesus being the “greater Jonah” change the way you face hardship?
The sermon drew several contrasts between Jonah and Jesus, culminating in the truth that Jesus willingly entered suffering, death, and chaos in order to bring salvation.
How does knowing that Jesus has already entered the depths of suffering, death, and confusion on our behalf give you hope in your current circumstances?