January 20, 2024
Dear Road Church Friends,
The Book of Jonah, with only 48 verses, is one of the shortest books in the Bible. It is shorter than some of Jesus’ Parables. You can read it in less than 5 minutes. Unlike the other books named after prophets, it wasn’t written by Jonah, it was written about Jonah. As small as it is, it is one of the most important (and enjoyable!) books in the Bible. Read it. Then join us tomorrow and find out why.
SERMON: “The Sign of Jonah”
SCRIPTURES
Matthew 12:38-41
Some Pharisees asked Jesus, “Teacher, give us a sign that you are from God.” But he answered them, “The only sign you will get is the sign of the prophet Jonah. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the sea monster for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them – and now, something greater than Jonah is here!”
Jeremiah 51:34-35
The people of Jerusalem are saying, “The Babylonians have destroyed us. Babylon is like a sea monster who has swallowed us whole. He has filled his stomach with our riches. Then he has spit us out of his mouth.” The people who live in the ruins of Jerusalem say, “May Babylon pay for the harm they have done to us. May the residents Babylon pay for spilling the blood of our people.”
PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR
by A. S. C. Clarke
Bless Thou this year, O Lord! Make rich its days
With health and work, and prayer, and praise,
And helpful ministry to needy folk.
Speak Thy soft word in cloudy days,
Nor let us think ourselves forgot
When common lot of sorrow hems us round.
May no one fail his share of work
Through selfish thought,
Each day fulfill Thy holy will in yielded lives,
And still the tumult of desires debased.
May faith and hope and love, increase.
Bless Thou this year, O Lord!
Blessings to you all,
Pastor Norm
This service on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/live/mzjsdbBghLc?si=lZmugyUGzfsNBsfJ