Bible Text: Jonah 4 | Preacher: Rev. Dr. Lou Saldiveri | Series: Sunday Morning Worship | — Pastor Lou’s Notes —
Intro: How would you feel if God saved the worst person you know? Would you feel joy? Would you feel angry, bitter, or resentful? Let me ask another question. How did you feel when God rescued you? Are you and I any different from the worst person we know?
Jonah chapter 4 gives us tremendous insights between God’s righteous compassion and our won pride and prejudices.

1.
Pride and Self Righteousness Always Produces Anger and Resent

1.
Jonah thought he knew better than God
2.
Jonah’s pride and prejudice made him angry at God and resentful of the Nineveh’s salvation

1.
Notice all the “I’s” in Jonah’s prayer
3.
Note: Jonah was a good theologian….well almost
2.
We Are Called to Have Our Heart Aligned With God’s Heart

1.
Jonah’s prayer reveals God’s character and heart

1.
Gracious and compassionate
2.
Slow to anger and abounding in love
3.
Willing to extend forgiveness when there is repentance and faith
3.
God Will Give Us On the Job Training

1.
God asks Jonah a key question, “Is it right for you to be angry?”
2.
Jonah decides to be a spectator and see what will happen to Nineveh
3.
God give Jonah a important visual and emotional lesson

1.
Lesson 1: God provides a leafy plant

1.
Reveals how flicked Jonah can be because of superficial circumstances
2.
Lesson 2: God provides a worm

1.
Jonah gets angry again
4.
Notice, the ending of Jonah is an open ended

Closing: As we close out our time in Jonah, there are several questions I must ask:
1.
Are you and I ready to confess sin e.g. running from God’s will?
2.
Are you and I ready to learn from our failures and move on doing God’s will with a grateful heart?
3.
Are you and I willing to let God develop in us His hear of compassion for people?